Barnstaple Western Bypass from Barnstaple to Bideford was also partially built over, meaning it will be more expensive to re-open the line in the future. Barnstaple Western Bypass The Barnstaple Western Bypass is a congestion-relief scheme designed to take road traffic away from the town centre of Barnstaple, a market town in Devon, South West England. Construction of the new road started in the Spring of 2005 and it was opened on 23 May 2007. The scheme consists of a single two lane carriageway, one roundabout and three traffic signal controlled junctions. of new road was constructed and a long, five-span, downstream bridge
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station was converted to standard gauge in 1881. A line was opened on 1 June 1887 from the D&SR station to the London and South Western Railway's Barnstaple Junction railway station, enabling trains from London and Taunton reverse at Barnstaple then continue on to . On 1 July 1905 a chord was opened between the two lines (thus forming a triangular junction) which enabled direct running from the Taunton line into Barnstaple Junction. This new line was mainly used on summer Saturdays; at other times through trains on the Ilfracombe line continued to reverse at the station. From 1 January 1948