A38 | Devon | Road Closure | Expect Delays

Incident timeline

1. 21:18, 3 JulFirst report

   The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

2. 21:35, 3 JulUpdate

   The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

3. 22:05, 3 JulUpdate

   ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 46 minutes. Monitoring continues.

4. 22:10, 3 JulUpdate

   The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

5. 22:45, 3 JulUpdate

   ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 1h 26m. Monitoring continues.

6. 22:50, 3 JulUpdate

   The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

7. 23:20, 3 JulUpdate

   ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 2h 1m. Monitoring continues.

8. 23:25, 3 JulUpdate

   The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

9. 23:55, 3 JulUpdate

   ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 2h 36m. Monitoring continues.

10. 00:00, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

11. 00:35, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 3h 16m. Monitoring continues.

12. 00:40, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

13. 01:10, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 3h 51m. Monitoring continues.

14. 01:15, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

15. 01:45, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 4h 26m. Monitoring continues.

16. 01:50, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

17. 02:20, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 5h 1m. Monitoring continues.

18. 02:25, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

19. 02:55, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 5h 36m. Monitoring continues.

20. 03:00, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

21. 03:35, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 6h 16m. Monitoring continues.

22. 03:40, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

23. 04:10, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 6h 51m. Monitoring continues.

24. 04:15, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

25. 04:45, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 7h 26m. Monitoring continues.

26. 04:50, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

27. 05:20, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 8h 1m. Monitoring continues.

28. 05:25, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

29. 05:55, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 8h 36m. Monitoring continues.

30. 06:00, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

31. 06:35, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 9h 16m. Monitoring continues.

32. 06:40, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

33. 07:10, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 9h 51m. Monitoring continues.

34. 07:15, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

35. 07:45, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 10h 26m. Monitoring continues.

36. 07:50, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

37. 08:20, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 11h 1m. Monitoring continues.

38. 08:25, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

39. 08:55, 4 JulUpdate

    ⏱ Still active — no changes from National Highways. Incident ongoing for 11h 36m. Monitoring continues.

40. 09:00, 4 JulUpdate

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

41. 09:05, 4 JulUpdate

    ✅ Incident cleared — A38 reopened at 09:05 on 4 Jul 2026. Total disruption: 11h 46m. All lanes open, traffic returning to normal.

42. 03:26, 7 NovFinal update

    The A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the M5 J31 (near Exeter) and the A382 (near Chudleigh) and closed eastbound between the A379 (near Kennford) and the M5. 

This is to allow for National Grid to carry out emergency overhead cable pole replacements following an earlier fire.

Wording from National Highways, recorded as it changed.

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