A30 bridge works delayed for a second time

They're now due to begin on the 17th of February

Author: Simon McleanPublished 7th Feb 2023

A planned installation of a new bridge in Cornwall's been delayed for a second time.

As part of National Highways' A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade, a new 137-foot accommodation bridge is due to be lifted into place at Tolgroggan, near Zelah.

It was due to take place this weekend, having been postponed from the 3rd-6th of February - but it's been moved again because the ground still isn't firm enough to take a 600 tonne crane.

It'll now take place between the 17th and 20th of February instead.

Neil Winter, National Highways’ Senior Project Manager for the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme, said: “We’ve taken advice from our principal contractors and although ground conditions are improving they are still not perfect, and we have taken the decision now to move the operation further back.

“We allowed for contingencies in the programme, and feel it only right to reschedule to allow site preparations to be exactly how we want them and to be sure we can complete the lift under one weekend closure.

“Adverse weather over the past two months, a mixture of heavy rainfall and low temperatures, has thrown up circumstances out of our control, but a little extra time will ensure the ground has firm footings required for what is a large-scale and off-road crane lift.

“It won’t impact on our programme or future road opening date, and, based on traffic modelling from last year’s half-term, the weekend of 17-20 will cause lesser disruption to local communities and people making holiday journeys in Cornwall.

“And should strong winds and adverse weather interfere with that weekend, we also have a contingency in place for 24-27 February.”

The A30 was due to be fully closed this weekend between the Boxheater junction and Chiverton Cross roundabout to enable the installation of a new Tolgroggan accommodation bridge.

This closure has now been lifted and the A30 will now be closed from 8pm on Friday, 17 February, and reopened to traffic by 6am on Monday, 20 February.

Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the Boxheater Junction and Chiverton Cross roundabout, with eastbound traffic diverted via the A3075 to Goonhavern and the B3285 to rejoin the A30.

The westbound diversion will operate in reverse, with the B3284 remaining open under temporary traffic signals north and south across the Chybucca roundabout.

Mr Winter added: “We apologise for any confusion caused by the rescheduling but by announcing now, we hope this will give people more time to plan ahead for the closure, while making sure everything is 100 per cent on site for the lifting operation.”

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.