New A30 dual carriageway won't be open until June
Works were scheduled to finish in March, but the pandemic and a number of storms have meant delays
The new A30 dual carriageway won't be fully opened to traffic until June.
National Highways' original Delivery Plan target date was the end of March 2024, but they say following the impacts of the recent weather, the road will now open before the school summer holidays.
Construction was initially delayed by the pandemic and the project has since been faced with growing weather challenges – including 14 Met Office classified storms between January 2021 and August 2023.
Since last August alone there have been an unprecedented total of 10 storms affecting Cornwall.
Nick Simmonds Screech, National Highways Project Director, said: "Following a recent review of the programme, we are now on schedule to open the new road to traffic in June, a matter of weeks after our Delivery Plan open-for traffic commitment.
"Given the effects of the pandemic and the delayed start to the construction programme, and against all the challenges thrown at us by recent weather events, we still look on this as an achievement.
"Getting the scheme off the ground during the pandemic was particularly challenging in terms of socially distanced working, virtual meetings and ensuring the safety of the workforce, and despite the weather impacts faced over the course of the scheme, we have made good progress to this point with our principal contractors Costain.
"Once the new dual carriageway’s open, and well before the start of summer school holidays, this will make a significant and positive difference to the journeys of both local communities and businesses, and to the wider travelling public."
Mr Simmonds-Screech added: "We appreciate the work has had impacts on local communities but through the scheme and other initiatives, we’re aiming to create a lasting legacy for Cornwall.
"The A30 is a vital scheme for Cornwall and the wider South West and we have pushed ahead on this much-needed scheme, competing work so far with minimal disruption to the travelling public and local residents.
"Our work is now largely focused on the eastern section of the scheme around Carland Cross, with some overnight and weekend closures of the A30 programmed until the Open for Traffic date.
"Once the new road is open, the wider project will continue through the year, with ancillary, and finishing-up works, including local authority road refinements, landscaping, planting, Cornish hedging and other environmental and ecological work."
Rob Taylor, Costain Project Director for the A30, said: "The scale of the scheme has been a massive undertaking, not least because of the delayed start due to the pandemic and the unprecedented weather conditions.
"However, our team and supply chain have risen to the challenge and are on track to deliver a fantastic new dual carriageway that will unlock mobility in the region ahead of the summer holidays.
"The recent Chiverton flyover and Chybucca junction openings represented significant and visible milestones for the project, and we’re now progressing the new Carland junction and the ‘green bridge’ structure at Marazanvose."
Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, added: "Anyone driving along this stretch of road will have seen the progress made on this important strategic link.
"By unlocking one of Cornwall’s last major bottlenecks, the new section will improve road safety as well as journey times for residents, businesses and visitors.
"Crews have worked incredibly hard in very difficult weather conditions to deliver the new dual carriageway and while I can appreciate that some may be frustrated at this news, the end is in sight for these long-awaited improvements."
National Highways have thanked road users and the local community for their patience while they complete the project and have apologised for any disruption caused.
Upcoming weekend closure of the A30
Part of the A30 will be closed to drivers this weekend.
The road will be shut between Boxheater and Scorrier from Friday 23rd February at 8.00pm until Monday 26th February at 6.00am.
Traffic will be diverted via the B3285, A3075 and B3277 with different routes for HGVs. You can view the diversion routes here.
Local access north and south at the new Chiverton interchange and via the B3284 at Chybucca will be maintained throughout.