New footage captures progress on A30 works in Cornwall
It comes as National Highways announce that the new dual carriageway won't be open until June
New footage and images released by National Highways offer a bird’s eye view of progress on the new A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross route emerging in Cornwall.
It comes as the company announces that that new 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.
WATCH: Aerial footage of the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme
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."
National Highways say some key achievements for the project over the last two years include:
- Removal of the ‘Chivvy’ roundabout, Cornwall’s worst accident hot-spot
- Construction of the new Chiverton interchange and flyover
- Construction of the Chybucca junction, allowing for north-south access across the A30
- Installation of the new Tolgroggan bridge near Zelah, and removal of the old bridge
- Construction of the new ‘green bridge’ at Marazanvose, which will see planting to follow later
- Completion of the archaeological excavation and fieldwork
- Completion of heathland translocation work near Carland Cross
- Construction of a bat house and 33 multi-species animal crossing points
- Construction of 16 attenuation points to improve water quality and improve wildlife habitats
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.