National Highways unveils further safety investment in Cornwall’s roads

Six junctions on the A30 between Launceston and Bodmin are being rebuilt to stop right turns across the dual carriageway and improve visibility, after ten years of collision data revealed the danger spots.

National Highways is working towards improving road safety in Cornwall with junction improvement schemes on both the A30 and A38.

The company, responsible for England’s major A roads and motorways, is currently putting the finishing touches to the A38 Saltash Tunnel upgrade and the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade, which removed the old Chiverton Cross roundabout – Cornwall’s worst accident hot-spot.

Following the introduction of a speed reduction scheme on the A38 between Carkeel and Trerulefoot last year, National Highways is investing further in Cornwall’s roads and will soon be starting work on a suite of junction improvements on the A30 between Launceston and Bodmin, and will also be holding a public engagement event in early autumn on a similar A38 Liskeard to Trerulefoot scheme.

The Menheniot (above) and Lean Quarry junctions are subject to proposed safety improvements by National Highways

The A38 scheme is targeting safety improvements at the Lean Quarry, Menheniot, Tencreek Cottage and Castle Air junctions, along with other layout, access and visibility enhancements.

Following a presentation to the South East Cornwall Community Area Partnership, a public event will be held later this year, when local communities will be able to hear National Highways’ proposals and feed back on the plans.

Jack Mason, South West Road Safety Manager for National Highways, said:

“Road safety is, and will always be, our number one priority, and we’re always exploring ways to make our roads safer by using collision data, risk assessments and insights to reduce the number and severity of incidents.

“As part of recent road safety studies, we’ve analysed 10 years of safety data, investigated traffic flows and movements around junctions on the A30 and A38, and adjoining slip roads.

“We’ve been liaising closely with police and local authority partners, and community groups, to identify a number of interventions aimed at improving safety and the engagement event will provide an opportunity for businesses and communities to get a better understanding of our proposals.”

Work on the A30 Kennards House to Five Lanes safety scheme, starting on 5 September, is focussed on six junctions – Plusha, Trevell, Two Bridges, Blackhill Quarry, Polyphant and the Highways maintenance depot – with the aim of improving road safety, reducing incidents and diverting traffic flows to more suitable junctions, while providing mitigation on local roads.

Caption: The Polyphant/Blackhill Quarry junction (above) and the adjacent Two Bridges junction will see widening improvements and local road adjustments as part of the safety scheme

An interim barrier scheme carried out at the Plusha junction last year has already prevented right turns across the dual carriageway and the additional junction improvements and local authority road adjustments, as part of a £9.8 million scheme, including £8m of designated safety measures, are aimed at further driving down the number of incidents in the location.

The safety initiative will restrict a number of further right turns, with more graded junctions and clearer visibility a key part of the scheme, and in tandem with Cornwall Council, work will also be carried out improvements to connecting roads.

The safety project is scheduled to be completed in the spring, and the installation of traffic management will require full overnight closures (9pm-6am) of the A30 between Kennards House and Five Lanes, from 5 September to 10 September.

Once work is under way, the A30 will have one lane running 24/7 in each direction, with a 50mph speed limit in place, and with some occasional overnight westbound and eastbound closures. More details will be available on the scheme web page and also via https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/live-travel-updates/road-closure-report/

Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said:

“Improving safety on Cornwall’s strategic road network is a shared priority, and we welcome National Highways’ continued investment in measures designed to reduce collisions and make journeys safer for everyone who uses the A30 and A38.

“These routes provide vital connections for our residents, businesses and visitors. We welcome National Highways’ commitment to working with local communities and will continue to support solutions that deliver both safety and connectivity.”

Across the South West, National Highways is investing £13 million in road safety this financial year, and in the longer term in Cornwall, there are also plans to make safety interventions on the A30 between Camborne and Penzance.

The feasibility study for this work is still in the early stages and the company will continue to work with its Vision Zero South West partners before reaching design stages and communicating any proposals.

Details of the A38 public engagement event will be communicated once confirmed, with more information on the proposals, and National Highways’ other safety schemes in the South West, available on the company website.

In the meantime, further information on the A30 improvements can be found at the designated web page.