New £47.5m Cornwall link road opens amid traffic concerns from residents

A new £47.5 million road connecting the A390 near Threemilestone with Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske has officially opened in Cornwall.

The route, known as Fordh Langarth, opened on Monday 11 May and forms part of the wider Langarth Garden Village development near Truro.

Stretching for 3.5km, the new Northern Access Road includes a 20mph speed limit, segregated cycle lanes measuring 3.5 metres wide, and pedestrian footways.

The road runs alongside the A390, linking the West Langarth roundabout with the hospital estate roads and Penventinnie Lane behind Treliske.

Funding for the scheme came through the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, managed by Homes England.

Dulcie Tudor, who represents Threemilestone on Cornwall Council, described the project as a “major milestone” and a “major piece of infrastructure”, saying it should help ease congestion on the busy A390 corridor into Truro.

However, she acknowledged concerns raised by nearby residents.

“I have had concerns come in from people living in the back lanes around the edge of Langarth and down Penventinnie Lane that the knock-on effects will be people using this road being tempted to turn off into the back lanes and it will affect traffic flow there.

“I’ve received an assurance from the portfolio member for transport [at Cornwall Council] Dan Rogers that as people start using this road the traffic will be monitored, including on those back lanes.”

Cllr Tudor also said she intends to continue scrutinising the delivery of the Langarth Garden Village project to ensure it fulfils its original vision.

The Langarth scheme is a large-scale development being led by Cornwall Council, with plans for between 8,000 and 10,000 residents. The project aims to deliver around 3,550 energy-efficient homes — 35 per cent of them affordable — alongside schools, healthcare facilities and extensive green spaces over the next two decades.

Progress on the development has faced delays linked to rising construction costs and wider economic pressures.

Local residents have also questioned aspects of the road layout and nearby traffic changes.

One resident said: “The quiet lane next to the Langarth park and ride has been closed off to allow for this new road. It means residents down the lane now have to drive an extra couple of miles of ‘new road’. Cormac have decided in their wisdom to make the lane (where it now begins) a no speed limit road.”

A spokesperson for the Langarth project responded: “The quiet lane by the park and road has been severed for vehicles. Access is available from the Northern Access Road (Fordh Langarth) at its junctions – either A390 West Langarth junction, A390 Richard Lander junction or from the hospital.

“Residents have had a recent diversion but will be able to travel east along NAR from May 11.”

Questions were also raised about temporary speed restrictions on the A390 between Penstraze and Threemilestone.

The spokesperson added: “The A390 30mph speed limit has been retained, whilst the slip road at West Langarth junction has been closed for site access. From May 11, Fordh Langarth will be open to public traffic and the 30mph limit will be removed.”

Another resident asked: “What is the point in opening up the road at this point? And long term, surely this is going to cause mayhem on the road past the entrance to the hospital – a road that already gets backed up to the roundabout, without the additional traffic this will bring.”

The project team replied: “Fordh Langarth will provide a further travel option for users allowing access from the hospital or Treliske Industrial Estate, travelling westwards without having to exit via the A390 Treliske roundabout.

“The major junction with the A390 will be at the Richard Lander location, so all traffic does not have to exit NAR via Treliske. Traffic will soon become familiar with the new layout and travel choices.

“In addition, the road has a 3.5km-long segregated cycleway and footways, which link through to the Saints Trails to St Agnes which will provide further leisure travel choices.”