The multi-million pound upgrade of the A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross will be another relief for A303 motorists travelling into Cornwall.
The improvement scheme will dual an 8.7-mile section of single carriageway, alleviating the impact on local communities and helping to improve journey times and increase safety by unlocking one of Cornwall’s last major bottlenecks, but will also help to unlock economic growth in the county.
Costain, Highways England’s contractors, start the main construction phase of the scheme this year.
Josh Hodder, Highways England’s Senior Project Manager for the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme, said: “2021 is going to be a big year for the A30 project. Improving the A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross is incredibly important for Cornwall’s future – it’s the only remaining stretch of single carriageway on the A30 between Camborne and the M5 at Exeter, journeys are regularly delayed, congestion often brings traffic to a standstill, and as a result the Cornish economy is being held back.
The £330 million upgrade includes a 70mph high-quality dual carriageway, a two-level junction at Chiverton Cross and a new roundabout to ensure the free flow of traffic on the A30, a new partial junction at Chybucca built on two levels with west-facing slip roads to provide access onto the dual carriageway from local route, new bridges at Tolgroggan Farm, Pennycomequick Lane and over the Allet to Tresawsen road to provide local access, and a two-level junction at Carland Cross with a new roundabout north of the dual carriageway and re-using the existing roundabout to the south.
The existing A30 will become a local route with new sections where necessary to provide continuity and connectivity for local communities.
The cost of developing the scheme is partly funded by an £8 million contribution from the European Regional Development Fund, with an additional £12 million for the construction phase. The remainder of the cost of developing and delivering the scheme is funded by central Government.