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Restormel: START OF WORK ON £93 MILLION A30 BODMIN TO INDIAN QUEENS DUAL CARRIAGEWAY

Work on the Highways Agency’s long-awaited £93 million improvement for the A30 between Bodmin and Indian Queens begins this week.
The new seven-mile dual carriageway will reduce congestion and improve safety at the notorious bottleneck at Goss Moor, and bring environmental and economic benefits to the county.

The existing road – which runs in single carriageway between two dual carriageways - has been a congestion bottleneck on the main route into Cornwall for many years and has been subject to a number of accidents involving high vehicles colliding with a railway bridge - causing inconvenience and delays to road users and railway passengers on the Newquay to Par line.

The Minister for Roads, Dr Stephen Ladyman, welcomed the start of work:

“I am delighted that work is starting on important scheme, which will ease traffic delays for local people and visitors alike, reduce accidents, and bring environmental gains to the precious habitats of Goss Moor and Tregoss Moor.

“The new route will cut costs caused by delays for local businesses, improving the prospects for inward investment.�

“The people of Cornwall have waited a long time for this scheme which represents a significant investment in the county’s infrastructure while preserving a part of its unique environment.�



The new road is seen as a major environmental gain because it will take the A30 away from Goss Moor and Tregoss Moor, both designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves and Special Areas of Conservation.

The existing A30 slices the SSSI into two, separating the marsh fritillary butterfly from its habitat leading to a drastic drop in numbers. Now part of it will be downgraded into a route allowing greatly improved pedestrian, cycle and horse access to the area.

English Nature’s Chief Executive Dr Andy Brown said:

“We are proud to have worked with the Highways Agency to broker a unique solution which is truly win-win-win: delivering economic, social and environmental benefits. Rare beauties like the marsh fritillary butterfly, in sharp decline with the A30 slicing its habitat in two, will benefit directly and the area will become a peaceful oasis for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

“Highways Agency investments have also attracted more money from Europe to set up Cornwall Moors LIFE Project to reconnect parts of the moorland landscape once again.�

The new dual carriageway road will be seven miles (11.5 km) long and is aligned to the north of Goss and Tregoss Moors. Between Indian Queens and Victoria, the route will be located some 500m to the north of the existing A30, passing to the south of Royalton and Belowda. It will then cross the existing A30 near Hill House then continue south before joining the Bodmin Bypass east of Innis Down roundabout. Nine bridges will be constructed to carry side roads and two new two-level junctions at Victoria and Innis Downs will allow free movement of traffic.