National Highways is set to begin a £20m ‘generational’ refurbishment and speed reduction scheme in and around the A38 Saltash Tunnel in Cornwall.
The phased programme of safety, refurbishment and modernisation work on the 35-year-old tunnel will begin this month, with the bulk of the work taking place next year.
It will involve an upgrade of the tunnel and traffic control system, electrical distribution, lighting, fans and electronic signage,
Site preparation work, including the removal of old cabling, will take place ahead of and alongside a speed reduction scheme that National Highways said will improve safety on roads leading to and around the tunnel.
The company will be reducing the speed limit on the A38 between the Saltash Tunnel and Carkeel roundabout from 70mph to 50mph.
Average speed cameras being installed to enforce the 30mph limit through the tunnel and on the B3271 and North Road diversion routes.
Tunnel manager Julian Mitchell said the speed reductions are ‘much needed’ and seen as part of the overall programme.
He added: ‘The tunnel is safe but it is essential that we replace our systems, which have been operating for more than 20 years.
‘We’re currently in the detailed design and construction planning stages, and in the meantime, while the speed reduction scheme takes place, we’ll be preparing the site by stripping out the outdated and redundant equipment and cleaning and preparing cable routes for the kilometres of cabling that will need to be installed.
‘There’s been a considerable amount of planning over several years to identify efficiencies and reduce the number of future maintenance closures and once we have a timeframe for next year’s upgrade work, we’ll communicate that in advance and will hold stakeholder and public open days to provide further information.'
The tunnel will be closed on weeknights for three weeks from (Monday) 18 September to enable the modernisation preparatory work.
For the speed reduction scheme, the Saltash tunnel and A38 to the Carkeel roundabout will be closed overnight, on weeknights only, between 2 October and 24 October.
The final phase of work will see weeknight overnight closures of the tunnel and the A38 up to Carkeel roundabout between 8 November and 20 December
Mr Mitchell said: ‘Being a bi-directional tube with three lanes and tidal flow, and connecting to the private Tamar Toll Bridge, the tunnel is unique, and it’s difficult to work safely within the structure without closing it overnight.’
