National Highways has launched a six-week consultation into plans to improve safety on a stretch of the A38 in Cornwall.
It points out the Trerulefoot to Carkeel stretch is part of an important route within the south western peninsula of England, linking Bodmin to the west and Exeter to the east, particularly serving commuting, tourism, and freight. The road is one of only two major routes serving Cornwall and providing onward connection to Plymouth, Torbay and Devon.
The Government-owned company is considering how it can improve road safety conditions for all road users, saying the area has an unacceptably high collision rate. Alongside the safety issues, there are also traffic queues and air quality concerns in the villages in this area.
The Trerulefoot to Carkeel section has been the subject of road safety reviews in recent years. National Highways says it has been working closely with Cornwall Council to identify a variety of safety improvements, both in relation to existing collision patterns, as well as proposals to make the road more reliable.
The proposed A38 Trerulefoot to Carkeel Safety Package has safety as a main objective and four other objectives. It aims to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions on the A38 between Trerulefoot and Carkeel, improve safety for all road users and provide faster and more reliable journeys. National Highways wants to improve capacity at bottlenecks and single lane sections, leading to improved journey time reliability, which will improve road user experience, and improve connectivity and support economic growth.
It says the plan will contribute to improved people movement that will aid further economic growth as part of a wider strategy to improve connectivity and support sustainable growth in Cornwall and identify and provide opportunities to improve access for all users, as well as minimise impacts on the natural environment and optimise environmental improvements and mitigation for any additional construction. Avoid developing on Areas of Natural Beauty and other environmentally important sites.
It is holding a number of consultation events between now and mid July. Consultation details are here.
(Picture – Google Streetview)
