The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed today’s announcement that the Government is to invest £180 million in removing two notorious bottlenecks on the A30 as a breakthrough for Cornwall’s transport network.
The A30 between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross will be duelled by 2020 and work to tackle the single lane stretch between Temple and Higher Carblake could begin as early as next March and be completed by summer 2016.
Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Dualling the A30 end-to-end has been a priority for the LEP and these projects will remove two notorious bottlenecks that cost local businesses millions of pounds a year because of delays. It really is a breakthrough for Cornwall’s transport network.
“We have lobbied hard alongside Cornwall Council, our local MPs and with the business community to make the case for this investment which is absolutely critical to the growth of our economy. Only last week the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) published new research which showed that 69% of local businesses felt that dualling the A30 was important to boosting Cornwall’s economy, so this announcement will be warmly welcomed.”
Pomfret added that the Government’s pledge to upgrade the A303 into the region was also a significant step forward given that 19% of local businesses use the A303 at least monthly, according to the FSB.
The same research showed that 41% of local businesses travel on the A30 between Carland Cross and Chiverton cross at least monthly, and 38% use the A30 across Bodmin Moor between Temple and Higher Carblake.
The investments are part of the Government’s £15 billion five-year national Road Investment Strategy, which was unveiled today.
