Major tunnel to undergo safety repairs and lane closures causing months-long delays - 'Frustrating'

National Highways has now warned that it needs to undertake necessary and timely upgrades to the tunnel and traffic control system technology.

Last year, the agency system detected signs of faltering in the old traffic management system, which could cause issues for drivers.

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This meant that the current tidal lane traffic system, which was due to be switched off in September, was now brought forward alongside variable lane switch-off and associated traffic management.

Meanwhile, 30mph speed limits have been put in place on the approach to the tunnel until the new technology is installed and will remain in place between the A38 Carkeel roundabout and the tunnel in a bid to boost safety for drivers and workers along the route.

National Highways noted that the tunnel still has "functioning" safety systems and CCTV in place, with daytime traffic now using two lanes westbound through the tunnel as well as the Tamar Bridge and one eastbound lane through the tunnel.

Traffic signals have also been installed at Tamar Bridge on the eastbound approach to the tunnel as well as on the tunnel entrances. While the work gets underway, traffic will be diverted to follow the standard B3271 and North Road diversion routes.

As part of the scheme, the agency explained that it will install 31 miles of copper cabling alongside 12 miles of fibre cabling.

The cabling will be installed "away from cabinets inside the tunnel across the west and east service buildings," with the project hoping to reduce the need for future maintenance closures.

National Highways Tunnel Manager Julian Mitchell said: "We're doing everything we can to minimise disruption for users of the tunnel and Tamar Bridge.

"We’ve implemented the new traffic management now for safety reasons and have planned this carefully with our partners, and have communicated the changes with all stakeholders."

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The tunnel upgrade forms part of a £25million investment by National Highways, with the improvement work seeing changes to the tunnel control and traffic management system as well as modernisation of the ventilation control system.

Other upgrades include the replacement of existing sensors to improve air quality monitoring and new LED lighting, as well as automatic barriers, which will be put in place in the event of closures and emergencies.

Mitchell added: "We appreciate the tidal flow switch-off will have an impact on people’s journey times, although our current monitoring, including the May Bank Holidays, suggests only slight delays.

"In the meantime, we advise people to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys, especially those from Cornwall into Devon, and thank drivers for their patience while the traffic management is in place for this extensive modernisation scheme to upgrade the tunnel technology and future-proof the structure for many years to come."

Mitchell explained that the agency acknowledged road closures "can be frustrating" but stated that "it’s difficult to work safely within and around the structure without closing it overnight".

He shared: "We have to keep the temporary speed limit in place during the day as it’s less safe for the workforce to deploy and remove on a daily basis.

"In the meantime, and until the new traffic control system is operational, we urge people to observe and adhere to the directional lane signage in place."

The Saltash Tunnel is situated on the A38 in Cornwall and was opened in 1988, and is used by 38,000 vehicles each day.