Vehicle free bridge over the A30 at Chiverton is now open

Forming part of the Saints Trails route linking St Agnes and Threemilestone, the 48-metre structure was built by Costain, who provided detailed design and construction services, and are currently delivering the new A30 Chiverton and Carland Cross dual carriageway for National Highways.

Cornwall Council led on the design and delivery of the bridge using the final round of European Regional Development funding.

Whilst the bridge is now open for use, the off-road route from St Agnes to Threemilestone will not be complete until later this year. Works are continuing on the section of the A390 between Penstraze and West Langarth being built as part of the Northern Access Route.

Cornwall councillor Dulcie Tudor (left) helps open the new bridge (Image: ICE Trikes)

Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: “The opening of the bridge represents a significant achievement for the teams working across multiple projects and funding streams to secure a legacy for Cornwall for generations to come.

“It’s a great example of what can be achieved by partnership working between the Council, National Highways and our delivery partner Costain. I’d particularly like to congratulate the Truro Cycle campaign group who lobbied over a number of years to make sure this happened, and how great it is to see this come to fruition.

“The bridge includes some iconic design features to reflect the nearby Cornish Mining World Heritage areas and is a key part of the Saints Trail route and a link that residents and users have been keen to see in place. And while the last section of the Saints Trail between Penstraze and West Langarth is not yet complete, it’s great to see the bridge now open and providing that important link to support residents to make more sustainable journeys between communities, and for anyone else wanting to cross the A30.

“About a quarter of Cornwall’s carbon emissions come from road transport and we’re committed to putting the infrastructure in place to encourage people to make greener and healthier choices about how they travel.”

The bridge is open for horse riders as well as cyclists and pedestrians (Image: ICE Trikes)

The St Agnes to Threemilestone Saints Trail link is part funded (£5.15m) by the European Regional Development Fund. Cornwall Council is investing £2m into the Saints Trails with the majority of the funding (£11.9m) for the project coming from National Highways as part of its programme to provide environmental, social and economic benefits to the people, communities and businesses who live and work alongside the strategic road network.

Colin Bird, South West regional delivery director for National Highways, said: “We’re committed to improving cycle efficiency and safety across our road network, and from the inception of the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade, we have worked with both local communities and groups and Cornwall Council to enhance connectivity across the A30 corridor.

“We’re working closely with Cornwall Council to deliver this ambitious initiative, and we’re delighted to see the opening of the multi-use bridge across the A30, as part of the wider Saints Trails project.

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“We’ve pumped £11.9 million of investment into Cornwall to help provide a network of cycling trails between the coastline and Truro and the funding has enabled Cornwall Council to install a network of routes for non-motorised users, including walkers and horse riders, and represents one of the largest cycling infrastructure investments ever in the region.

“The opening of the cycle/footbridge marks a major milestone for the initiative, and we’re pleased to see continued progress being made on a project which will improve the lives of communities living close to and surrounding the A30.”

Cyclists and trike riders try out the bridge for the first time (Image: ICE Trikes)

Andy Clarke, director for integrated transport at Costain, said: ”This fantastic new bridge is a gamechanger for active travel, encouraging people to make more sustainable journey choices. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders are now able to enjoy the benefits of this important stretch of the Saints Trails, something which the local community enthusiastically campaigned for.

"In addition to the sustainability benefits both during delivery and beyond, the new bridge addresses previous safety concerns and improves local access.”