Maintenance schemes - South West

National Highways recognises the environmental value of trees. We manage our trees through their whole lifecycle, to control safety risk and optimise their environmental value.

We began a programme of Ash Dieback removal in 2022. Although the issue still requires careful monitoring, we have now completed most of our clearance work. Over the coming months we will begin replanting the areas most affected by this work. We will plant just over 3,000 new trees along the A30 in Devon and Cornwall, ahead of bird nesting season. Local species such as Hazel, Crab Apple, Holly, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, European Spindle, Hornbeam and several others in lesser numbers, will be planted in a variety of sizes. The trees have been carefully chosen to ensure local habitats are encouraged to flourish.

The work will take place on verges with some rolling lane closures in place. To find out more visit https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-west/

Ash dieback is a national issue and more information from the Forestry Commission can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/managing-ash-dieback-in-england.

Tree Council - Ash dieback a tree owners guide

https://treecouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Tree-Council-Ash-dieback-tree-owners-guide-FINAL.pdf

We’re refreshing the road markings and replacing the cat's eyes along the A30 between the M5 and Redruth.

We’ll carry out this work in phases with short section of carriageway closed weeknights.

During the day the road will be open as usual.

Latest closure information

• Thursday 27 & Friday 28 June: the A30 eastbound will be closed between Tongue End to Whiddon Down from 8pm to 6am each night.

• Monday 1 & Tuesday 2 July: the A30 westbound between Tongue End (Coombe Head) and Sourton, including the Tongue End entry, Meldon entry and Sourton exit slips from 8pm to 6am each night.

• Wednesday 3 July: the Victoria junction on the A30 eastbound will be closed from 8pm to 6am.

• Thursday 4 & Friday 5 July: the A30 eastbound will be closed between Shallowater and Colliford between 8pm and 6am each night.

• Monday 8 July: the Liftondown and Lifton junctions, Stowford exit and entry and the Sourton exit on the eastbound A30 will be closed between 8pm and 6am.

• Tuesday 9 July: the A30 eastbound exit slip will be closed at the Tongue End junction between 8pm to 6am.

• Monday 29 July: the A30 eastbound will be closed between Innis Downs and Carminow from 8pm to 6am.

Please follow signed diversions.

We'll then continue to work our way along the A30. We’ll be posting the latest information about where we’re working here.

We’ll soon be carrying out maintenance on the A303 between Longbarrow and Deptford.

This includes repairs and surveys of the road surface, vegetation clearance, and barrier repairs.

Closure information 

The A303 will be fully closed between the Longbarrow Roundabout and Deptford Interchange from 9pm to 5am on Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 August, with work finishing at 5am on Friday 30 August.

A diversion will be in place for eastbound traffic via the A36 south and A360. For taller vehicles, please follow A36 north, the B390 and A360. For westbound traffic, please follow the same routes in reverse.

Access will be maintained for properties with direct access off the A303 during the closures. Where possible, noisy work will be completed in the early evening so that overnight noise is kept to a minimum.

We’ll soon be carrying out maintenance on the A36 Deptford to the Crockerton Roundabout.

This includes repairs and surveys of the road surface, vegetation clearance, and barrier repairs.

• Closure information

The A36 will be fully closed between Deptford Interchange and the Crockerton Roundabout from 9pm to 5am on Monday 15, Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 July, with work finishing at 5am on Thursday 18 July.

A diversion will be in place in both directions via the A350 and A303.

Access will be maintained for properties with direct access off the A36 during the closures. Where possible, noisy work will be completed in the early evening so that overnight noise is kept to a minimum.

This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress.

The A36 is the most direct route from Bath to Southampton. It's mainly single carriageway and runs for approximately 63 miles through various villages, towns and cities. Parts of the route date back to Roman times.

Cracking has been observed in the southbound section of the footpath running between Limpley Stoke and Monkton Coombe. The extent of the cracking lies within the Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire boundaries. We're currently carrying out detailed surveys to fully understand the scale of the geological defect and monitor movement and groundwater levels within the slope. Safety is our number one priority and traffic management will remain in place to safeguard pedestrians and motorists until our surveys are complete.

A36 Limpley Stoke - March 2022 update

A36 Limpley Stoke - February 2023 update

Updated - Tuesday 18 June

We currently have temporary traffic lights and a reduced speed limit on the A38 near Bodmin following damage to a stone bridge parapet.

Parapets on the bridge over the River Fowey near Bodmin Parkway station were badly damaged after a three-vehicle collision on Saturday afternoon (15 June).

To ensure the continued safety of drivers using the bridge, while keeping it open to traffic, temporary traffic lights have been installed, along with a 40mph speed limit.

We’re working with our maintenance partners to get repairs completed as soon as possible, while ensuring we protect the river below and members of the travelling public.

We’ll be setting up scaffolding later this week to allow us to safely access the outer side of the bridge – where the main damage is – to start our repairs.

Once the scaffolding is in place, we’ll start work to repair the parapets. This is expected to take up to 10 days.

The temporary traffic lights will need to stay in place until our work is complete, currently planned to be by Sunday 30 June.

We advise that drivers using this route plan ahead, allow more time for journeys, and to find alternative routes if at all possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we’re work to make the bridge safe.

The planned closure of the A38 Glynn Valley between Turfdown Cross and Twelvewoods roundabout on Sunday 23 June from 4am to 10am will go ahead as planned. We’ll use this as an additional opportunity to expedite repairs on the River Fowey bridge.

Progress - 28 June

Update 25 June - the planned surveys were partially completed on Sunday 23 June. However, due to unforeseen circumstances at the survey location will need to return at a later date to complete the survey. Once confirmed, we’ll provide more information here and contact local residents.

We’ll not be using our contingency shift on Sunday 30 June for this work.

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We’ll soon be carrying out routine inspections and surveys of the cliff faces along the A38 Glynn Valley.

We normally complete this type of work overnight, however on this occasion we have to complete the surveys in daylight. As the road will be need to be closed to keep everyone safe, we’ll be doing the work in June when the days are longer. We’ll start at 4am and get the road reopened as soon as possible, by 10am at the latest.

• Closure information

Sunday 23 June, 4am to 10am: the A38 will be closed between Turfdown Cross and Twelvewoods roundabout (at the junction with the A390 at Dobwalls). 

If we are unable to complete our work on the date above, we’ll also have the road closed on Sunday 30 June from 4am to 10am. We’ll post more details here. 

Access will be maintained for residents. 

We’ll soon be carrying out resurfacing and improvements on the westbound A38 Liskeard Bypass.

• Closure information

The A38 Liskeard Bypass westbound will be closed between the A390 junction and B3254 junction (Moorswater) weeknights from Monday 8 to Tuesday 16 July between 9pm and 6am each night.

A diversion will be in place via the A390 and B3254.

Access will be maintained for properties with direct access from the A38 westbound within the closure – please approach the closure gate.

This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress.

A38 Glynn Valley will be closed overnight for routine maintenance from 8.30pm in the evening to 6am the following morning:

2024

• 18 to 22 March
• 18 to 22 November

2025

• 17 to 21 March
• 17 to 21 November

Please note these dates may be subject to change.

When overnight closures are in place, please use the following diversion:

Saltash Tunnel will be closed overnight for routine maintenance from 8pm in the evening to 6am the following morning:

2024

• January 9, 10 and 11
• April 9, 10 and 11
• July 9, 10 and 11
• October 8, 9 and 10

2025

• January 7, 8 and 9
• April 8, 9 and 10
• July 8, 9 and 10
• October 7, 8 and 9

Please note these dates may be subject to change.

UPDATE: April 2024

• Due to unforeseen circumstances which have led to changes in our programme of work, we're now expecting to complete these works in May rather than March, as originally published.

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As part of our commitment to safety and air quality, we will shortly begin works to permanently reduce the speed limit between Saltash Tunnel and Carkeel roundabout, from 70mph to 50mph. Average speed cameras will be installed to enforce the 30 mph through the tunnel and we’ll also install average speed cameras on the diversion route through Saltash (the B3271, North Road).

This stretch of the A38 is prone to a high number of shunts and near misses as motorists try to reduce speed on the approach to the tunnel or roundabout. Reducing the speed limit will improve safety and alleviate the need for heavy braking, which in turn should improve air quality.

This is part of a larger package of work affecting Saltash Tunnel, we’ll write with further details nearer the time.

Traffic management

We’ll work overnight Monday to Friday when traffic flows are lowest. Work will take place from 8pm in the evening to 6am the following morning.

• 18 to 30 September – overnight closures of Saltash tunnel
• 2 to 24 October – overnight closures of Saltash tunnel and up to Carkeel roundabout
• 25 October to 7 November – overnight 2-way traffic lights will be in place on the B3271/North Road

We always aim to work to the programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes.

Please note: all enquiries should be directed to National Highways, and not to Tamar Bridge which is independently owned and operated by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Councils.

Update - Wednesday 8 May

Our teams have successfully completed emergency embankment and barrier repairs following the recent landslip.  The A40 was fully reopened at 8.45pm on Tuesday 7 May, slightly ahead of our original planned reopening.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience whilst these urgent repairs were carried out.

We’ll soon be installing a new safety barrier on the section of the M4 near to Bromley Heath.

We’ll carry out this work overnight, when there are fewer vehicles on the road, from Monday 15 July to Thursday 15 August.

During this time, there will be lane and hard shoulder closures on the M4 between junctions 17 and 19 Sunday to Thursdays, 8.30pm to 4.30am. A least one lane will remain open.

Where possible, noisy work will be completed in the early evening so that overnight noise is kept to a minimum.

This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress.

Recent inspections have identified deterioration of the approaches and departures to the link road bridge decks between the M4 eastbound to the M5 southbound, and M4 westbound to the M5 northbound.

Repair work will be carried out over two full weekend closures, and while the M5 and M4 will remain open as usual, drivers should expect delays.

To allow for motorists to continue using the link roads, a 40mph speed limit has been put in place for safety.

Closure information

• 7pm Friday 5 July to 6am Monday 8 July: M4 eastbound to M5 southbound closed for repair work
• 7pm Friday 12 July to 6am Monday 15 July: M4 westbound to M5 northbound closed for repair work

During the closures, please follow signed diversions.

We’re carrying out resurfacing and improvements on the M48 westbound between the Awkley Interchange (M4 junction 21) and junction 1 (Aust Interchange).

This will maintain safety and improve the journey for road users, while preventing the need for unplanned closures.

• Closure information

The westbound M48 will be fully closed between the M4 Awkley Interchange and junction 1 overnight from Saturday 15 June to Tuesday 2 July, 8pm to 6am each night.

• Diversion

During the closures a diversion will be place from the Awkley Interchange via the M4, M49, A4 and A403. The Severn Bridge will be open as usual.

Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journeys.

This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress.

We’ll soon be carrying out resurfacing and improvements on the M5 between junction 13 (Stroudwater Interchange) and junction 15 (M4 / Almondsbury Interchange).

This will maintain safety and improve the journey for road users, while preventing the need for unplanned closures.

• Closure information - updated on 13 June

There will be lane closures on the southbound M5 between junction 13 and junction 15 weeknights from Monday 3 to Thursday 27 June, 8pm to 6am each night. A lane will remain open to traffic.

The southbound exit slip at junction 14 (Falfield Interchange) will be fully closed overnight, 8pm to 6am, on Thursday 13, Friday 14, Monday 17, Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 June. To exit the M5 during the closures, please continue to junction 16 and join the northbound carriageway to return to junction 14.

The southbound entry slip at junction 14 will then be fully closed overnight, 8pm to 6am, on Friday 14 and Monday 17 June. A diversion will be in place via the A38 to junction 16.

There will be no access to the Michelwood Services from the southbound carriageway overnight (8pm to 6am) on Friday 21, Monday 24 June and Wednesday 3 July.

We’ll also be resurfacing the northbound entry slip at junction 14. The slip will be closed overnight (8pm to 6am) on Friday 28 June, Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 July. To join the M5 during the closures, please use the southbound carriageway to travel to junction 16 and where you can join northbound. There will be lane closures during these dates but a lane will remain open to traffic.

We’re carrying out surveys and investigations on the M5 around St Georges Bridge, located near junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare, to help plan for future bridge repairs and safety improvements.

To keep everyone safe, we’re using a mixture of overnight lane and slip road closures.

• Closure information

There will be regular overnight lane closures on both sides of the M5 around junction 21 and St Georges Bridge, Sunday to Thursday only, until the end of June. One lane will remain open for traffic.

You may also notice some temporary cones on the hard shoulder during the day.

We’re planning to start our improvements later this year, and we’ll provide more information closer the time.