Safety scheme gets under way to reduce speed limit on A38 Plymouth Parkway
National Highways is taking a significant first step towards improving safety along the A38 Plymouth Parkway by reducing the speed limit from 70mph to 60mph.
The A38 Parkway speed reduction scheme follows a safety review which revealed that the collision rate is double the national average – the latest validated collision data identified a total of 157 collisions on the A38 Parkway, resulting in 226 injuries between 2020 and 2024.
After announcing the proposed speed reduction in September and following a statutory consultation period, the company will start a scheme on Monday (17 November) to install new 60mph signage on the roadside and bridges between the Marsh Mills interchange and the Tamar Bridge.
Jack Mason, National Highways’ South West Road Safety Manager, said: “The initiative follows a long-term safety review and is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the number of people harmed on the region's roads.
“The speed reduction will reduce the number and severity of collisions and is the first step towards improving safety for motorists on the A38 Parkway and for local communities.
“As outlined in the consultation process, we’ll continue to monitor the safety and performance of the route, and make any future interventions where needed. We work closely with police and local authority partners, and already there are further improvements being planned for Manadon and Deep Lane.
“In the meantime, we thank people for their patience while we carry out this work, and once completed and the order comes into effect and enforceable, the reduced speed limit will add only 49 seconds to people’s journeys between Marsh Mills and the Tamar Bridge.”
Signage installation, road marking and electrical work will take place under a series of overnight lane closures and exit and entry slip road closures and where necessary clearly signed diversion routes will be in place.
The scheme is anticipated to be finished by 22 December with the new permanent speed limit live and enforceable soon after, while temporary speed restrictions currently in place on the A38 as part of the works to upgrade the Saltash Tunnel will be removed once that scheme is completed.
The company, responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, has recently delivered an average speed camera scheme on the A38 between Carkeel and Trerulefoot in Cornwall, as part of the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership, along with further speed reduction schemes on the A46 near Bath and the A40 in Gloucestershire.
Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety for Devon & Cornwall Police, said: “We are working closely with all our road safety partners and we welcome National Highways’ efforts to improve driver safety on the A38 along the Plymouth Parkway.
“Inappropriate and excess speed, and not abiding by speed limits, is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that most commonly contribute to fatal and serious injury collisions.”
Further scheme details are available at National Highways' South West web page.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
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