Saltash tunnel electrics to get £25m refurbishment

The 36-year old tunnel is used by about 40,000 vehicles every day, which also travel on the Tamar Bridge

Lights and electrics in the Saltash tunnel on the A38 between Cornwall and Plymouth are to have a major upgrade over the next year, National Highways says.

The £25m upgrade would refurbish electrics, traffic control systems and lights in the 36-year old tunnel, which was used by about 40,000 vehicles every day that also crossed the Tamar Bridge, project bosses said.

The main work was planned to happen in two phases in the new year and next summer, but survey work and some repairs would be carried out over the next two weeks, they added.

National Highways said the work in December would be carried out overnight with traffic being diverted via the B3271 and North Road.

Ian Ellis, from National Highways, said regular tunnel users would "recognise the overheard lane control signs", which tell people which lane they are in, adding "this is part of the technology that we're going to upgrading".

Meanwhile, a £1.3m drainage improvement scheme on the A38 near Notter Bridge outside Saltash is due to be completed by Christmas, highways bosses said.