'Traffic-free' bridge over A30 in Cornwall opens

The bridge was designed for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

A new "traffic-free" bridge over the A30 at Chiverton in Cornwall has opened, a council has said.

The 48m (157ft) structure for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders had been installed as part of ongoing road upgrades, project bosses said.

Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council's cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said the opening was a "significant achievement".

It forms part of the Saints Trail, linking St Agnes and Threemilestone.

Mr Williams-Pears said the structure, installed by Costain, included some "iconic design features to reflect the nearby Cornish Mining World Heritage areas".

"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," he said.

"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."

Active travel choices

Cornwall Council said it was providing £2m for the Saints Trails project, with most of the funding (£11.9m) coming from National Highways.

The trails will provide about 13km (8 miles) of off-road and on-road paths.

Andy Clarke, director for integrated transport at Costain, said the new bridge would encourage people to make more sustainable active travel 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," he said.

While the bridge is open for use, the council said the off-road route from St Agnes to Threemilestone would not be finished until later this year.