Saltash Tunnel
 The Eastern portal of the Saltash Tunnel. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | West of the Tamar Bridge, Saltash, Cornwall, UK |
| Status | Active |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Owner | Highways Agency |
| Operator | Highways Agency |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 410m |
| Operating speed | 30mph |
The Saltash Tunnel is a road tunnel on the A38 at Saltash in Cornwall, UK and was opened in 1988.
The central lane operates as a reversible lane to cope with holiday and rush hour traffic and the speed limit is 30 mph.[1] The tunnel is used by more than 38,000 motorists per day and is 410 m long.[2] It was designed by Mott, Hay and Anderson, built by Balfour Beatty, and has a design life of at least 100 years.[3]
Construction
During construction of the tunnel a problem was encountered with flooding due to the saturation of the surrounding rocks. The resultant flow of water was channelled through the tunnel, hidden by a decorative cladding. Within a few months this cladding had begun to crack and water entered the part of the tunnel reserved for traffic; although no structural problems were found the water staining on the cladding gave the impression of a poorly built tunnel.[4] This was commented upon in Parliament by the local MP, Colin Breed, and a £7.4 million renovation project was contracted to Skanska to provide for a new tunnel lining and improvements to the electrical system.[5]
See also
References
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Coordinates: 50°24′42″N 4°12′54″W / 50.41161°N 4.21496°W