The eagerly anticipated, and much needed A30 Carland to Chiverton improvement works are now firmly underway, with motorists now able to see the work in motion.
However, work for this mammoth project began several years ago, and the Cornwall Mining Consultants team played an important role in the initial research and ground investigations phases.
With its rich mining heritage, the Cornish land is littered with old mine shafts, abandoned workings, mine entrances and various other industry associated hazards. For many of us, this is ancient history and applying such thinking to a modern road project may seem disjointed however, it is precisely this legacy that causes much of the damage to modern properties and transport networks today.
Therefore, it is absolutely vital to have a clear understanding of the ground beneath our feet prior to undertaking such a large project and this is where our mining investigation expertise comes in.
Bringing over thirty years of expertise and considerable local knowledge, our involvement entailed predicting and identifying mining subsidence hazards that may threaten the road and relaying this crucial information to project designers and engineers.
Following this, we spent time investigating the area to warn contractors of any dangers or hazards that might jeopardise their work force during the project.
Working closely alongside a local external archaeological team, we discovered an area of concern very close to Carland Cross. Our detailed investigations uncovered a large unsecured engine shaft, which would have been incredibly dangerous to the road engineers. Thanks to our findings, this area is now fenced off and being actively avoided allowing road construction work to proceed safely.
As for what the new A30 Carland to Chiverton stretch may look like? Well it’s all rather exciting as this fantastic animation shows – it really will transform the future of Cornwall!