Bridge Resurfacing – Bank holiday weekend traffic update
Four traffic lanes on Tamar Bridge to be provided over bank holiday weekend
25 August 2021
Thanks to the continued good progress being made by VolkerLaser on carrying out the second phase of the Tamar Bridge resurfacing project, work on the north half of the main deck is due to be completed on Thursday evening (26 August), five days ahead of schedule, enabling us to provide four traffic lanes over the bank holiday weekend.
Work on the north half of the deck was originally due to be completed by the end of August. The earlier completion means that, rather than immediately moving the works onto the south half of the deck, four vehicle lanes will be operating between the afternoon of Friday, 27 August and the evening of Monday, 30 August to help ease congestion over the bank holiday weekend. The centre lane of the main deck will remain closed, and we will provide two east bound lanes and two west bound lanes throughout the period.
As work on the south side of the main deck was not due to begin until the middle of next week, the decision to suspend works and return the bridge to four traffic lanes over the bank holiday weekend will not impact on the final phase of the programme.
“We are delighted that we will be able to provide four traffic lanes on the bridge over the bank holiday weekend”
“We know that this summer has been particularly busy as many more people than usual have chosen to visit Cornwall as a result of the overseas travel restrictions caused by COVID. We are also very aware of the significant impact of the resurfacing works on local residents, commuters, bus and coach companies and the haulage industry and are continuing to do everything we can to minimise disruption.
“Our contractor has worked hard to complete this current phase in time for what is likely to be an extremely busy weekend. The opening of the additional lane will enable the control room staff to respond to any incidents or accidents on the bridge more quickly, reducing traffic build up and potential delays. “
Councillors Martin Worth and Jonathan Drean.
We are pleased to be in a position where we can complete this phase earlier than programmed in order to free up an additional running lane for Tamar control during what is predicted to be a busy weekend”
Nathan Wakfer
Traffic management arrangements for the south side of the deck will now be introduced on the evening of Monday, 30 August so that they are in place for the contractor to start work on Tuesday morning.
The next phase will see the westbound lane and centre lane on the main deck closed to traffic, with the remaining lane used as the tidal flow lane to help manage traffic flows.
The north cantilever will continue to be used for eastbound traffic from Cornwall and for local Saltash traffic, with lane 7 on the toll plaza acting as a tag only lane as normal. The south cantilever will remain open for westbound traffic travelling from Plymouth into Cornwall. The shuttle bus service will continue to operate as normal.
As the move onto to south side of the deck and the associated traffic management arrangements will be unfamiliar to many users, we ask that drivers pay particular attention to the new lane layouts, traffic signs and prevailing traffic conditions.