Motorists on Cornwall's main road should prepare for long delays over the next seven months.
One lane on the A30 is closed 24/7 in both directions as part of what National Highways described as vital safety work to make some dangerous junctions safer along the route.
The work on the A30 between Kennards House and Five Lanes safety scheme began on September 5 and focuses on six junctions: Plusha, Trevell, Two Bridges, Blackhill Quarry, Polyphant and the Highways maintenance depot.
A National Highways spokesperson said the aim is to improve road safety and divert traffic flows to more suitable junctions, while providing mitigation on local roads.
An interim barrier scheme carried out at the Plusha junction last year has already prevented right turns across the dual carriageway. The additional junction improvements and local authority road adjustments, part of a £9.8 million scheme including £8m of designated safety measures, are aimed at further reducing incidents in the area.
The work follows the death of a pensioner in November 2024, the third fatality in six months. As a result, Plusha earned the nickname "most dangerous junction on the A30".
The roadworks, scheduled to continue until the end of March 2027, have caused long tailbacks, with people reporting journeys of more than an hour and a half between the Jamaica Inn junction and Launceston.
One driver caught in traffic on Friday (September 11) told CornwallLive: "It was crazy. It took me an hour and a half from Bodmin to Launceston."
Another driver said: "It's absolute carnage on all the byroads too."
National Highways said the safety initiative will restrict a number of further right turns, with more graded junctions and clearer visibility a key part of the scheme. In tandem with Cornwall Council, work will also be carried out to improve connecting roads.
The safety project is scheduled to be completed in the spring. The installation of traffic management will require full overnight closures (9pm-6am) of the A30 between Kennards House and Five Lanes from 5 September to 10 September.
Once work is under way, the A30 will have one lane running 24/7 in each direction with a 50mph speed limit, and some occasional overnight westbound and eastbound closures. More details are available on the scheme web page and also via https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/live-travel-updates/road-closure-report/.
Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: "Improving safety on Cornwall’s strategic road network is a shared priority, and we welcome National Highways’ continued investment in measures designed to reduce collisions and make journeys safer for everyone who uses the A30 and A38.
"These routes provide vital connections for our residents, businesses and visitors. We welcome National Highways’ commitment to working with local communities and will continue to support solutions that deliver both safety and connectivity."
Across the South West, National Highways is investing £13 million in road safety this financial year. In the longer term in Cornwall, there are also plans to make safety interventions on the A30 between Camborne and Penzance.
Further information on the A30 improvements can be found here.
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A30 Lane Closures in Both Directions for Seven Months