18 May 2012
Road users in the South West are being advised that a section of the A38 at Plymouth will be closed tomorrow evening (Saturday 19 May) to allow the Olympic Torch Relay to cross the Tamar Bridge.
The convoy starts the first day of its journey on Saturday at Land’s End in Cornwall before making its way to Newlyn, Penance, Marazion, Ashton, Helston, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Stenalees, Lanivet, Bodmin, Liseard and Saltash before reaching the Tamar Bridge at Plymouth.
The bridge and a section of the A38 will be closed in both directions to allow the Torch to cross it.
Eastbound the A38 will be closed on the approach to Saltash Tunnel from 6.30pm and road users will be diverted on to North Road in Saltash, then back on to the northern cantilever of the Tamar Bridge to continue their journeys . The eastbound carriageway of the bridge will remain closed to traffic until the torch convoy have passed through. The closure is likely to be lifted at approximately 7.45pm.
Westbound the A38 will be closed at 7.45pm for approximately 15 minutes to facilitate the handover of the Torch between Cornwall and Plymouth. Traffic will be held adjacent to the toll booths on the approach to the Tamar Bridge until this is completed.
Mike Wilson, Highways Agency regional director for the South West, said:
“Road users who are planning to use routes in the South West affected by the Olympic Torch Relay can help us to help them by planning their journey in advance and leaving extra time, as our roads in the area are likely to be busy while the Torch is moving through.
“We will use our electronic message signs to give drivers information about any diversions and delays, and provide up-to-the minute information about traffic conditions on the motorways and other major roads we manage using local radio. People can use a range of Highways Agency mobile services to check the traffic conditions on these routes before they leave or when parked - they include an iPhone app, mobile website and regular updates on our Twitter feed at @HAtraffic_swest.”
Highways Agency Traffic Officers will be patrolling the motorways in the South West to clear any incidents quickly, while staff at our regional control centre at Avonmouth will be monitoring the network via CCTV and using other state-of-the-art technology to keep traffic moving.
The Olympic Torch Relay will remain in the South West region until Thursday, May 24. Roads managed by the Highways Agency which may be affected during this period, either because the torch is travelling along or near them, include the A30, A38, A303, A36, M32, M4 and A419.
The torch re-enters the region on Wednesday, July 11 at Salisbury.
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