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Vital Link - Works Begin

works on A390 underpass

Tuesday, 31st July 2007

Work begins later this month to create a pedestrian underpass beneath the A390 Tavistock to Gunnislake road, at Gulworthy.

This major piece of engineering, costing around £600,000, is part of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project, improving access to, and telling the story of, the area’s rich mining heritage.

The underpass is a vital link in the 63km of new tracks and trails that are being created as part of the project.  It will connect Devon Great Consols, once the largest copper mine in Europe, to the rest of the trail network, providing a safe crossing point for visitors.

Barry Gamble, Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project Consultant, explains the importance of this piece of work, ‘The underpass will join up the old mineral railway, the course of which has remained wholly intact to this day. It was built between 1857-9 and paid for by the mine itself with permission from the Duke of Bedford. Bringing the tramway back into re-use in this sustainable way is meaningful conservation and enhances the authenticity and integrity of the whole system, particularly now that the area is part of the World Heritage Site.

Mr Gamble continues, ‘A longer-term aim of the project is to open up the entire tramway from Morwellham to Devon Great Consols, enabling walkers and cyclists to enjoy an off-road route of 4 ½ miles’.

Traffic lights will control the flow of traffic at Gulworthy, from the middle of August. A new piece of temporary road will be put into place to direct vehicles around the work site. The work, undertaken by a contractor, is expected to last around 4 months. The tracks and trails should be open for the public to enjoy early next year.

The works are part funded through the SW England Objective 2, European Funds, Devon Rural Renaissance, SWRDA, Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council.

The Tamar Valley AONB team and West Devon Borough Council apologise for any disruption caused during the work. If you would like to be kept up-to-date with the progress of the Mining Heritage Project, or any other aspect of the AONB’s work, please contact 01579 351681 or email cdancer@tamarvalley.org.uk for your free monthly news bulletin.

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