National Highways: A38 Saltash Tunnel

August 2025 update
We’re currently carrying out an extensive programme of work to upgrade the technology in and around the tunnel, including the control system. This update of the systems will future-proof the structure for many years to come.

Scheme update
We’re progressing phase one of our works as we continue our major upgrades to the A38 Saltash Tunnel.

Piling works and concrete foundations are now complete. This paves the way for installation of four, eight by nine-metre gantries at the end of August. The new gantries will house electronic information signs displaying live traffic and travel information.

The ducts underneath the road that will eventually house the new cabling, are in place. The team are continuing their works to pull huge swaths of cabling through the tunnel to the bridge and out to the separate control buildings.

Switch to rail, this September!
As a result of close collaboration between National Highways and Great Western Railway (GWR), GWR have been able to commit to a limited number of temporary additional train calls at Saltash (up to 29 train calls per day) for the duration of the tunnel works to help ease congestion in the area. For the residents of Saltash, this means more trains than ever offering a 10-minute journey time into Plymouth for as little as £2.75 if you hold a railcard.

For customers from South East Cornwall wanting to avoid the extra journey time by road this autumn, Park & Ride car parking capacity is available at Liskeard Station, with every train stopping throughout the day and non-stop trains taking only 25 minutes to reach Plymouth, offering the potential for significant journey time savings during the works.

August Bank Holiday
Work on the Saltash Tunnel scheme will stop over the bank holiday weekend. Speed restrictions and traffic management will remain in place. Work will pause on Friday morning at 6am until Tuesday at 8pm.

September Westbound resurfacing scheme
National Highways are undertaking resurfacing of the A38 between St Budeaux and the Tamar Bridge Toll Plaza from the 1 to 26 September, overnight on weekdays. Please be aware that a new road layout will be in force, more information is available at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/sw-maintenance , under A38 St Budeaux to Tamar resurfacing. The Saltash Tunnel Scheme will be paused at this location during this time and will resume on the 1 October.

Further scheme background
For up-to-date travel information, please check our travel alerts page or visit Traffic England.

Please note that as with any complex scheme, dates are subject to change.

As we move through the scheme, dates will be announced and kept up to date on our dedicated webpage. Please check online for the latest information. You can also sign up via the webpage to receive notifications when new information has been added.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused but thank you for your continued understanding.

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