Clever engineering techniques on the A38 Dobwalls bypass are being used to construct a new tunnel over the main railway line at Dobwalls, near Liskeard, without interrupting road or rail services.

The work is nearing completion and once finished the tunnel will allow traffic to be carried over the railway line and onto the re-aligned A390 to St Austell.

The project is being carried out by transporting huge precast concrete arches from Northern Ireland to Dobwalls, arriving overnight to limit delays for road users.

The arches are then carefully stored by the side of the railway line until they can be shifted into place with millimetric precision in the dead of night without any interruption to train services.

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Highways Agency project manager, Andrew Alcorn, said: "This advanced engineering project is being carried out without interruption to road or rail users and we would like to thank Network Rail for their co-operation in helping our contractors carry out the scheme."

By working together the Highways Agency and Network Rail has been able to limit any impact to rail and road users and ensure that the scheme has been planned and phased well in advance. The A38 Dobwalls bypass scheme highlights the agreement recently made between the two transport bodies when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Jerry England, Director of Civil Engineering at Network Rail, said: "Schemes like this demonstrate how well we work together, and our new agreement will enable us to continue to forge a strong relationship for mutual benefit while we develop and enhance our respective networks."

(JM/CD)