Highways: respecting the environment

Few ‘ greenfield’ road schemes attract the unequivocal support of the environmental lobby but the £93million A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens has proved the exception.

Mouchel acted as Employer’s Agent for this 11.5km dual carriageway, which opened ahead of programme in early summer 2007.

The new road gains its environmental credentials by virtue of careful route planning, which draws traffic away from the European Special Area of Conservation known as Goss Moor, south of Bodmin, and in so doing returns one of England’s largest wetland and heath-land area to its natural state.

The existing A30 will in part be removed, to be replaced with a bridleway and footpath to support more sustainable pursuits.

In constructing the road, our team was involved in relocating 361 reptiles and 164 amphibians, in constructing mammal tunnels to allow animals such as otters to cross the road in safety, and in the planting of some 86,000 trees and shrubs.

Highway earthworks also provided an opportunity to accommodate around 700,000 tonnes of waste material from the china clay industry in nearby St Austell.

We’re proud to take part on schemes of this nature, which enhance rather than detract from the natural environment as well as providing important improvements in the transport infrastructure; and the expertise of our highway and environmental specialists continues to be sought for sensitive projects such as this.