North Lane closure near West Taphouse angers Cornwall drivers due to delays and perceived lack of work.
The road closure forces drivers to use longer routes. These detours add 20 to 30 minutes to their trips, causing frustration and delays. Phil stated the actual road work seems to have not yet started.
Cormac, the council’s contractor, manages the road. They said the closure allows for safe ground surveys. Phil feels closing the road early is wrong. He reports Cormac only put up fencing that blocks the road.
Now commuters must take much longer routes. Phil uses that road often, as do people from nearby towns. It connects Fowey, Polperro, and other towns to the A390, frequented by many cars.
Locals are very frustrated by the closure. Phil believes it was not necessary and expected preparatory work before the closure. He filmed the closure on January 28, aiming to show no work had started.
The road had been closed for three months already. Alternative routes are available, but Phil thinks those roads are more dangerous because they are narrower and some drivers don’t understand right-of-way rules.
These drivers make navigating hills harder for others. Cormac said the road closed initially for subsidence, or sinking, and they reopened it after making the area safe. The road closed again because safety equipment kept being moved, risking more instability.
The final repairs begin in late February and will last four to five weeks. Cormac explained their initial closure reason. Cormac reopened the road to light traffic after initial safety work. Problems arose with site protection equipment being moved, so they had to fully close it.
They want to reopen the road quickly and know the closure inconveniences people. Cormac did ground surveys and testing while the road remained shut because this work could not safely occur with traffic.
The final repairs begin late February, lasting four to five weeks.