National Highways is advising drivers travelling on the A30 in Cornwall this weekend to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys ahead of a bridge lifting operation.

As part of the company's A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade, a new 137-foot accommodation bridge is due to be lifted into place at Tolgroggan, near Zelah.

The operation has twice been rescheduled to this coming weekend, to allow for suitable ground conditions to enable a 600-tonne crawler crane to lift the 275-tonne bridge deck into place.

To facilitate the lifting operation, the A30 will be closed between the Boxheater Junction and Chiverton Cross roundabout from 8pm this evening (Friday, 17 February) and reopened to traffic by 6am on Monday, 20 February.

Clearly signed diversions will be in place, with eastbound traffic diverted via the A3075 to Goonhavern and the B3285 to rejoin the A30. The westbound diversion will operate in reverse, with the B3284 remaining open under temporary traffic signals north and south across the Chybucca roundabout.

Neil Winter, Senior Project Manager for National Highways' A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme, said: "We appreciate the closure will have an effect on journey times, and we understand roadworks can be frustrating, but we are carrying out this essential work over one weekend to minimise disruption.

"Conditions are expected to be favourable for this weekend, we've communicated the closure well in advance to local communities and businesses and in the meantime, we thank drivers for their patience while the work takes place."

The lifting operation is dependent on weekend wind strengths, and with conditions favourable and should the installation be completed earlier than anticipated, the road could be reopened earlier than 6am Monday. This will be announced via roadside messaging, via www.trafficengland.com and Twitter updates on @HighwaysSWEST.