WORK to resurface a busy main road will start later this month – leading to disruption including daytime closures and a diversion of around 25 miles.

The works, to be carried out by Cormac for Cornwall Council, will start on Monday, January 22, and last until around February 9.

The A390 road in Gunnislake will be closed to through traffic, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

A council spokesperson said: ‘Access to homes and local amenities will be maintained as much as possible. 

‘Traffic marshals will be on site at key locations to help provide access through the works for residents and those needing critical facilities, such as the doctor’s surgery. 

‘The morning run of school buses will not be affected, and access will be managed for the afternoon pick-up, although the work may have some impact on timings.’

The diversion will take traffic through Callington, Treburley and Milton Abbot.

Steve Pearce, Cormac’s area surfacing manager, said: ‘We appreciate our works can cause disruption.

‘Unfortunately, the road is too narrow to allow us to maintain any sort of traffic flow while we are working, so we cannot install traffic lights.

‘This leaves a closure as our only option.

‘Road closures are always going to have an impact, regardless of the time of day or time of year, but we always do what we can to minimise the disturbance to our local communities.

‘This is one reason why the work is being undertaken in winter, well away from the tourism season.’

Cllr Andrew Long, Cornwall councillor for Callington, said: ‘It is clear that the resurfacing work needs doing.

‘The road as it stands is not fit for purpose, and everyone would like a smooth, modern transport link able to meet the requirements of the 6,000 or so traffic movements we see passing through Gunnislake every day.

‘However, the geography of this section of the road makes closing just one lane at a time impossible and, therefore, Cormac has had to look at an alternative plan.’