M62 - Your Local History
A lot of finds were uncovered during the archaeological evaluation carried out for the M62 Junction 6 Improvement scheme so we thought it would be nice to provide an interactive website so you can see what we found.
Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions
Don't Cross or Walk Along Motorways
The Highways Agency aims to make more people aware of the dangers of walking or crossing our motorway. We have launched a poster and radio campaign aimed at 16-25yr olds. Hopefully with our hard hitting posters, our message will come across.
Educating tomorrow's drivers
See how we are driving through key messages about safety on our network for the drivers of tomorrow.
Meet the Ancestors
Find out about the history of roads and the work the Agency does to preserve archaeological remains.
See when traffic will be lightest
Our traffic forecaster can help get you there quicker
The A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens Scheme - Archaeology and Ecology
Introduction
The A30 trunk road runs the length of Cornwall, linking Penzance with Exeter in Devon. The Bodmin to Indian Queens section has formed a bottleneck on the route for many years. The road was a single carriageway and became notorious for accidents caused by the low head-room 'Iron Bridge' on Goss Moor.
In 2002 the Highways Agency appointed Alfred McAlpine and their designer Scott Wilson to design and construct the necessary road improvements. The team has now finished building 11.5km of new dual carriageway, nine bridges, 6.5km of side road, as well as extensive landscaping and environmental works. Through the lifetime of the project, Mouchel Parkman and RPS have provided Highways Agency with expert advice. The 'Early Contractor Involvement' scheme has enabled the team to adopt a strong partnering approach, dealing with archaeological and ecological matters in a positive and proactive manner.
Plans for the new road have been under consideration since the 1970s. However, the need for an improvement has grown dramatically. Daily traffic has increased by 73%, leading to increased congestion and traffic delays, particularly in the holiday periods. Design work on the £93 million road scheme began in earnest in 2002. Our aim was to reduce congestion, improve reliability and road safety, while respecting the environment.
The road scheme had to be built through some important areas for wildlife, including a National Nature Reserve at Goss and Tregoss Moors, which is protected under British and European law. We have taken this as an opportunity to improve the local environment.
The route considered at the Public Inquiry made it possible for us to re-create a link between Goss and Tregoss Moors, while also satisfying the needs of road users. Our aim has been to ensure the long-term survival of the plants and animals that live alongside the new route, which include rare species in danger of extinction, such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly.
The distinctive character and ecology of the modern landscape has been shaped as much by thousands of years of human activity as by natural processes. Prehistoric earthwork monuments, fossilised medieval strip fields and the overgrown traces of old tin-workings, can all be seen alongside the road. The new road was carefully designed to avoid damaging known ancient monuments, but its construction was also an opportunity to make new discoveries. A team from Oxford Archaeology carried out large scale investigations which will help to build up a picture of human life and environmental change in Cornwall over the last 4,500 years - a venture that would not have been possible without the construction of the new road.
The old road across Goss Moor has been reduced to a bridleway, which will open up the countryside for the enjoyment of everyone, allowing people to experience for themselves the rich legacy of this historic moorland landscape.
