A MAJOR route which has been closed for construction for months has seen work thrown into chaos after an ancient mine opened up in the surface.
Plans for the £86 million route are now up in the air after the discovery of a nearly 10ft deep fissure the earth below.
An £86 million road-building project has been hit by a bizarre issue[/caption]
The entrance to an ‘unmapped’ ancient mine has opened in the middle of the work site[/caption]
The new A30 link road in Cornwall has been years in the making and has attracted a whopping funding package.
The idea is to connect two existing A-roads via a new 3.9-mile single carriageway and improve links to the growing economic hub of St Austell.
Initially due to be completed in Spring 2025, the project now faces uncertainty after an unexpected discovery.
A massive chasm has opened up right in the middle of the work site as it appears that the entrance to ancient mine was disturbed by the construction.
The crevice has gouged out about 10ft of earth, while at one end there is a “black hole” believed to be the mineshaft itself.
It is thought to lead to a long-forgotten tin mine that has remained “unmapped” for centuries.
The delay represents a significant hit to the taxpayer as both local and national government funding has gone into the project.
Work was already delayed by around two years on the “vital” road due to pandemic restrictions.
However, Cornwall Council insists that the road will be completed on schedule despite the mine opening.
A spokesperson said: “Given Cornwall’s rich mining history, it is not unusual for unmapped mining features to be discovered during the construction process.
“We have recently uncovered two features along the route and investigation works are underway to determine the best course of remediation.
“We do not anticipate any delays or additional costs as a consequence of this event and the road is still anticipated to be fully opened in Spring 2025.”
It comes after a major motorway used by 130,000 vehicles daily began a series of closures this week.
The mineshaft could run hundreds of feet deep[/caption]
