Minister cuts turf for new bypass

About 21,000 vehicles a day travel through Dobwalls

Construction on a new multi-million pound bypass in Cornwall has officially begun.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman cut the turf on the site of the £42m Dobwalls bypass scheme on Tuesday.

When completed, the new road will take 90% of the traffic that uses the A38 through Cornwall away from the village.

About 21,000 vehicles a day currently go through Dobwalls, with the number increasing by about 20% during the tourist season.

The bypass will take traffic to the north on a 1.5 mile (3km) stretch of dual carriageway.

The need for a bypass was first identified in the 1960s and was finally given approval last August after a public inquiry.

Mr Ladyman also visited the newly completed £12m Merrymeet junction at Whiddon Down on the A30 in Devon, which the government said removed a major bottleneck for people travelling through Devon into Cornwall.