Helston’s Meneage Street faces traffic lights until December

If you use the bottom end of Meneage Street in Helston, give yourself a few extra minutes from this Monday (5 October). Temporary traffic lights are going up, and they are staying until the job is finished.

And that won’t be until December.

What’s happening on Meneage Street

Highway improvement works by Cornwall Council begin on Monday 5 October and are expected to be completed by Friday 11 December. The project is being delivered by CORMAC, and the news was shared locally by Helston Town Council.

The works area marked on the project map sits at the southern end of Meneage Street, with a section running up into Parade.

It is the second phase of the Helston Gateway Scheme, which builds on improvements already delivered at Monument Road. The aim is to improve safety, accessibility and connectivity for everyone travelling through the town centre, while creating a more welcoming gateway into Helston’s main shopping area.

A new zebra crossing and wider footways

Three main changes are planned.

• A new zebra crossing to give pedestrians a safer place to cross.
• Wider footways, giving people more room to walk and improving accessibility for all users.
• A raised table-top crossing, designed to help reduce vehicle speeds as traffic enters the town centre.

The table-top crossing is intended to support a more pedestrian-friendly environment and encourage lower speeds through the area.

Traffic lights and working hours

Temporary two-way traffic lights will be in operation throughout the project. For the safety of all road users, the traffic management will remain in place until the works are complete.

Work will take place between 7:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Most of it will happen in those hours, but occasional weekend working may be needed to keep the project on schedule. Road users are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Overnight resurfacing to follow

Once the civil engineering works are finished, the road will be resurfaced. That part will be done overnight and will need temporary road closures. Further information on the timing of the closures and any diversion routes will be provided in advance.

The Remembrance Parade will go ahead

The works have been programmed so the Helston Remembrance Parade can take place as planned on Sunday 8 November, with disruption kept to a minimum.

If you’re on foot

Barrier systems will be in place to separate pedestrians from the works and guide them around. Residents affected by the work will be contacted directly.

While the footway work is taking place, people are asked to watch out for:

• Uneven road surfaces where the old surface has been removed
• Raised manholes, gullies and other service boxes
• Machinery and vehicles being stored temporarily

Updates and getting in touch

Live information on roadworks, closures and diversions across the network is on one.network. CORMAC also publishes its programme of works across Cornwall. Pick your local Community Area Partnership under ‘More detail for local areas’ and click ‘Highways Work Programme’. If you’re not sure which one covers you, Cornwall Council has a page to find your Community Area Partnership.

Questions about the improvement works go to [email protected]. For the resurfacing, email [email protected].

Problems with a road, highway or footway can be reported to Cornwall Council online. Anything that poses a threat to public safety should be phoned through on 0300 1234 222, a 24-hour line, with details of the location.

📷The Meneage Street works area in Helston, marked in black. Credit: Cornwall Council / CORMAC