A broken-down coach caused significant traffic disruption close to the Devon and Cornwall border on Thursday evening, leading to lengthy queues and frustration for commuters.
The incident happened on the westbound A38 at the Tamar Bridge near Saltash at about 17:15 BST, forcing the closure of one lane of the dual carriageway during the peak of rush-hour travel.
National Highways confirmed that at its height, traffic congestion stretched for around four miles (6.4km), with drivers experiencing considerable delays as they attempted to cross between Devon and Cornwall.
Witnesses described traffic building rapidly as vehicles queued behind the stranded coach. The closure of one of the bridge’s lanes, which is a critical link between Plymouth and Cornwall, left motorists facing extended journey times.
Some commuters reported waiting more than 40 minutes to cross the bridge. With heavy evening traffic already expected, the breakdown created a bottleneck, worsening congestion throughout the surrounding road network.
Emergency services were not required at the scene, but recovery teams were quickly dispatched to remove the coach and restore normal traffic flow. By 18:20 BST, National Highways announced via X (formerly Twitter) that all lanes on the Tamar Bridge had reopened.
In a statement, National Highways said: “We can confirm that all lanes have now reopened on the westbound A38 near Saltash after an earlier vehicle breakdown. Thank you for your patience while the recovery was completed.”
The Tamar Bridge, jointly managed by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council, is a vital crossing that carries thousands of vehicles daily between the two counties. Any disruption on the A38 at this point typically has an immediate impact on traffic across the wider region.
The evening breakdown highlights the vulnerability of key transport links in the South West. With limited alternative routes across the River Tamar, even a single-lane closure can lead to major congestion and inconvenience for commuters, holidaymakers, and freight vehicles.
Motorists travelling westbound reported long queues on approach to Saltash, with tailbacks extending towards Plymouth. Eastbound traffic was largely unaffected, though congestion at nearby junctions increased as drivers sought to divert.
This is not the first time the Tamar Bridge has seen disruption in recent months. Earlier this summer, roadworks and scheduled maintenance caused similar queues, sparking criticism from regular commuters who rely on the crossing daily.
While Thursday’s incident was resolved within an hour, it served as a reminder of the fragility of traffic flow on one of the South West’s most important highways. National Highways advised drivers to check travel updates before setting off to avoid delays caused by unforeseen breakdowns and lane closures.
With the autumn travel season underway and tourist traffic still filtering through the region, authorities are urging motorists to plan ahead and allow extra time when crossing the Tamar Bridge. For many, Thursday evening’s breakdown was an unwelcome reminder of how easily one stranded vehicle can disrupt thousands of journeys.
