It is not difficult to understand why this beautiful part of Cornwall has become one of the most popular towns in the country with its beautiful beaches, harbour and charming shops and restaurants.

Now, it is even easier to visit thanks to the long-awiated opening of a new £330million dual carriageway.

The picturesque fishing town of St. Ives has often been called the “jewel in Cornwall’s crown”, according to Cornish Secrets.

It lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the Celtic Sea coast, and is renowned for its surf beaches.

Having been home to some of the world’s best artists and sculptors, St. Ives has become a world-renowned art centre with many studios and galleries.

It is now primarily a popular seaside resort, achieving the title of the Best UK Seaside Town from the British Travel Award in both 2010 and 2011.

St. Ives has some of the mildest winters and warmest summers in Britain and Northern Europe. It also benefits from an amount of sunshine per year that is above the national average.

Compliments of St Ives are abundant on Tripadvisor, with one describing the town as “one of the most beautiful parts of the UK” while another said: “Fantastic area of outstanding natural beauty, clear blue sea and golden sandy beaches, lovely restaurants, and shops.”

The added bonus is that a new £330 million dual carriageway has opened on the A30, just in time for the tourist rush this summer. It has been eagerly awaited by tourists and locals alike.

The dualling scheme between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross was completed and opened for the first time at 6am on Monday after four years of delays, closures and diversions.

Work, which began in March 2020, included 10 new underpasses and underbridges, three new bridges and 33 new culverts and crossings for wildlife. This includes nine tunnel crossings for otters and no artificial lighting on either the main route or at junctions to cut light pollution.

The dual carriageway aims to cut congestion and improve safety and connections between the places along the route.

Motorists, having previously had to crawl along a single-lane road with top speeds of 30mph, can now enjoy a smooth 70mph drive before the road narrows again for the final 15 miles. This will significantly reduce journey times and hopefully cut down on the number of traffic jams during peak times.

Previously, at times walking would have been faster, reported Cornwall Live.

National Highways and contractor, Costain, have confirmed that work will continue for the next six months to complete access roads, slip roads, junctions, bridges and tunnels, signage, as well as planting miles of Cornish hedges.

“By providing a more reliable and efficient route, the upgrade will help distribute traffic more evenly and reduce bottlenecks,” said highwaysindustry.com.