New Cambridge To Bedford Road Unveiled
18 February 2019, 13:11 | Updated: 18 February 2019, 13:15
Thousands of drivers between Cambridge and Bedford are set to benefit from a £1bn upgrade to the regional road network between Bedford and Cambridge.
And a brand new, 10 mile dual carriageway will link directly between the upgraded Black Cat junction and the Caxton Gibbet roundabout near Cambourne in Cambridgeshire, with a new junction at Cambridge road and new bridges.
Options for the new road scheme were put to the public in 2017, and the route being announced today combines the best mix of benefits and were also the most popular options at consultation.
Highways England project lead Lee Galloway said:
"This major new dual carriageway between St Neots and Cambridge and upgrade for the Black Cat junction will mean quicker and safer journeys for people and will also boost the economy and unlock housing.
"Well over 4,000 people took part in our consultation last year, with more than 2,000 people attending one of our public events, and it is great to see that our proposals have such strong backing.
Currently, the A428 between the A1 at Black Cat and the A1198 at Caxton Gibbet is a single carriageway with a series of roundabouts and give-way junctions.
The improvements will tackle these delays by creating a new dual carriageway, with junctions served by slip roads, and bridges to carry local roads over it.
Retaining the existing A428 for local traffic will offer significant benefits for communities along the route, while four new routes for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians will maintain and improve access across the new road.
Three options for the new road were put to the public in 2017, along with three options for the junction upgrade. The chosen options announced today were referred to at the consultation as the Orange Route and Option C respectively.
The scheme is valued between £810m and £1.4bn, and is being funded by the Government's £15bn Road Investment Strategy, the biggest investment in road infrastructure since the 1970s.
Today's announcement paves the way for a further, more detailed consultation later in 2019, and a planning application, expected in 2020. Subject to statutory processes, main construction work on the upgrade could start before April 2022.
For more information about the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements and to keep up to date, visit www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A428