The work will provide an additional lane in both directions between Girton and Histon. The westbound access roads to the M11 and A14 will also be improved.
The scheme begins on Monday (April 14) and subject to weather conditions, will last for approximately eight months. The work will take place primarily during the day using narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to minimise disruption. Some overnight lane and road closures will be required and traffic will be diverted onto well signed diversion routes.
The work is part of a £317 million pinch point improvement programme designed to boost local economies, reduce congestion and improve safety on the strategic road network in England. The programme is part of the UK Government’s growth initiative, outlined during the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November 2011.
Steve Davy, Highways Agency’s project sponsor for the scheme, said: “The pinch point programme provides smaller scale improvements that can deliver big returns by easing congestion and making journey times more reliable for road users, including hauliers and commuters to help boost local economies and drive economic growth.
“This scheme will significantly increase capacity, reducing journey time delays on the vital A14 and improving journey time reliability.”
“The work has been very carefully planned to minimise disruption and that is why we are installing narrow lanes so we can keep two lanes of traffic moving at peak times, with lane and full road closures taking place overnight when traffic flows are lowest.”
The work to install the average speed cameras which will enforce the temporary 50mph speed limit will take place over three nights, from Monday 14 April, with lane closures between 8pm and 6am, in both directions. Eastbound the closures will be from the A428 Cambridge Road Bridge to the A14 junction 32 at Histon; westbound the lane closures will be from junction 32 to junction 31 Girton interchange. There will be associated narrowing of lanes on the slip road from the M11 at junction 14 on to the eastbound A14.
In order to install the narrow lanes, the westbound A14 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 6am, for seven nights, from Tuesday 22 April between junctions 36 and 31, and continuing on the A428 to Madingley. Associated slip roads will also be closed.
The eastbound A14 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 6am, for six nights from 30 April between junction 31 and 32. The eastbound A428 will be closed from Madingley to junction 31 of the A14, and the M11/A14 Junction 14 eastbound loop to eastbound A14 will also be closed during this six night period.
During the westbound A14 closures, traffic will be diverted via the A11, A505 and M11.
Any traffic wishing to use the A428 will leave at M11 junction 13 Northbound, join the A1303 to Madingley then re-join the A428.
During the eastbound A14 closures traffic will be diverted via the M11 to junction 10, A505 and A11.
During the A428 closures traffic will be diverted via the A1303, M11 to junction 10, A505 and A11.
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A14 improvements start next week
10 April 2014
A scheme to help drivers by increasing capacity and reduce journey time delays on the A14 near Cambridge will get underway next week, says the Highways Agency.