The redesign work, which will happen in several phases requiring some closures at times between now and the completion of the scheme, will consist of building a completely new junction with three bridges spanning up to eight lanes of A14 traffic. New links to and from the future local access road between Huntingdon and Cambridge will also be created. The new junction will provide greater capacity and will also serve the new community at Northstowe.
This first closure will allow the team to finish the construction of temporary slip roads, which will connect to the existing bridge, so that work can start to build two new road bridges as part of the new A14 Bar Hill junction. A third bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders will be built at a later stage.
The existing A14 eastbound exit slip road at Hatton’s Road and the existing A14 eastbound entry slip road from Hatton’s Road will be replaced by new temporary slip roads. The temporary slip roads will be in use until summer 2019.
Highways England project director for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon upgrade, David Bray, said:“The space restrictions at this location make this work particularly challenging as the construction of the new bridge has to be carried out where the slip roads are currently located, very close to the existing bridge. This is why we need to create new, temporary slip roads. Access to and from Bar Hill will also need t o remain open at all times as there is no alternative access for local residents and businesses.
“The work will mean some disruption to local residents at times, for which we apologise. We have worked closely with Cambridgeshire County Council to plan this work and have scheduled it during the Easter school holidays to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
To carry out this work safely, the bridge over the A14 at junction 29 for Bar Hill will be closed 24/7 between 9.30am on Tuesday 3 April and 5.00pm on Tuesday 10 April.
During the closures, clearly signed diversions will be in place as follows:
- Drivers wishing to travel from Bar Hill to Cambridge or Longstanton will need to join the westbound A14 and travel to Swavesey (junction 28), exit the A14, cross back over the A14 using the bridge and re-join the A14 eastbound to exit at the Bar Hill junction or continue on to Cambridge.
- Drivers wishing to travel to Bar Hill from Huntingdon or Longstanton will need to drive to Dry Drayton (junction 30) along the A14, leave the A14, cross back over the A14 using the bridge and re-join the westbound A14 to exit at the Bar Hill junction.
- Drivers wishing to travel to Longstanton from Cambridge will need to continue westbound along the A14 beyond Bar Hill (junction 29) to Swavesey (junction 28), exit the A14, cross over the A14 via the bridge and join the eastbound A14 to exit at the Bar Hill junction and continue along Hatton’s Road towards Longstanton.
- Drivers wishing to travel from Longstanton to Huntingdon will need to join the eastbound A14 at Bar Hill (junction 29) until Dry Drayton (junction 30), exit the A14, cross back over the A14 using the bridge and re-join the westbound A14 to continue on the A14 towards Huntingdon.
A safe passage across the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained as they would otherwise have no access to Bar Hill.
To check the latest traffic information, listen to traffic bulletins on local and national radio stations, visit http://www.trafficengland.com/ and follow Highways England on Twitter via @HighwaysEAST.
Highways England is upgrading a 21-mile stretch of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon to three lanes in each direction including a brand new 17-mile bypass south of Huntingdon, with four lanes in each direction between Bar Hill and Girton. The project, which includes 34 bridges and main structures, will add additional capacity, boost the local and national economy and cut up to 20 minutes off journeys.
For the latest information about the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme, including job and training opportunities, visit www.highways.gov.uk/A14C2H follow @A14C2H on Twitter and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/A14C2H/.