The £1.5bn scheme will provide much-needed capacity on the 22-mile route, including a new 12-mile bypass around Huntingdon. Work is due to get underway in late 2016 (subject to statutory processes and continued value for money), with completion expected in 2019/20.
During the consultation period the public will have the opportunity to see the Highways Agency’s proposed solution. They will be able to view it alongside other options that were considered, including those developed for the Department for Transport’s A14 study in 2011/12. A more detailed timetable for delivering the scheme will be outlined. The consultation is seeking feedback on the choice of route, junction and access arrangements, the other route options that were considered, as well as the proposed tolling of the bypass around Huntington and the way in which the tolling system could work.
Stephen Hammond, Roads Minister, said: “This announcement meets the commitment I made in January to present a more detailed solution for the A14 and a clearer timetable for delivering these crucial improvements.
“We need a long-term resolution, that will tackle the congestion and journey time reliability issues, and subject to the outcome of the consultation, we believe this is it. It’s the best option for people living locally, and for the businesses that see it as a gateway to international markets via the ports on the East coast. It will provide better journeys for long-distance and local traffic, putting the right vehicles on the right roads.”
The A14 is a strategically-important route, which links the Midlands to the Haven Ports on the east coast, with nearly 85,000 vehicles per day using some sections of the route in Cambridgeshire. Once delivered, road users will benefit from less congestion and more reliable journey times. The improvements will deliver a vital boost to the economy, unlocking local housing developments and providing better transport links for businesses and day-to-day commuters.
The proposed solution for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme includes:
- A new Huntingdon Southern Bypass, with junctions at Ellington, at Brampton (where the A14 would meet the A1), at Godmanchester, and on the existing A14 at Swavesey. Proposals under consideration include this section of bypass being tolled.
- The A14 through Huntingdon would be de-trunked. The A14 viaduct over the mainline railway in Huntingdon would be demolished, enabling the existing A14 to be tied into local roads, greatly improving traffic flows in the town and accessing sites for possible new development.
- The A14 will be widened from Swavesey to Milton (the section between Girton Interchange and Histon will be widened earlier as part of a separate improvement scheme. Work is due to start in early 2014).
- A new single carriageway access road will be built alongside the improved A14 between Fen Drayton and Girton and is intended for local use.
- Girton and Milton junctions will be upgraded to improve traffic flow and to add more capacity, with improvements to other junctions along the route.
- Two new junctions will be constructed at Bar Hill and Swavesey to maintain existing access to the trunk road and to connect with the new local road network
- The A1 will be widened between Brampton and Alconbury in order to provide the additional capacity needed to cope with traffic linking to the A1 from the new Huntingdon Southern Bypass.
Chris Taylor, major projects (south) divisional director, Highways Agency, said: “We have worked hard to pull together the best elements of the options looked at by the Department for Transport as part of the A14 Study. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, we believe we have come up with the right solution, one that meets the needs of the road user, businesses, and local communities, while being affordable. Many will recognise aspects of the scheme, but there are new elements to the proposal too.
“We very much welcome feedback on the proposed scheme and the other route options we considered, and encourage people to look at the information on our website and to come along to one of the exhibitions we will be holding over the next few weeks.”
The public exhibitions (staffed and un-staffed) will be held at:
- Huntingdon Racecourse (staffed), Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4NL: Tuesday 17 September 2013 13:00 to 20:00, and Wednesday 18 September 2013 11:00 to 20:00
- Grafton Shopping Centre (staffed), Grafton Centre, Cambridge CB1 1PS: Thursday 19 to Friday 20 September 2013 09:00 to 17:30
- Buckden Village Hall (staffed), Burberry Road, Buckden, Cambridgeshire, PE19 5UY: Tuesday 24 to Wednesday 25 September 2013 11:00 – 20:00
- Hilton Village Hall (staffed), Grove End, Hilton Cambridgeshire, PE28 9NA: Friday 27 September 2013 11:00 to 20:00, and Saturday 28 September 2013 09:00 to 13:00
- Bar Hill Village Hall (staffed), The Spinney, Bar Hill, CB23 8SU: Tuesday 1 to Wednesday 2 October 2013 11:00 to 20:00
- A14 Cambridge Services (staffed), CB23 4WU: Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 October 2013 11:00 to 20:00
- Longstanton Park and Ride Amenity Building (unstaffed), Station Road, CB24 3DS: Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 September 2013 Normal opening hours.
- Huntingdon Library (unstaffed), Princes Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3PA: Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 September 2013 Normal opening hours.
All information is now available on the Highways Agency’s website; www.highways.gov.uk/A14CambridgetoHuntingdon
This includes a consultation brochure which provides more details on the proposals, and the online questionnaire for people to give their feedback. A more detailed technical report on the proposals will also be available on-line or, on-request, in printed copy.
Next steps in the process
All comments received will be reviewed by the Highways Agency and will help inform the Preferred Route Announcement, which is expected to be made in late 2013. A further public consultation will take place in spring 2014, ahead the Agency’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application in late 2014. Work is due to start on site in late 2016, but this is subject to a satisfactory outcome to the examination of the DCO application by the Planning Inspectorate and the subsequent confirmation of the proposals by the Secretary of State for Transport.