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Work begins on billion-pound A14 upgrade for Cambridgeshire




Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling officially starts the A14 project, from left Mp Daniel Zeichner, MP Heidi Allen, Chris Grayling, Jim OSullivan CEO Highways England and John Bridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling officially starts the A14 project, from left Mp Daniel Zeichner, MP Heidi Allen, Chris Grayling, Jim OSullivan CEO Highways England and John Bridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

The £1.5 billion upgrade of the A14 started today, marked by a ceremonial sod-cutting attended by local MPs and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

A14 Huntingdon to Cambridge upgrade
A14 Huntingdon to Cambridge upgrade

Around 21 miles of the A14 will be upgraded to three lanes in each direction, aiming to cut up to 20 minutes off journeys.

The project will include a major new bypass for Huntingdon, widening the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury, widening the existing A14 between Swavesey and Milton and improving the junctions at Bar Hill, Swavesey, Girton, Histon and Milton.

The new bypass and widened A14 will open to traffic by the end of 2020, although some finishing work such as the removal of the A14 viaduct in Huntingdon will continue beyond that.

Also present at today’s ceremony, which took place near the A14 Cambridge services, Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive, said: “I want the A14 to redefine what a road scheme can achieve and, in addition to a significantly upgraded road, I am determined that our work here will leave behind a positive legacy for people living along the A14 – providing better, safer journeys, setting hundreds of young people off on fulfilling careers in construction, and boosting the capacity of the whole country to deliver world leading infrastructure improvements.”

John Bridge, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive, said:

“The A14 has for many years been identified as the biggest business barrier to growth and economic development. There is much jubilation that the required substantial investment has finally been provided to allow this much needed major infrastructure scheme to become a reality.

“The significant economic benefit is going to be realised locally, regionally and nationally, and will enable Cambridgeshire in particular to grow and provide the much-needed added value to UK plc.

“The lack of negative publicity given to Cambridgeshire on the national traffic reports every day will, in particular, be most welcome!”



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