Main construction of the £1.5bn A14 upgrade scheme will begin in November on the A1 near Brampton.
The scheme is the biggest road upgrade in Britain, and the construction centrepiece of Highways England’s first Road Investment Strategy 2015-2020.
Aerial shot of A14 near Huntingdon
In advance of the start of major works, Highways England has announced a series of public information events at various locations along the route to allow the public to meet the team delivering the scheme.
One of the busiest parts of the Highways England’s strategic road network, the A14 connects the Midlands, East Anglia and the Port of Felixstowe, and has long been a congestion hotspot dubbed the ‘road from hell’.
Highways England strategic stakeholder manager, Mike Evans, said: ‘The A14 upgrade is a vital improvement for people in the East of England and the economy as a whole. It will relieve congestion, unlock growth and connect communities. This will be the first real opportunity since the decision was announced for us as a team to get out and speak to the public and give them information.
‘Anyone who has an interest in the scheme is welcome and people will be able to see what we plan to do over the next four years.’
Original plans to toll the road were dropped by the Government, with extra funding provided by developers along the route and £100m contributed by partners including local authorities and local enterprise partnerships.
The works include a 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.
There will also be improvements in Huntingdon town centre, including the demolition of the A14 viaduct and a new local access road.
Highways Agency also plan to make the A14 Britain’s first internet-connected road. A pilot on a 50-mile section of the A14 would see a network of sensors installed, 'creating a digitally-enabled road cable of monitoring traffic by sending signals to and from mobile phones in moving vehicles'.
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