Overnight closures on westbound A14 in Northamptonshire as part of ongoing £70 million technology upgrade
A £70 million Highways Agency scheme to install congestion-busting electronic equipment along the A14 will require five nights of closures in Northampton next week.
The westbound A14 carriageway will be closed between junction 2, and the Catthorpe Interchange at junction 19 of the M1 for the technology installation work. The A14 at junction 13 will also be closed to HGVs to help minimise congestion and to provide a more convenient diversion route for large vehicles.
The closures are necessary to install traffic detection loops and a number of electronic variable message signs (VMS) on overhead gantries, and are part of the scheme which began in July last year.
The A14 work will take place between 8pm and 6am, with closures and diversion routes operating between 9pm and 5am from Monday, 15 March to Friday 19 March.
Lorries travelling westbound will be directed off the A14 at junction 13, near Thrapston, and follow the A45 to join the M1 at junction 15. Light vehicles will continue on the A14 and be diverted off at junction 2 along the A508 towards Market Harborough and the A4304 to junction 20 of the M1.
Highways Agency project manager Ian Harrison said:
“Work on this scheme is progressing well and we are on track for completion at the end of summer 2010.
“We are carrying out the work at night when traffic flows are lightest, to minimise disruption for road users, and we have separate diversion routes to help drivers of larger vehicles.”
The scheme involves installing fibre optic cables along three sections of the A14 between M1 junction 19 and Felixstowe, which will provide real-time traffic information to 67 electronic overhead signs.
The equipment will monitor the road and when slow moving or stationary traffic is detected, will automatically set a message on the signs warning drivers that they are approaching a queue, as well as journey time information and advice on alternative routes.
Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) traffic monitoring cameras will also be installed at 48 strategic locations along the route to allow operators in the Regional Control Centres monitor the network and take appropriate action when an incident arises.
The technology will benefit road users by reducing the number of rear-end collisions, providing drivers with information on strategic diversion routes, and improving emergency service response times to incidents.
The scheme is being delivered as part of the Government’s up to £6bn roads programme which will deliver significant improvements to major routes in England and ease congestion, improve safety and make journeys more reliable.
The scheme is part funded by a European Grant of €11.6m.
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