Work starts on A14 20 million pounds improvement package

14 June 2012

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Advance work on a 20 million pounds package designed to reduce congestion and improve journey time for motorists along the A14 in Cambridgeshire will start this summer.

The improvements have been devised to reduce traffic jams at key junctions, improving flow on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. The initial work will start next month ahead of the main improvements commencing in 2013.

Roads Minister, Mike Penning, said: "Improvements will include changing the layout of the major junctions at the both ends of the Cambridge to Huntingdon section - the Girton interchange at junction 31 and Spittals interchange at junction 23. This will help to reduce delays for road users, make journey times more reliable and benefit the economy, both locally and nationally. It will also improve air quality"

Initial developments to both junctions will be undertaken this summer, and will include signing and road marking improvements at:

* Spittals Interchange, the signing and road lines at the top of the exit slip road from the southbound A1-A14 link road will be upgraded. This will allow the traffic signal timings around the junction to be adjusted, increasing traffic flow and reducing delays;
* At Girton, the tight bend chevron signs on the westbound A14 link road are being raised to make them more visible to drivers of high sided vehicles, reducing the likelihood of 'loss of control' incidents on the tight bend and delays;
* Mobile electronic message signs will be installed in August on the westbound approaches to junction 24 Godmanchester and to junction 21 Brampton Hut, and on the southbound A14 Spur approach to junction 23 Spittals. These will provide information on journey times and other advice for road users, such as warning of queuing traffic ahead or advisory speed limits;
* Work is planned to start in spring 2013 to install permanent variable message signs at key locations on the A14 between junction 21 Brampton Hut and junction 35 Stow cum Quy; and
* Larger scale improvements are planned to be delivered in 2013 following completion of ongoing design work.

The 20 million pounds package is being delivered alongside the Department's A14 Study, which delivers on the Government's commitment to increasing capacity and improving performance on the A14 made in the Autumn Statement.

Responses to the A14 Challenge - launched in December 2011 - have been used to help generate and refine options for doing this. Today, the Department has published reports from the second phase of the A14 Study that shortlist three draft public transport improvement packages, two draft freight improvement packages and six draft highway improvement packages, as well as a summary of responses to the A14 Challenge. The Department will investigate the short listed options for improving the A14 further in order to identify a preferred package of improvements by summer 2012.

For further information on the A14 Study and the A14 Challenge go to: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-20111212.

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