A major £1.5 billion carriageway upgrade project is to begin in Cambridgeshire.

Contractors will start building the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme in November.

The project, which was granted approval in May, will see 21 miles of the dual carriageway improved to increase capacity and reduce journey times by up to 20 minutes.

Features include 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. Upgrades will also be carried out in Huntingdon town centre, including the demolition of the A14 viaduct and a new local access road.

In June 2015, the detailed design contract was awarded to Atkins CH2M joint venture (JV) at a cost of £35.3 million. A JV between Costain and Skanska also secured construction package one, covering A1 at Alconbury to the East Coast Mainline, and package two, covering east of the East Coast Mainline to Swavesey. Overall, the JV will deliver £598m with of construction work.

-- Advertisement --

A third package of work was awarded to Balfour Beatty's JV with Carillion in September 2015. The JV will deliver £292m of construction work. A fourth package for the demolition of the viaduct over the East Coast Mainline at Huntingdon, as well as associated works, will be awarded in 2019.

Since the project was given the go-ahead, advance work has been carried out at the site, which has included preparing for the construction of the compounds at Swavesey and Brampton, marking out the boundary fence line across the scheme, ecological, archaeological and ground investigation work.

A series of public information events are being held at various locations along the route to give local residents the opportunity to find out more information about the project.

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."

For time and details of the public information events, visit here.

(LM/MH)