Work is underway on a £1.5 billion road upgrade project in Cambridgeshire.

Contractors have started upgrading 21 miles of the A14 to three lanes and completion is scheduled for the end of 2020.

In June last year, Highways England appointed the Atkins CH2M joint venture (JV) to design the multi-million pound improvement, while a Costain Skanska JV were awarded construction package one, covering A1 at Alconbury to the East Coast Mainline, and package two, covering east of the East Coast Mainline to Swavesey.

A third package of work to widen the existing A14 from Swavesey to Milton was awarded to Balfour Beatty Carillion JV in September last year. A fourth package to demolish a viaduct over the East Coast Mainline at Huntingdon and associated works will be awarded in 2019.

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Overall, the development 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 this phase.

Jim O'Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive, said: "The A14 is one of the most important east to west road links in the country, connecting businesses, communities and families. These vital improvements have been highly anticipated, and it is great to be able to start main construction today."

Steve Count, Cambridgeshire County Council Leader, added: "I am glad to see work starting on the A14, this scheme will help keep Cambridgeshire moving and more importantly improve road safety. Anybody who has been stuck in a queue on the A14 knows how vital it is for these improvements to be delivered."

(LM/CD)