New details for a major scheme to reduce congestion and improve safety on the A14 in Cambridgeshire have been welcomed today by Transport Minister Tom Harris as he announces the preferred route for the A14 improvement between Ellington and Fen Drayton.

The preferred route, which forms the western part of the Highways Agency's improvement scheme for the A14 between Ellington and Fen Ditton, will be the Orange Route, which was shown in the further public consultation held between December 2006 and March 2007.

It is 11.8 miles (19 km) in length and will run to the west of the existing A14 between Ellington and Fen Drayton and south of the Buckden landfill site and the Wood Green Animal Shelter.

Tom Harris said: "The Government is committed to tackling congestion and improving safety, and today's announcement brings our plans to improve the A14 a step closer.

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"The A14 is an important strategic route which connects the motorways of the Midlands and the north of England to the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, and the M11 to the south.

"The new road between Ellington and Fen Drayton, together with the widening of the existing A14 between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton, will be a boost to the region's economy. With 65,000 to 85,000 vehicles using the A14 in Cambridgeshire each day, the scheme will improve journey time reliability and safety on the A14, which will be a benefit to local and long distance drivers alike."

The new road will increase to three lanes in each direction. The existing A14 through Huntingdon will become a local road and the Huntington Railway Viaduct, which currently carries the A14 across the East Coast Main Line, will be removed and replaced by an at-grade junction connected to the local road network.

The preferred route and strategy have been determined following public consultations. They are being recommended by the Highways Agency as the best choice for today's traffic needs and future requirements and reflect the majority of views expressed in response to the public consultations.

The preferred route for widening 10.5 miles (17km) of the A14 between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton was announced on 22 March 2007.

The next stage for the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme will be to appoint a contractor to develop the design of the scheme, followed by the publication of draft Highways Act Orders and an Environmental Statement. At that stage, there will be a further opportunity for people to comment on the proposals.

Subject to funding and successful completion of the statutory procedures the scheme construction is expected to start in 2010.

(GK/JM)