National Highways have been given the green light to tackle congestion in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge with updates to the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet roundabouts
Plans to beat congestion in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge with a series of updates to roads between the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet roundabouts have been given the go-ahead.
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps has granted planning permission (called a Development Consent Order) for National Highways to begin work on one of the region’s most notorious congestion hotspots.
A new dual carriageway and updated junctions will improve access
The National Highways plan will fill in the missing link of dual carriageway on the strategic road network between Milton Keynes and Cambridge, helping drivers save up to an estimated hour-and-a-half on their journeys every week.
A new 10-mile dual carriageway linking the A1 Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire to the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire will be built as part of the project.
Both existing roundabouts will be upgraded into modern, free-flowing junctions with a new junction added at Cambridge Road, improving access to St Neots and its train station.
National Highways aims to start construction later this year.
The local community will be invited to learn about the development to reduce congestion in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge
In the coming months National Highways will host a number of face-to-face public information events and online Q&A sessions to keep the local communities up to date on plans.
Lee Galloway, National Highways project director, said:
“This announcement is a major milestone, not only for the us, but also for the many local communities who have long campaigned for improvements, as well as our stakeholders who we’ve been working with for several years.
“Our proposals to upgrade the route between the A1 Black Cat roundabout and A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout with a new 10-mile dual carriageway and a number of junction improvements are good for businesses and jobs, will improve safety and make journeys more reliable.”
Dave Hodgson, elected mayor of Bedford Borough, said:
“It’s great to see that we have passed another important milestone for the upgraded route.
“I know so many local residents support this project and look forward to the vital carriageway and junction upgrades. Together we are making the Borough a better place to live, work and visit.”
