The Highways Agency plans to improve the A14 between Ellington, to the west of Huntingdon, and Fen Ditton, to the northeast of Cambridge, as part of the Agency's ongoing programme of improvements on the A14. These web pages outline the need for improvement and give the two options, on which the Highways Agency would like your views.
The A14 is a route of national importance, and it is our intention to ensure that this improvement scheme is progressed through its design and statutory processes so that it can be considered for construction when the next round of funding becomes available in 2008 and onwards.
After carefully considering all comments and representations, including those from the public consultation, the Secretary of State for Transport will decide on the preferred route to take forward. This will then be formally announced as a Preferred Route Announcement.
Once the Preferred Route Announcement has been made, a Contractor will be appointed to develop the detailed design of the scheme. This will lead to the publication of draft Orders under the Highways Act 1980. Depending on the nature and weight of any objections to the Orders, a Public Inquiry may be held.
The proposed scheme to improve the A14 comprises:
The route of the new A14 is the same for both the CHUMMS Strategy and the Alternative Proposal.
From the western end of the scheme, the new dual carriageway would leave the existing A14 east of Ellington and connect with a new interchange with the A1 approximately 2 miles south of the existing junction at Brampton Hut.
The new route would then pass south of the Buckden landfill site before crossing the River Great Ouse and the East Coast Main Line railway on an elevated viaduct to the north of Buckden Marina and the village of Offord Cluny. The route would continue east across open farmland, crossing the A1198 south of the Wood Green Animal Shelter, passing north of the villages of Hilton and Conington to a new interchange with the existing A14 just south of Fen Drayton.
Between Fen Drayton and the eastern end of the scheme at Fen Ditton, the A14 would be widened on the existing alignment, except for a section to the north-east of Bar Hill. An improved interchange with the A428 and M11 would be provided at Girton (M11 Junction 14).
In the CHUMMS Strategy, the new A14 dual carriageway would provide three lanes in each direction along its entire length, except between Ellington and the A1 where only two lanes are required.
West of Fen Drayton Interchange, the existing A14 would be retained as a local road, skirting the west side of Huntingdon. Average daily traffic flows on the existing A14 in the opening year would be 40% of present-day levels, increasing to around 50% by 2025.
Huntingdon Railway Viaduct would be demolished and the existing A14 connected into a new junction with Brampton Road. This would allow direct access to Huntingdon station and enable traffic to approach Huntingdon town centre from an alternative direction relieving Godmanchester and the medieval bridge. This junction would increase traffic on Brampton Road and the south-east quadrant of the ring road, with the possible consequences of increased congestion, delays and some localised effects on the environment.
The A1 would be widened to three lanes in each direction between the new Brampton Interchange and the existing junction at Brampton Hut. A separate scheme is under consideration which would widen the A1 to three lanes between Brampton and Alconbury in view of the additional A14 traffic to and from the North using that section of the A1.
In the Alternative Proposal, the new A14 would provide two lanes in each direction between Ellington and the Fen Drayton Interchange. East of Fen Drayton, the Alternative Proposal is identical to the CHUMMS Strategy.
The existing A14 would be retained in its current form as a dual carriageway trunk road west of Fen Drayton. Average daily traffic flows in the opening year would be around 60% of present-day levels, increasing to over 80% by 2025. The road would continue to be used by both local and strategic traffic including a high proportion of heavy goods vehicles.
Huntingdon Railway Viaduct would be reconstructed in its present form, spanning the East Coast Main Line railway and Brampton Road. Traffic movements in Huntingdon would not be greatly affected although congestion on the trunk road would be reduced.
The A1 would not need to be widened in the Alternative Proposal as it would carry very little additional A14 traffic.
New local roads alongside the widened A14 between Fen Drayton Interchange and M11 Junction 14 would provide dedicated routes for local traffic and a safer environment for all road users.
At Fen Drayton, traffic from the west on the existing A14 would be able to join the new A14 or continue on to the local road at Trinity Foot.
Between junctions at Trinity Foot and Bar Hill, a single carriageway local road would be provided on the southern side of the new A14, which would provide access to Cambridge Services.
There would be no direct access onto the new A14 at Bar Hill. Westbound traffic would use the local road to join the A14 at Fen Drayton Interchange or continue on the existing A14 towards Huntingdon. Eastbound traffic from Bar Hill would use the local road to gain access to the A14, M11 and Huntingdon Road at the improved M11 Junction 14.
East of Bar Hill, a dual carriageway local road would be provided, with two lanes in each direction split either side of the new A14. The eastbound carriageway would be located on the northern side of the new A14 with the westbound on the southern side. Additional slip roads may be provided at Bar Hill Junction to provide direct access from the local roads onto the B1050 to Northstowe.
M11 Junction 14 would be substantially re-modelled as part of the A14 scheme. The existing southern 'cloverleaf' loop would be removed and a new link road provided between the Cambridge Northern Bypass and the westbound A14.
Additional links would be provided to connect the new local roads, both east and westbound, with the M11, A14 Cambridge Northern Bypass and A1307 Huntingdon Road.
Existing movements between the A14 and A428, the A14 and M11 and between the A14 and A1307 Huntingdon Road would be maintained as at present.
The Cambridge Northern Bypass would be widened to three lanes in each direction. Between M11 Junction 14 and Histon Junction an auxiliary lane in both directions would be provided to safely accommodate the traffic joining and leaving the A14 at these two junctions. Only two lanes would be provided under Milton Junction, with a lane drop/gain each side of the junction to provide safe stacking space for traffic queuing back onto the A14. There would also be a lane drop/gain at Fen Ditton Junction with two lanes continuing as at present.
Your views are important to the Highways Agency. If you wish to comment on the proposals, you can write or email your comments to:
Ms Cara Elder
A14 Scheme Administrator
Highways Agency
Heron House,
49-53 Goldington Road,
Bedford
MK40 3LL
Email: a14ellingtonfenditton@highways.gsi.gov.uk
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