Options for A14 upgrade published

Eleven options to relieve congestion on the A14 at a potential cost of more than £1 billion have been published by the Government.

Six of the proposals, revealed after a major consultation, envisage major road building - and five of these include tolling for through traffic. Most of the ideas centre around the construction of a Huntingdon southern bypass, with possible road widening and junction improvements on the existing trunk road, but another idea is to build parallel routes for local traffic between Trinity Foot and Girton.

Three options focus on improving public transport by launching new routes or constructing new park and ride sites, and the final two explore how freight can be shifted onto the railways.

Roads minister Mike Penning said the proposals were being assessed, with a preferred solution - likely to include a mix of measures - expected to be published next month. He said: "I am confident we will identify a preferred package of improvements this summer."We do not believe that, on its own, a simple road building solution is likely to be the best option."

Local County Councillor John Reynolds, who represents Bar Hill – which is often blighted by problems on the A14 – said "The progress was long overdue and a fit-for-purpose A14 is vital for the economic prosperity of Cambridgeshire.

"I welcome this package of measures which should provide short term relief as we work towards identifying longer term improvements to enhance the capacity and performance of the A14."

The suggested highways improvements are:

• Construction of parallel roads for local traffic between Trinity Foot or Galley Hill and Girton, plus major upgrades to the Girton interchange.
• As above, with construction of a Huntingdon southern bypass rejoining the A14 between Galley Hill and Trinity Foot, for use by east-west traffic only, with north-south traffic staying on the existing A14.
• Construction of a Huntingdon southern bypass rejoining the A14 between Galley Hill and Trinity Foot, and widening of the A14 to Girton, with scaled-back upgrades to the Girton interchange, all strategic traffic uses the new bypass and the A14 is downgraded between the A1(M), Brampton Hut and Trinity Foot.
• As above, but with the Huntingdon bypass for use by east-west traffic only, with north-south traffic staying on the existing A14.
• Construction of a shortened Huntingdon southern bypass from west of Brampton Hut to the A1198, and major upgrades to the A1198 and A428, plus construction of new spur road linking M11 southbound and A428 westbound at Girton, all strategic traffic uses the bypass, A1198 and A428, and the A14 is downgraded between the A1(M), Brampton Hut and Girton.
• As above, but with the A1198 and A428 link for east-west traffic only, and north-south traffic remaining on the A14.

Three options for improving public transport are:

• Expanding the guided busway park and ride sites at St Ives and Longstanton, or building new park and ride sites at locations such as Milton, Trumpington, or Alconbury, or villages along the A14 corridor.
• Providing new bus or busway services.
• Both of the above.

Two options focus on ways of shifting freight onto the rail network, including doubling the line between Ely and Soham, and construction two loops east of Ely.

Cambridge News report, 18 June 2012.