Aerial view of A14. Credit: © Crown copyright.

Highways England has announced its proposal to classify an 18-mile section of the A14 in Cambridgeshire as a motorway upon completion of ongoing upgrade work.

The main section of the road between the M11 and the A1(M) is expected to be renamed the A14(M) when it opens in 2020.

In addition to providing an uninterrupted motorway link between London and Peterborough, the move will enhance safety and improve journeys.

The £1.5bn scheme to upgrade 21 miles of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon was launched in November 2016 and is currently almost halfway complete.

“Highways England will officially approach the Planning Inspectorate later this year to modify the road’s status from trunk road to motorway, in time for the project opening.”

Highways England project director David Bray said: “We want the A14 upgrade to be the safest and best road it can possibly be, and we now have an opportunity to make our already robust plans even better by putting the right traffic onto the right roads when the new A14 opens to traffic.

“Creating a motorway link between the A1(M) and the M11 will mean motorists and hauliers carrying goods across the country will be able to travel more smoothly and safely, while local and slow-moving traffic will benefit from the new routes we are introducing.”

Highways England will officially approach the Planning Inspectorate later this year to modify the road’s status from trunk road to motorway, in time for the project opening.

Subsequently, the Secretary of State for Transport will make the final decision next year.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Ian Bates said: “The A14 becoming a motorway will improve connectivity from the M11 to the A1 at Alconbury and will serve Peterborough. The upgrade of this road is vital to boost the local economy and create jobs.”

The A14 upgrade already includes new routes for local traffic, which can be used by non-motorway traffic, as well as improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.