A428
Highways England has opened an eight-week consultation for its proposed plan to upgrade the A428. Credit: Crown copyright.

Highways England has revealed plans for a ten-mile dual carriageway as part of the A428 upgrade project between Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

The new dual carriageway will connect the A1 Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire with Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire.

Upon completion, the upgrade is intended to help motorists save approximately 90 minutes on their journeys every week.

Under the plans, both Black Cat roundabout and Caxton Gibbet roundabout will be designed as free-flowing junctions and a new junction will be built at Cambridge Road near St Neots.

The remaining section of single carriageway between Milton Keynes and Cambridge will be replaced.

Highways England has proposed three route options for the new dual carriageway and three options for improving the Black Cat roundabout.

Subsequently, the agency launched an eight-week consultation that will close on 28 July. After that, the final plans will be submitted for planning consent early next year.

Highways England A428 programme lead Lee Galloway said: “The current A428 carries twice the traffic it was designed for and cuts through small communities and villages. It can get painfully congested; in fact, it is in the worst 20% of roads for delays in the whole country.

“Our plans will make a real difference, improving people’s journeys, reducing rat running on local roads and better linking the two key economic hubs of Milton Keynes and Cambridge, with economic benefits being felt across the whole region.

“The current A428 carries twice the traffic it was designed for.”

“People’s input has been essential in getting us to this stage, and I am looking forward to hearing what people think about our plans.”

UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “These important upgrades will not only relieve congestion but will also link businesses and communities helping to boost the region’s economy and make a real difference to people’s lives.

“This is part of the government’s £15bn Road Investment Strategy to improve our motorways and major ‘A’ roads helping get motorists to their destinations quickly, easily and safely.”