Black Cat Junction gets lucky

The further consultation into the multi-million-pound A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement scheme, which could save commuters up to an hour and a half on their journeys every week, will outline the design refinements that include changes to the constructions methods and environmental impacts of the project.

The changes have been made following a combination of feedback received from 925 responses during the last consultation held in summer 2019, as well as new technical information and engagement with the local community and organisations.

The proposed A428 improvement scheme will see a new 10-mile dual carriageway built linking the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire to the Caxton Gibbet junction in Cambridgeshire. Both roundabouts would also be upgraded into modern, free-flowing junctions and a new junction would be added at Cambridge Road near St Neots.

How the Black Cat junction would look once the project is complete

The project would replace the only remaining section of single carriageway between Milton Keynes and Cambridge and tackle one of the region’s most notorious congestion hotspots.

Lee Galloway, Highways England A428 programme lead, said:

We have been really encouraged by people’s feedback on the project so far, and this latest round of consultation reflects feedback from our consultation in 2019 and the ongoing engagement with the local community, organisations and road users.

This project will help to transform one of the East of England’s busiest sections of road, playing a vital role in creating quicker, safer and more reliable journeys which will bring communities together, create new job opportunities and support long term sustainable growth.

This consultation will be a chance for people who live, work and travel in and around Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire to have their say on the latest design.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:

Our roads play a critical role in keeping Britain moving and this project will help to change people’s everyday journeys across the East of England, improving vital links and helping to reduce congestion.

We encourage everyone to have their say during this consultation, and be part of the change as we continue to invest and level up across the country.

The five-week consultation will run from Wednesday 24 June 2020 to Tuesday 28 July 2020.

Highways England will be taking a whole new approach to the consultation, designed to let people find out about the plans and put their questions to the project team, while respecting the current COVID-19 guidelines. These will include:

a virtual consultation room where people can log on from home via laptop or mobile device to hear about the changes from Highways England’s technical team, and explore maps and more details about the proposals.
live webchats with the Highways England technical team who can answer any questions that people have about the scheme.
telephone information events where people can dial in to hear more details about the consultation.