A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements Preferred Route Announcement

A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Preferred route announcement

February 2019

Our improvements will transform connections between Milton Keynes and Cambridge. Quicker, safer and more reliable journeys will bring communities together, create new job opportunities and support long term sustainable growth.

2 Contents

Chapter Page

Introduction 4

Why do we need the scheme? 6

Benefits of the scheme 8

The preferred route – Orange route and Black Cat junction Option C 10

Public consultation and engagement to date 16

Response to the public consultation 18

What happens next? 22

Further information 24

3 Introduction

Investing in your roads At Highways England, we believe in a The A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet connected country and our network scheme is a critical part of this enables these connections to happen. investment; by reducing congestion We strive to improve our major roads in the area, the scheme will improve and motorways – engineering the journeys between Milton Keynes and future to keep people moving today Cambridge, which is great news for and moving better tomorrow. We want the local and regional economy. to make sure all our major roads are more dependable, durable and, most It will also complement the importantly, safe. That’s why we’re development of a new high quality delivering £15 billion of investment on link road between Milton Keynes and our network – the largest investment in Oxford, transforming connections and a generation. supporting housing and job growth across the wider region.

4 In this booklet, we explain the We’re improving preferred route for the A428 Black Cat journey times for to Caxton Gibbet scheme, the reasons for our decision and the results of the the thousands of public consultation we held in spring drivers that face 2017. We also give details of what will happen next. long queues on the A1 and A421 at the Black Cat roundabout during rush hour.

5 Drivers experience regular delays at Eltisley junction on the A428 towards Cambridge.

6 Why do we need this scheme?

The A428 between St Neots The A428 is an important route in an and Caxton Gibbet is the only area of the country where there is the stretch of single carriageway potential for considerable growth in along the route between Milton housing and employment. It provides Keynes and Cambridge. a vital link between the M1 and the M11, connecting the communities of Motorists experience regular delays Bedford, St Neots, Cambridge and and congestion in this and the Cambourne. With the new A14, it surrounding area, particularly at will form part of a key route to the the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. roundabouts. Journey times are often inconsistent and there are also a high number of incidents, especially at This is a region where junctions along the route. With few there is the potential for available diversion routes, accidents considerable growth in can result in disruption over a wide area. Rat running on local roads jobs and housing. through villages is also a problem as drivers seek alternative routes to avoid the heavily congested A428.

7 We’ll be cutting congestion and journey times, meaning more time to do the things you love.

8 Benefits of the scheme

Provide a more free-flowing Delivering environmental network improvements Free flowing junctions and increased The scheme as a whole will have capacity on the new dual carriageway a beneficial impact on noise and will reduce congestion and will air quality for the surrounding area. create a reliable route between We will maintain existing levels of the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet biodiversity and leave a positive junctions. We will cut journey times legacy for nearby communities by more than a third at peak times. by providing new landscape planting and wildlife areas. Provide a safe and serviceable network Improve travel for horse Tackling congestion helps Highways riders, cyclists and walkers England provide, operate and We will improve the safety of horse maintain a network that is safe riders, cyclists, walkers and those who for our customers to use and use public transport by improving for our people to maintain. connections between communities.

Enable economic growth Better resilience Improving connectivity in the region We will improve the ability of will enable growth in jobs and housing. the road network to cope with The increase in road capacity will accidents and disruption. improve journey times and help to meet predicted demand in the future.

We will achieve these benefits by increasing the overall capacity so traffic will flow more freely. The improvements will lead to better journey times and a more reliable network. This, in turn, will help to bring communities and businesses closer together, create job opportunities and support long-term sustainable growth.

9 The preferred route – Orange route and Black Cat junction Option C

We have chosen the Orange We have adjusted the alignment route and Black Cat junction to take into account issues Option C as our preferred route. such as landfill sites and power lines, to address the response Our assessments show these from local communities and to options present the best value accommodate possible future for money, have the least impact growth around St Neots. on the environment and provide the greatest economic return These improvements will result in compared to the other options. quicker, safer and more reliable journeys for thousands of drivers by The Orange route and Option C adding over 10 miles of new dual are widely supported and were carriageway between the Black the most popular options at the Cat and Caxton Gibbet junctions. public consultation in spring 2017. Based on current analysis, we The Orange route will expect to cut the time of the average commute between the Black Cat and mean better connections Caxton Gibbet junctions by over a into St Neots town and third, saving drivers approximately train station. 10 minutes at peak times.

Following our technical analysis and The current estimated cost feedback from the consultation, we for the scheme ranges from have developed the designs further. £810 million to £1.4 billion.

10 The Orange route It will also remove long distance traffic While all options improved journey using these roads as a diversion times, the Orange route also provides route when accidents occur. a new junction at Cambridge Road, The existing A428 will become giving greater access for more drivers part of the local road network, travelling to and from St Neots, and serving local communities. With providing better connections into fewer cars travelling on this road, the town and the train station. safety is expected to improve.

In addition, improved junctions Black Cat junction at Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet will make it safer and easier for Option C drivers to join the new route. Black Cat junction Option C was the most popular option at consultation The Orange route will also remove the and performed best in traffic largest number of vehicles from the modelling simulations. It provides existing A428 and local roads. There an “all ways movement” junction will be around 4,000 less vehicles that caters for all directions. on local roads at peak times. The In response to feedback from local new dual carriageway will reduce communities, we have reduced rat running on smaller local roads in the height and visual impact of surrounding villages. the design by lowering the A1 under the Black Cat junction.

The preferred route at a glance: � A new 10 mile dual � Better connections � New bridges over the carriageway between the to St Neots. River Great Ouse and East Black Cat and Caxton Coast Main Line railway. � The existing A428 between Gibbet junctions. St Neots and Caxton Gibbet � Improvements to the A428/ � A three tier junction at will be retained for local B1040 Eltisley junction. Black Cat roundabout traffic and public transport. � Improved routes for cyclists, will allow traffic to flow � Close alignment to walkers and horse riders freely on the A1 (under the the existing A428 will maintain links with the junction) and the A421/ will help reduce existing public rights of way. A428 (over the junction). environmental impacts. � Safer and alternative access � New junctions at Cambridge � New bridges crossing the for some side roads. Road and Caxton Gibbet dual carriageway at Roxton will connect the new dual Road, Barford Road, the carriageway to the existing B1046 and Toseland Road. A428. This will increase the resilience of the road network to cope with unforeseen incidents.

11 B645 DIAGRAMMATIC

The preferred route: Orange Great Paxton A1198

Papworth Area surrounding the main map A1 Toseland Everard 9 Hail Yelling 23 Weston 21 Huntingdon 24 Wellingborough 26 A1 A14 New 2 tier Rushden 28 New Toseland Road 30 junction linking to the A45 St Neots 33 bridge over dual carriageway 16 Northampton 35 New 2 tier existing A428 and A1198 12 15 Cambridge junction to link to B1040 Olney Bedford 11 the existing A428 M1 Sandy Biggleswade 10 Newport A421 Train Pagnell Station 14 A428 J Ampthill A1 Royston 13 A505 Milton 10 M11 B1428 Caxton Letchworth Keynes A6 Baldock Buntingford Gibbet 9 12 J A4146 Toddington Hitchin Winslow M1 8 A428 Leighton Stevenage Croxton Buzzard 11 7 Cambourne 8 Eltisley St Neots B1040/Eltisley junction improvements. A428 The existing A428 will A1 pass over the new Caxton dual carriageway Wyboston

New Roxton Road B1046 bridge over dual B1040 carriageway Little Barford New B1046 bridge over A1198 dual carriageway Chawston Abbotsley Great Gransden

Little Gransden Roxton New Barford Road Waresley bridge over dual carriageway A421 Tempsford A1 Key

New 3 tier junction at B1046 Black Cat roundabout Original Orange route presented at J Proposed junction. our consultation in 2017. Bridge over new dual carriageway. Proposed dual carriageway. This route Existing A428 retained as a local road has been amended following feedback between St Neots and Caxton Gibbet. from consultation. © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 OS 100030649 -- Creative MCR18_0198

12 13

The preferred route: Black Cat Option C What is a three

River Great Ouse Great River tier junction?

Chawston Lane These junctions allow traffic to flow freely on the main routes. Often known as grade separated junctions, they are one of the most New dual carriageway South Brook A1 effective ways to solve congestion. They work by separating traffic Black Cat heading to different destinations. junction To do this, we use bridges and A1 provide slip roads and roundabouts so drivers can change routes.

River Great Ouse

New 3 tier junction

Existing A421 to merge with new dual carriageway

Roxton Road

Bedford Road

A421

Key

Enlarged Black Cat roundabout New dual carriageway A1 becomes a continuous free- ow road passing under the A1 enlarged Black Cat roundabout A free- ow continuous link from the A421 eastbound to the A1 Roxton northbound Slip roads from the A421 to the A1 and the new dual carriageway

14 15 Public consultation and engagement to date

We held a public consultation Since then, we have continued to between 6 March 2017 and 23 engage with our customers and April 2017, which presented 3 route representatives of organisations options to provide a new dual including the Environment Agency. cariageway between the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet roundabouts, A total of 2028 people attended the and three options for improving exhibitions and we received 4189 the Black Cat roundabout. responses to the consultation.

During the consultation, we held The public response to our proposals a series of information events in was overwhelmingly positive. the local area seeking the views 89% of people either agreed or of key stakeholders such as local strongly agreed that we need to authorities, parish councils, ward improve the journey between the representatives, landowners, Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet local residents and road users. junctions to reduce congestion.

16 A total of 2028 people attended the exhibitions and we received 4189 responses to the consultation.

89% agreed that we need to improve journeys between Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet

Thanks to everyone who took part.

Your views are important and help shape the scheme.

17 Response to the public consultation: route options

St Neots Route options taken to consultation B1040

B1428 N A428 A428 Croxton A1198

Eltisley

B1040 Orange route: A new junction All routes Orange, Purple and at Cambridge Road to link Pink: Improved junction at Cambourne to the existing A428 and Caxton Gibbet connecting the B1046 Cambridge Road/B1428. existing A428 and the A1198.

B1040

All routes Orange, Wyboston B1046 Purple and Pink: Upgrade Black

Cat roundabout to A1 improve connections between the A1, B1046 A421 and the new Abbotsley dual carriageway.

B1046 Great Gransden

B1040

A421 Orange route Junction Waresley Purple route improvements Pink route applicable to Existing A428 all routes A1 Tempsford © Crown copyright and database rights Ordnance 2017 Survey 100030649 83% chose the Orange route Public feedback on the Orange route Here’s some of the reasons why people preferred the Orange route:

� The route alignment is � It improves traffic � It has the least impact close to existing road. and congestion. on the environment, wildlife, designated sites, � The route provides � It is seen as the most visual impacts, heritage additional connectivity to beneficial to the local sites, agriculture and St Neots by Cambridge economy out of the the local community out Road junction. three options. of the three options.

18 19 Response to the public consultation: Black Cat roundabout

Options taken to consultation: Black Cat roundaboutA1 Option A Options taken to consultation: Black Cat roundaboutA1 Option C

N N

Existing Black Cat roundabout Existing Black Cat roundabout

A428 A428 A421 A421

The removal of the current roundabout.

The construction of two roundabouts Enlarging the existing Black Cat to the west of the current roundabout. roundabout. A1 A new free-flow continuous link from A1 A new free-flow continuous link from the A421 eastbound towards the A1 the A421 eastbound towards the A1 northbound. northbound.

Slip roads to and from the A421, the A1 The A1 would become a continuous and the new dual carriageway. free-flow road under the widened Black Cat roundabout. The A1 would become a free-flow continuous road going under the Slip roads would be built from the A421 slip roads. to the A1, and the new dual carriageway. New dual carriageway. 60% New dual carriageway. preferred Option C.

Options taken to consultation: Black Cat roundaboutA1 Option B

Existing Black Cat roundabout

A428 A421

Retain the existing Black Cat roundabout. Public feedback on the Black Cat roundabout Option C A1 A new free-flow continuous link from Here’s some of the reasons why people preferred Option C: the A421 eastbound towards the A1 northbound. � It creates free-flowing traffic � It improves traffic � It has the most capacity A1 to remain the same.

Addition of slip roads to provide a free at Black Cat roundabout. and congestion. and flexibility to cope flow link bypassing the roundabout traffic with any future increases moving southbound onto the A421. � It has the least impact � It is seen as the most in traffic or road use. New dual carriageway. on the local environment, practical option.

Now we have announced our In line with other transformative preferred route, we will carry out infrastructure projects, the further surveys and investigations to Government is exploring funding help us design the scheme in more contributions based on the increase detail. As part of this work, you may in the value of development land notice some activity in the area. that the scheme unlocks.

We plan to consult on the route Throughout the process we will keep and junction designs later listening and talking to everyone in 2019, giving you a further with an interest in the scheme. opportunity to share your views. There will also be regular updates In the meantime, we will continue and information on our website. to engage with our stakeholders and the local community to help us refine the design before inviting the public to submit further feedback.

Application for a Development Consent Order (DCO)

This scheme is classed as a The application will be made to Nationally Significant Infrastructure the Planning Inspectorate, who Project (NSIP) under the Planning will examine the application. The Act 2008. This means that we are examination is likely to include public required to make an application hearings. Following the examination, for a Development Consent the Examining Authority will make a Order (DCO) to obtain permission recommendation to the Secretary of to construct the scheme. State for Transport, who will decide whether the project will go ahead. The timeline shows the different We intend to submit our application stages in this process. Following a in 2020 and if approved, we expect further consultation on the detailed to start construction in 2021/22. design this year, we will prepare an application for a Development Consent Order that will include an Environmental Statement.

Find out more Find out more about the DCO process on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: http://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

22 A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet timeline

Consultation on route options 2017

Preferred route annoucement 2019

Design development

Public consultation on preferred route

Design finalisation and DCO submision

DCO decision

Construction starts 2021/2022

Road open 2025/2026

23 Further information

For more information about the scheme, please visit our website, where you can also sign up for email alerts: www.highwaysengland.co.uk/a428

The following documents are also available to read and download from the project web pages:

� Consultation brochure (Spring 2017) � A428 Options Assessment Report � A428 Traffic Data Collection Report � A428 Report on Public Consultation

24 Contact us

@ [email protected] 0300 123 5000 Write to us: A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements Project Team, Highways England, Woodlands, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW

25 In the East of England, we are delivering the largest investment in our roads in a generation. The result? Better and safer journeys for all. At the heart of these plans is the drive to support economic growth in the region and across the wider United Kingdom.

26 27 If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

© Crown copyright 2019. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence: visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email [email protected].

Mapping (where present): © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 OS 100030649. You are permitted to use this data solely to enable you to respond to, or interact with, the organisation that provided you with the data. You are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.

This document is also available on our website at www.highwaysengland.co.uk For an accessible version of this publication please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

If you have any enquiries about this publication email [email protected] or call 0300 123 5000*. Please quote the Highways England publications code PR214/18.

Highways England creative job number BED18 0249

*Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls. These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line or payphone. Calls may be recorded or monitored.

Printed on paper from well-managed forests and other controlled sources when issued directly by Highways England.

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363