IT is well over 10 years since I wrote to your paper in defence of Alconbury Developments Limited s plans to open Alconbury as an airfield for freight. The NIMBYs objected, citing poor transport links. They had not noticed the eight-lane highway from Pete

IT is well over 10 years since I wrote to your paper in defence of Alconbury Developments Limited's plans to open Alconbury as an airfield for freight.

The NIMBYs objected, citing poor transport links. They had not noticed the eight-lane highway from Peterborough to Alconbury having just been completed, along with proposals to re-establish the wartime railhead.

The same people supported the CHUMMS proposals to bring down the viaduct. I took issue with the Highways Agency over this part of the A14 plans. I just did not believe the predicted traffic flows they were anticipating from all their surveys and modelling.

In truth the viaduct has to come down before it falls down. The design was deficient, compounded by shoddy workmanship and poor quality with below-specification materials allowed to be used - this is almost a word-for-word quote from the Highways Agency in their final response to me.

I thought I was alone in my view until a few weeks ago a former head of the highways authority who was in charge of the construction of the A14 in the mid 1970s was quoted by The Hunts Post, confirming not only mine, but the fears of Mike Shellens.

With the viaduct down, even with the new Brampton Road to Ermine Street link in place, Brampton Road will be at a standstill.

It would appear that our planners are not seeking to provide a transport infrastructure that is future-proof. Do they not learn lessons from the M25, which ever since the day it opened is constantly being upgraded?

The answer is clearly to rebuild the viaduct and include the on and off ramps in the scheme somehow. As Natalie Walker suggests (Letters, December 2) - just get on with it. Four into two heading south on the A1 just will not work. It defies the laws of physics.

I had a chuckle at the article on the front page of The Hunts Post last week, where an official from the district council was quoted as saying that the guided busway could mean fewer people commuting out to work. I thought that was what it was for; so I could get to work at Cambridge Airport rather than bike to Alconbury or drive down the A14.

ALLAN BROCKLEBANK

St John's Street

Huntingdon