FOUR months work to instal traffic lights at the Brampton Hut junction of the A1 and A14 will begin on Monday, July 31, with five overnight closures of the eastbound A14. When similar work began last year at the Spittals interchange in Huntingdon, there

FOUR months' work to instal traffic lights at the Brampton Hut junction of the A1 and A14 will begin on Monday, July 31, with five overnight closures of the eastbound A14.

When similar work began last year at the Spittals interchange in Huntingdon, there was public scepticism that the Highways Agency could achieve smoother, safer traffic flows through the junction. But the lights have proved very successful. Overturning lorries, previously a weekly ritual, are virtually a thing of the past.

David Lee, project manager for both schemes, promised important lessons had been learned from the Spittals project. The lights were supposed to have been working in time for Christmas. In the event they were not switched on until late January.

"There were delays because of supplies last year," Mr Lee said. "This time we have back-ups organised."

It is a complex £1.85 million scheme, involving closures of all slip-roads, though not simultaneously and no more than one at a time in any direction, and some detours.

"Potentially, there's a fatal accident waiting to happen there," Mr Lee said. "With the lights and widening we shall be able to control queue lengths so that it doesn't happen.

"It's going to be more complex than Spittals. We have two major trunk roads crossing and the additional factor of the service area."

Some of the work will go on 24 hours a day, some will be done only overnight and some only during the daytime.