People will have the chance to see to take a futuristic look at what Huntingdon will look like once the old A14 viaduct has been removed.
The plans and artist’s impressions will be displayed during a series of exhibitions at venues across Huntingdon over the next two weeks.
The 43 year-old viaduct, which takes the existing A14 over the railway line and local roads currently dominates the skyline near Huntingdon train station. Removing it, and creating link roads to and from the old A14, is an important part of the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme, which is upgrading 21 miles of the A14 to three lanes in each direction, including a brand new bypass south of Huntingdon.
The plans will enable a major redesign of the Huntingdon train station area. A new public transport hub will be created, with bus stops conveniently located for the railway station. Removing the viaduct will also reduce noise and air pollution and will facilitate further improvements in Huntingdon town centre. Main construction work is expected to start in 2019.
Chris Bayliss, A14 project manager at Highways England, said: “Work to upgrade the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon is progressing well and we are on schedule to open the new road to traffic by the end of 2020.
“The Huntingdon viaduct was built in 1975, and removing it will create new opportunities for Huntingdon. Once the new A14 is open to traffic, the old A14 will become a local road. It will make it even easier for people to travel around, as well as in and out of, Huntingdon.
“We are holding six public events in June and encourage people to come see us for a chat and find out more.”
To find out more about the work, people are invited to come along to one of the following events:
June 12: Huntingdonshire District Council, St Mary’s Street, from 2pm till 8pm.
June 14: Huntingdon Railway Station forecourt (mobile visitor centre) from 2pm till 8pm.
June 16: Huntingdon Town Hall, from 10am till 4pm
June 19: Huntingdon Railway Station forecourt (mobile visitor centre), from 2pm till 8pm.
June 21: Godmanchester College of Animal Welfare, Headland House, London Road, Godmanchester, from 2pmm till 8pm.
June 23: Brampton Memorial Hall, memorial playing field, Thrapston Road, Brampton, 10am till 4pm.
The £1.5bn A14 upgrade will add additional capacity, boost the local and national economy and could cut up to 20 minutes off journey time, according to Highways England.
The main construction work at Huntingdon will include a new Mill Common link road, the removal of the A14 viaduct and work around the train station, and a new Views Common link road. Preparatory work, such as archaeology and utility diversion, will start ahead of main construction work.
Chance to volunteer on the A14 community archaeology dig this summer
The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon archaeology team is calling for volunteers to take part in a free summer community dig programme between July 24 and August 25.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for people to take part in one of the largest archaeological excavation projects ever undertaken in Britain.
Volunteers will work alongside archaeology experts from the A14 archaeology team and its contractors MOLA Headland Infrastructure, exploring evidence of industrial activity relating to the abandoned medieval village of Houghton, near Huntingdon, as well as Iron Age and Roman remains.
Each volunteer must be able to commit to five (not necessarily consecutive) days of excavation from 9am to 4pm.
To apply, email msearle@molaheadland.com before June 25, stating your preferred days.
For the latest information about the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme visit: www.highways.gov.uk/A14C2H follow @A14C2H on Twitter and Facebook.
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