Funding has been agreed for studies that will look at the feasibility of a series of new infrastructure projects for Huntingdonshire, including a new river crossing in Huntingdon.

Funding has been agreed for studies that will look at the feasibility of a series of new infrastructure projects for Huntingdonshire, including a new river crossing in Huntingdon.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has pledged funding for work to begin on three feasibility studies, with the river crossing, a new bridge over the River Great Ouse in St Neots, and improvements to the A141 around Huntingdon all to be considered.

The funding was signed off by the authority on October 25 as part of a county-wide package of investment. Seventeen schemes have been shortlisted for funding in the current financial year, with a further 26 to be considered for the mayoral period.

Councillor Ryan Fuller, executive councillor for housing and planning at Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “The three listed projects in Huntingdonshire are all at the pre-feasibility stage. The combined authority has committed to fund studies to explore the feasibility of these projects.

“These feasibility studies will cover all issues, and I particularly welcome the strategic river crossing and A141 capacity enhancements around Huntingdon feasibility work, as this will help determine whether and how these projects could ease congestion and make it easier for residents to move around the district.

“The combined authority is interested in accelerating and enabling further growth and Huntingdonshire District Council has been very clear in its position that we need infrastructure such as the strategic river crossing in place before further growth can be considered.”

Cllr Fuller said no routes had yet been decided for the potential new river crossing in Huntingdon but said details would be considered during the feasibility study.

According to the combined authority, the cost for the feasibility work on the river crossing project is estimated at £500,000, while projected costs for the A141 improvements sit at £7million, and the St Neots bridge costs are projected at £4.5million.

The mayor of Cambridgeshire, James Palmer said: “The list of priority transport schemes makes clear the combined authority’s commitment to investing in transport infrastructure across the entirety of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

“Since my election I’ve made clear my view that transport infrastructure in our area needs to be transformed and we’re developing a number of proposals to do just that. The feasibility studies will take time to come to fruition but the transport solutions that will flow from them could be transformative for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”