TRAFFIC signals at Spittals interchange on the A14 at Huntingdon are now expected to be activated this Sunday – more than a month late. The original plan was for them to be in use on December 18 at the end of four months work to install them. But the Hig

TRAFFIC signals at Spittals interchange on the A14 at Huntingdon are now expected to be activated this Sunday - more than a month late.

The original plan was for them to be in use on December 18 at the end of four months' work to install them.

But the Highways Agency said completion of the scheme had been delayed - because the junction was part of a strategic diversionary route during the oil terminal fire at Buncefield and a, presumably unexpected, cold snap in December.

A spokesman said the agency had then decided to delay activation until traffic returned to normal after the holiday period and the chosen sequences could be validated against regular traffic volumes.

For the next two weekends the A14 will be closed overnight eastbound between Godmanchester (Junction 24) and the Hemingfords (Junction 25) for £125,000 work to repair the damaged overbridge at Hemingford Abbots.

Work, which began last weekend, is being carried out from 9pm on Friday until 9am on Saturday, and from 7pm Saturday to 11am Sunday. It may also be necessary to close the carriageway on Sundays from 9pm to 5am Mondays, if the work overruns, the agency admitted.

Project manager Trevor Wilkinson said: "The bridge was damaged about 12 months ago by an over-height vehicle travelling along the A14. Temporary repairs were carried out at the time so that the road could be re-opened.

"The repairs being carried out now will improve the safety of the bridge by strengthening the damaged concrete deck beams which will increase the life of the bridge structure."

While the overnight weekend closures are in place, eastbound traffic will be diverted off the A14 at Godmanchester, along the A1198 to Caxton Gibbet, onto the A428 to rejoin the A14 at the Girton Interchange (Junction 31).

INFORMATION: The Highways Agency traffic information website is www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo. For real-time traffic information, the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated telephone service is on 08700 660 115. General information about the agency visit www.highways.gov.uk or telephone 08457 50 40 30.

* A FOUR-vehicle crash at the Spittals Interchange in Huntingdon closed the eastbound carriageway of the A14 during Monday morning rush-hour. Police first received reports of the collision involving a Ford Escort, Citroën Saxo, Ford Transit van and Mitsubishi pick-up truck at 7.26am. One driver was injured during the incident but a police spokesman said the injuries were not thought to be serious. Traffic built up quickly on the A14, which was closed both lanes eastbound from Spittals to the A1(M). Eastbound traffic was diverted by way of the A1, Alconbury and the Stukeleys. The road was reopened shortly after 9am.

Delays resulting from the road works at Spittals in the evening peak were compounded by a white van leaving the westbound carriageway. Traffic was again diverted by way of the A1 and the villages.