Work to upgrade the A14 is set to get underway in November, it has been announced.

The Highway England’s £1.5bn project will upgrade 21 miles of A14, adding additional capacity and cutting up to 20 minutes off journeys.

It will include a major new bypass for Huntingdon, widening the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury, widening the existing A14 between Swavesey and Milton and improving the junctions at Bar Hill, Swavesey, Girton, Histon and Milton.

There will also be improvements in Huntingdon town centre, including the demolition of the A14 viaduct and a new local access road.

The new bypass and widened A14 will open to traffic in 2020, although some finishing work such as the removal of the A14 viaduct in Huntingdon will continue beyond that.

Highways England strategic stakeholder manager, Mike Evans, said: “The A14 upgrade is a vital improvement for people in the East of England and the economy as a whole. It will relieve congestion, unlock growth and connect communities.”

Prior to the start of the work a series of public information events are being held across the county to give people a chance to meet the team, who will be delivering the project, and find out more about Britain’s biggest road upgrade.

“This will be the first real opportunity since the decision was announced for us as a team to get out and speak to the public and give them information,” added Mr Evans.

“Anyone who has an interest in the scheme is welcome and people will be able to see what we plan to do over the next four years.”

The dates of the meetings in Huntingdonshire are:

• Tuesday 27 September, 2-8pm, Offord Village Hall, 158 High Street, Offord Cluny

• Thursday 29 September, 2-8pm, Hilton Village Hall, Grove End, Hilton

• Wednesday 5 October, 2-8pm, Alconbury Memorial Hall, School Lane, Alconbury

• Saturday 8 October, 10am-4pm, Brampton Memorial Centre, Memorial Playing Field, Thrapston Road, Brampton

• Thursday 20 October, 2-8pm, St Ives United Reform Free Church, Market Hill, St Ives

• Monday 24 October, 2-8pm, Judith’s Field Hall, London Road, Godmanchester.