Anthony Browne, transport minister and MP for South Cambridgeshire has marked a significant milestone in the development of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement scheme.

Mr Browne attended a ceremony this week to mark the 'breaking of ground' at the Black Cat Roundabout.

The £1billion project will lead to a new dual carriageway connecting St Neots (the A1 and A421) to the A428 at Caxton Gibbet.

While preliminary works have begun, the major construction phase is scheduled to start in January 2024.

This includes the development of the new dual carriageway, remodelled junctions at Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet, a new junction at Cambridge Road, realigned junctions, and new bridges over the River Great Ouse and East Coast Mainline railway.

Mr Browne said: "Alongside other local MPs, I have fought for this scheme and I’m delighted to personally see it finally off the ground.

"This is not just an infrastructure project; it's a transformative commitment to enhancing the lives of people in South Cambridgeshire, St Neots, and beyond."

National Highways' ambitious plans involve the construction of a new 10-mile dual carriageway, connecting the A1 and A421 at the Black Cat roundabout to the Caxton Gibbet roundabout near Cambourne.

Both roundabouts will undergo major upgrades to become modern, free-flowing junctions.

The project includes a new junction at Cambridge Road, significantly improving access to St Neots and its train station, while leaving the existing A428 as a local road.

Currently, the A428 experiences frequent congestion and delays, particularly during rush hour, exacerbated by the lack of alternative routes.

With around 25,000 vehicles traveling this route daily and expected growth due to local housing and job development, this upgrade is timely and necessary.

As part of the plans, commuters can expect a reduction in journey times by more than a third at peak times, potentially saving up to an hour and a half weekly.

The scheme also promises enhanced biodiversity through new landscape planting and wildlife conservation measures.

Plans are in place for 5.2 miles of new shared pathways for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, with safe crossing points and right of way reconnections.