The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme has been nominated for a national environmental award.

The Hunts Post: The scheme has shown efforts to help preserve the wildlife.The scheme has shown efforts to help preserve the wildlife. (Image: Archant)

The £1.5billion project is one of five finalists in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018 in the Conservation Success of the Year category.

The project that was given the go-ahead in May 2016 will see 21 miles of A14 in Cambridgeshire upgraded to three lanes in each direction.

Members of the public are able to vote for the project via the BBC Countryfile Magazine website until March 5.

Carol Hardingham, environmental lead for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon project for Highways England, said: “I am delighted that the environmental mitigation on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon upgrade has been selected as one of the five finalists for the awards.”

As part of the scheme, a range of environmental mitigation measures are being carried out, including creating new habitats for species such as the water vole, and protecting existing habitats along the route.

Nature journalists and authors were amongst the five-strong judging panel that selected the A14 project for the award.

BBC Wildlife Magazine editor and awards judge Sheena Harvey said: “It’s a project that should lead the way in how to mitigate that damage done by infrastructure works – this is an example that needs to be out there for people to follow.”

Before the scheme was authorised, the A14 ecology team had been busy planning and creating new habitats and protecting wildlife.

The construction is set to be completed in 2020.

To find out more go to www.countryfile.com/.