Motorists have been warned to expect delays during the next three weeks while work is carried out on the A428, between St Neots and Cambridge.

Highways England will be closing the road, from 8pm till 6am, starting January 22 to allow for new signs to be erected and vegetation to be cleared from the carriageway.

The first phase of the project will take place on the road from Eaton Socon to Barford Road, which will be closed in both directions during this time. Diversions will be in place, sending drivers down the A1 northbound, to Alconbury to join the A14 eastbound. There will also be some local diversions in place.

A second closure is scheduled from Barford Road to the B1428 Cambridge Road in both directions. Diversions will send drivers along the A1 to Alconbury to pick up the A14.

The third phase will close the A428 between the B1428 Cambridge Road and the Eltisley B1040/St Ives Road crossroads in both directions. Again, diversions will be in place. The final closure is from Eltisley to Caxton Gibbett.

Highways England says the A428 between the A1 junction near St Neots and the A1198 Caxton Gibbet is single carriageway with a series of roundabouts and give-way junctions. It experiences major delays during peak periods, resulting in delays and reduced speeds. With few available diversions, incidents and accidents result in disruption over a wide area, which is why the upgrade work is necessary.

The new scheme will: reduce congestion and delays, increase road capacity, improve journey time reliability, improve safety, support growth and provide alternative access to local road.

It will also support the transport network to better cope with road maintenance and with incidents such as collisions, breakdowns, maintenance

improve the environmental impact of transport on communities along the existing A428 route and provide improved routes between communities for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.