Why I am campaigning for improvements to the A248 & the Caxton Gibbet junction
This project has been long in the making but will provide much-needed additional capacity on the congested roads leading up to the Caxton Gibbet junction. Now that the Black Cat interchange has been improved to provide free-flowing movements for traffic on the A1 and the A421/A428, it marks a real chance to improve journeys from our area to the west, as well as between St Neots and Cambourne.
The proposals are designed to have a huge impact and make a real difference in people’s commutes and travel times. According to the project team at National Highways, this could help save up to an hour-and-a-half on residents' journeys every week. The upgrade will also help connect local communities, reduce rat running on local roads, and provide a better economic link between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.
What is planned for the A428 and Caxton Gibbet?
The A428 scheme proposes a new 10-mile dual carriageway from the Black Cat Roundabout on the A1 through to Caxton Gibbet junction in addition to a number of new junctions and improvements. It is currently going through its Development Consent Order (DCO) public examination process, where a panel of experts from the Planning Inspectorate, known as the Examining Authority, scrutinises the DCO application.
The Examining Authority has been assessing feedback from the public and stakeholders through written representations and during several rounds of hearings, with a ruling expected soon.
So far, I have
- Met with the Chancellor to discuss priorities for transport funding in South Cambridgeshire
- Wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss improvements to our roads
- Met with the Roads Minister to discuss projects including the A428 and the Girton Interchange
- Publicised consultations and public engagement activities around the project
- Worked to ensure the project is considered alongside other improvements
- Discussed the project with SCDC Leadership, including the Leader and Chief Executive
Campaign success
After lobbying for transport improvements in our area, the Chancellor confirmed funding to dual the remaining single carriageway section of the A428 between Cambridge and the M1, including three grade separated junctions: one at the junction of the A1 and A421 (Black Cat); a second at Cambridge Road / B1428 east of St Neots; and a third at the junction of the A428/A1198 at Caxton Gibbet. The Department for Transport also published its report on Road Investment Strategy 2: 2020 - 2050, confirming that improvements to J13 of the M11 are also in the pipeline