National Highways’ billion pound scheme to improve journeys between Milton Keynes and Cambridge on the currently single-lane A248, bringing communities together and supporting long term growth in the region, is set to open in 2027.
The A428 between St Neots and Caxton Gibbet is the only stretch of single carriageway between the M1 near Milton Keynes and Cambridge and is an important link between the M1 and the M11, connecting the communities of Bedford, St Neots, Cambridge and Cambourne.
Around 25,300 vehicles travel between Cambridge Road and Caxton Gibbet every day. With considerable local housing and job growth expected, this number is likely to grow to 32,900 vehicles by 2040. People that use the A428 regularly experience congestion and delays, especially in rush hour. The situation is made worse by the lack of alternative routes.
The upgrade scheme will cut journey times by more than a third at peak times, saving up to 10 minutes each way – and as much as 1.5 hours over a working week. Click HERE to watch a 2-minute YouTube video of the planned works.
The new dual carriageway will increase capacity, reliability and safety on the road network, encouraging investors and visitors to the area and will make jobs in Milton Keynes and Cambridge more accessible and will cut congestion on the existing road, removing the temptation for drivers to use local roads to avoid delays. Our plans will mean there will be up to 4,000 less cars on local roads.
The scheme includes safe crossing points for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and reconnections for disrupted rights of way.
- a new three tier junction at Black Cat roundabout which will allow traffic to flow freely on the A1 by travelling under the junction and on the new dual carriageway over the junction
- new junctions at Caxton Gibbet and Cambridge Road, connecting the new dual carriageway to the existing A428 and increasing the local road network’s ability to cope with unforeseen incidents
- new Roxton Road link to connect Wyboston and Chawston
- new bridges crossing over the new dual carriageway at Roxton Road, Barford Road and Toseland Road
- new bridges over the River Great Ouse and East Coast Main Line railway.
