The old stretch of the A14 between Swavesey and Huntingdon will be officially handed over from National Highways to Cambridgeshire County Council next week.
From Thursday, 8 February, the transfer process will be complete, and the county council will be officially responsible for maintaining this section of the highway. This will include any maintenance such as resurfacing, street lighting, bridges, barriers, traffic lights, drainage and public rights of way. The A1307 has already been added to its gritting routes for the winter.
As part of the handover process, National Highways has provided the council with almost £25 million towards the maintenance of the road.
Cllr Neil Shailer, vice-chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We have been working with National Highways on this for quite some time, since before the new A14 bypass was built.
“We knew this road would become ours, which is why we have been provided with funding for it from National Highways as part of the de-trunking process.
“A key priority for us will be assessing the Godmanchester to Huntingdon section, which is currently restricted to a temporary 40mph speed limit due to safety concerns with the barriers. Now the road has been handed over to us, we will be visiting the area ASAP, so we can look at the design needed and programme the work with a view to starting on the barriers in the summer. In the meantime, the 40mph speed limit will remain in place.”
Steven Thulborn, National Highways’ Head of Planning & Development for the East Region, said: “The A14 upgrade has helped to deliver faster, easier journeys for those travelling between Cambridge and Huntingdon, providing benefits to the local community as well as improving links nationally. Cambridgeshire County Council have been a close partner throughout the life cycle of the scheme and we’re pleased to have provided a funding package that will see them pick up the management of what is known locally as the old A14 between Swavesey and Huntingdon moving forward.”
(Picture – Cambridgeshire County Council)
