A £1.5bn scheme to upgrade the A14 has been given the go ahead and aims to relieve congestion, unlock growth and help connect communities in the East of England.

Highways England has welcomed the decision, which will see extra capacity added to the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon.

The improvement scheme is now on target for main construction work to start in late 2016. Further details will be announced in due course.

The 21-mile project will include a new bypass of Huntingdon between Swavesey and Brampton, widening the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury, widening the existing A14 between Swavesey and Milton and improving the junctions at Bar Hill, Swavesey, Girton, Histon and Milton. 

Chris Taylor, director for complex infrastructure at Highways England, is leading the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme and said: “The scheme will provide much needed additional capacity to improve journey times and safety.

 “We are keen to keep the momentum going and will get preparations for construction underway as soon as possible after the end of the six-week statutory challenge period.”

The FTA also welcomes the decision. Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy, said: “We look for an early start to the sets of works and a system that will inform freight operators and motorists about disruptions that could be caused. Reliable and timely information will give freight operators the chance to better plan their journeys while the construction is taking place.”

The new bypass and widened A14 will open to traffic in 2020, although some finishing work such as the removal of the A14 viaduct in Huntingdon will continue beyond that with occasional road closures.