Two major studies to improve safety, sustainability and tackle congestion in Cambridgeshire are set to take a step forward.
Approval of funding for studies on the A10 Ely to A14, and A141 and St Ives, improvement schemes is on the agenda for Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee when it meets on 12 July.
The funding would come from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority with an initial £4 million having already been allocated for the A10. Part of this funding has been granted by the Department for Transport, and the remainder could also be allocated by the government body subject to a future funding bid.
Both studies are expected to begin in the current financial year and, once completed, will provide the evidence to support bids for improvement works on these corridors.
The committee will decide whether to commission outline business cases which, once completed, would outline the preferred designs for both schemes and enable the council to progress with the necessary works. The designs will fit in with the Joint Administration’s priority for increasing sustainable transport options.
It is expected that the A10 Ely to A14 outline business case will be completed in the 2023/24 financial year, and the A141 and St Ives outline business case in the 2024/25 financial year.
The committee will also decide whether to set up project groups for both schemes which would include representatives from the relevant district councils. The groups would consider the plans and make sure they are consulted on by stakeholders.
The final approved A10 Ely to A14 project would connect with the planned new town north of Waterbeach and with improvement schemes being carried out by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, while it would consider the needs of all users, including cyclists, pedestrians, disabled people, horse-riders and public transport users.
Investment in St Ives and Huntingdon has also been identified as a means to reduce traffic and deliver improved facilities for sustainable transport.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the council’s Highways and Transport Committee, said: “Reducing congestion and opening up routes for sustainable transport is a core joint administration objective and will deliver better results for all road users and help improve air quality.
“It is important, therefore, that we begin to make progress on both schemes, and I would like to thank the combined authority for its financial support to enable us to do so.”
Papers for the upcoming meeting can be read on the council's website.
The meeting can be viewed on the council’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/CambsCountyCouncil.
