Important maintenance work continues on the A1307, known locally as the old A14, between Swavesey and Huntingdon.
When the County Council took over responsibility for the road from National Highways earlier this year, a 40mph speed limit was in place between Swavesey and Huntingdon. This speed limit had been in place for some time and extensive maintenance works were required before it could be lifted.
The verges have now been cleared, the vegetation has been stripped back and some of the drains have been cleared. However, these works have not been completed as quickly as originally expected as our highways officers have uncovered the need for further drainage work. Some of the drains are not clearing properly and more drains have been discovered which weren’t listed on the original plans.
Further ecology survey work is expected to start on Monday (28 October). During this time, traffic management will be in place. Following the survey, some trees, which are posing a risk to the carriageway, will need to be removed. New seeds and mature trees will be planted elsewhere at a more suitable location.
Another priority is the barrier work required between Godmanchester to Huntingdon section. The preparation for this work will start shortly, and will involve clearing the vegetation to allow the barriers to be installed. The barrier replacement work, which will require lane closures, is expected to start in November and continue until at least February 2025.
In the meantime, the 40mph speed limit will need to remain in place for safety reasons.
Cllr Neil Shailer, vice-chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The 40mph speed limits on these sections of the A1307 are still currently necessary for the safety of all road users.
“We want to remove these speed restrictions as soon as possible, so we’re sorry that these works have taken longer than initially hoped. Despite the setbacks encountered, progress is being made on the essential maintenance that the A1307 requires. The upcoming work to replace the central barrier represents a big step towards being able to return the road to 70mph.
We apologise for the ongoing inconvenience of the reduced speed limits on the A1307. Please follow @Cambs_Traffic for further updates on these maintenance works.
