The A10 is a barrier to pedestrians and cyclists who want to actively travel between Ely and the village of Witchford and wider destinations in the A142/Witchford road corridor such as Lancaster Way Business Park.
This project aims to provide a safe all-weather active travel route to cross the A10 near the Witchford Road/BP Garage roundabout junction. The options being explored are a signalised crossing and an overbridge.
Why is it important?
The A10 represents a barrier to pedestrians and cyclists attempting to access the village of Witchford from Ely (and vice-versa) and prevents onward movement to the southwest of Ely and beyond.
Current crossing provision at Witchford Road / BP Garage roundabout consists of an unsignalised crossing on the northern A10 arm of the roundabout featuring dropped kerbs, tactile paving and a central pedestrian refuge.
A significant amount of traffic uses the A10 everyday which can make it feel unsafe and challenging to cross for walkers, wheelers and cyclists. The current crossing is very exposed and requires people to cross four lanes of busy traffic, stopping at a small pedestrian island in between.
The Ely to Witchford Active Travel Crossing aims to address these problems and provide a new crossing and improve safety in all weather, encourage an increase in active travel, support local businesses and connect communities.
What difference will it make?
The Ely to Witchford Active Travel Crossing will allow people to walk, wheel and cycle more easily between Ely and Witchford, improving accessibility to jobs, education and services and boosting the local economy.
It will improve accessibility between Ely and Witchford for people walking, wheeling and cycling and reduce the reliance on car as a means of travel for local journeys.
Residents and visitors will be encouraged to reduce their carbon emissions through increased active travel.
It will provide a safer crossing for people walking, wheeling and cycling, including vulnerable users, older people and those with disabilities. The risk of collisions involving cars and those using active travel with be significantly reduce.
It will enable more opportunities to make short trips without using the car and encourage greater exposure to greenspace and nature which will improve people’s health and wellbeing.
Who is responsible for delivering the transport scheme?
Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) is responsible for delivering the scheme, funded by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) as project sponsor.
What has happened to date?
WSP was commissioned in April 2023 by Cambridgeshire County Council to undertake a feasibility study. The study examined possible options to provide a safe, all‑weather route for those wishing to use active travel modes. This includes walking, wheeling and cycling to cross the A10 near the Witchford Road/BP Garage roundabout junction. This route connects Ely to Witchford Village and serves Lancaster Way Business Park, as well as wider destinations along the A142/Witchford Road corridor.
An Options Assessment Report was produced in October 2023, which considered a range of solutions and produced a shortlist of options. Several concepts were assessed, including six overbridges, two underpasses and six signalised crossings. The report recommended that two overbridges and one signalised crossing be taken forward to the Outline Business Case stage.
Work then commenced on an Outline Business Case for the scheme to look in more detail at the three options. This stage included a public consultation.
The consultation ran for six weeks, from January to March 2025. It invited feedback from residents, businesses and local organisations. A total of 1,143 responses were received. This feedback has played a vital role in shaping the decision‑making process and informing the selection of a recommended preferred option to move forward.
When was funding granted for the feasibility study and by who?
Funding for the scheme has been provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The County Council is delivering the outline business case.
Where is the project currently?
The Outline Business Case has been completed, and a preferred option has been recommended. This was discussed by the County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee in June 2025. Funding for the full business case is part of the Combined Authority’s Medium Term Financial Plan. It is expected that work will commence in 2026.
What is the next stage?
Once the funding agreement with the Combined Authority is in place for the Full Business Case Committee, we will begin the commissioning process for professional services. The detailed design and Full Business Case are expected to be completed during 2026 and 2027. Planning and land acquisition activities are anticipated to take place following completion of the Full Business Case.
Get in touch
Email us: elytowitchford@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0345 045 5212
On X: @CambsCC #elytowitchford
On Facebook: @CambridgeshireCC
