A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet

Closed 23 Apr 2017

Opened 6 Mar 2017

Contact

0300 123 500

a428blackcattocaxtongibbet@highwaysengland.co.uk

Feedback updated 26 Jun 2020

We asked

This is the 2017 consultation. For the 2020 consultation please visit the 2020 consultation page.

You can also visit the 2019 consultation page.

We asked for feedback on our proposals to improve journeys by creating a new dual carriageway and improve the Black Cat junction on the A1. 

We put forward four options to improve the route and 3 options to upgrade the Black Cat roundabout.

You can view our Report on Consultation and the Preferred Route Announcement in the 'Results' section below.

You said

  • More than 4,000 people took part in the consultation
  • Over 90% agreed with the need to address congestion and improve journeys along this stretch of the A428
  • Over 80% chose the Orange route. This was the most northerly of the three suggested routes, providing the best connections into St Neots. It was also the closest to the existing A428
  • Around 60% of people preferred our proposals under Option C for the Black Cat Junction

We did

We have chosen the Orange route and Option C as our preferred route.

We read and considered every response and comment you gave us and, together with the results of our technical assessments, used this to review and improve our initial proposals. 

We have adjusted the alignment of the proposed dual carriageway to allow for potential growth around St Neots, to take into account issues such as landfill sites and power lines and to address the response from local communities.

We have also reduced the height and visual impact of the new junction at Black Cat by lowering the A1. 

Together, the new carriageway and junction improvements will:

Offer quicker, safer and more reliable journeys

  • By reducing congestion in the area, the scheme will improve journeys between Milton Keynes and Cambridge.
  • We expect to cut the time of the average commute between the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet junctions by more than a third, saving drivers around 10 minutes on their commute.

Unlock regional and local growth

  • The new road will mean better connections into St Neots train station and town centre.
  • These improvements will complement the development of a new high quality link road between Oxford and Milton Keynes, transforming connections and supporting housing and job growth across the wider region. 

Help life in local villages by putting the right traffic on the right roads 

  • The scheme will reduce rat running on local village roads and remove long distance traffic using these roads as a diversion route.
  • There will be around 4,000 less vehicles on local roads at peak times.

In addition, the route has the least impact on the environment, wildlife, designated sites and heritage sites out of the three options we presented.

You can find out more in our Preferred Route booklet and maps in the 'Results' section below.

Results updated 21 Feb 2019

After consideration of more than 4000 consultation responses and extensive technical design, we have now selected the preferred route for this scheme. We are taking forward the development of the Orange route and option C for the Black Cat roundabout.

Please view the Report on Consultation and the Preferred Route Announcement brochures below.

You can keep up-to-date with further developments on the scheme by visiting the the scheme web page, where you can also sign up for email updates.

Files:

Overview

We are consulting on proposals to improve the A428 between Black Cat roundabout and Caxton Gibbet. We also want your views on our plans to improve the Black Cat roundabout. Inside the brochure, we’ve set out the options for improvement.

Please tell us what you think about these plans by filling in the questionnaire.

You can also join us at one of our public events where you can speak to our team about the proposals:

Date Time Location
Tuesday 21 March 2pm to 8pm Oakley Suite, Training Centre, Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL
Thursday 23 March 2pm to 8pm Cambourne Community Centre, High Street, Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, CB23 6GW
Saturday 25 March 10am to 4pm High Street, Abbotsley, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6UJ
Monday 27 March 2pm to 8pm Priory Lane, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2BH
Friday 31 March 2pm to 8pm Church Street, Tempsford, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2AN
Saturday 1 April 10am to 4pm Caxton End, Eltisley, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6TL

The consultation starts on 6 March and finishes at 11:59 on 23 April.

The need for the scheme

The A428 connects is an important link for the East of England to important regional, national and international hubs such as the Felixstowe and Harwich ports. It also connects the communities between St Neots and Cambourne and links Bedford, Milton Keynes and the M1 to Cambridge and the M11.

The A428 between St Neots and Caxton Gibbet is the only stretch of single carriageway along this route. It causes significant issues for drivers, such as:

  • regular delays and congestion, particularly at Black Cat roundabout
  • high number of incidents, in particular at junctions
  • delays on the link roads between junctions
  • increases overall journey time

We are consulting on 3 options to provide a new dual carriageway between Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet, which will be built away from the current alignment of the existing A428. We are also proposing options to improve the junction at Black Cat.

Your views are important

This is your opportunity to discuss and help shape our proposals at an early stage. Your feedback together with ongoing technical analysis will help inform which option is the most suitable to take forward and a preferred route for the scheme.

Please read the consultation brochure and give us your views using the link below. Alternatively, you can download a copy of the questionnaire using the links below.

Audiences

  • All members of the public

Interests

  • Roads