A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon newsletter

a14c2h

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme


The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme is now officially underway

Transport Secretary visit

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling visited the project on Monday 28 November to formally mark the start of construction.

 

The £1.5 billion project includes a major new bypass to the south of Huntingdon and upgrades to 21 miles of the A14, adding additional capacity, boosting the local and national economy and cutting up to 20 minutes off journeys.

 

Visit our scheme page for more information.

Traffic management starts soon

Construction is now underway and we will be implementing traffic management shortly.

 

To minimise the impact on drivers, we aim to maintain the current number of traffic lanes during the day by narrowing the existing lanes to gain the space needed.

 

When work does require lane or full closures, these will take place at night. Diversions have been agreed with Cambridgeshire County Council and will be clearly signposted.

 

Over the next few months, we will be using the following traffic management:

  • narrow lanes on the eastbound A428 between Madingley and Girton; this is the start of traffic management to construct this section of the scheme
  • narrow lanes in both directions of the A14 between Dry Drayton and Swavesey; this is the start of traffic management to construct this section of the scheme
  • traffic lights on side roads during off-peak hours (9.30am to 3.30pm)
  • night-time closures on the A1 between Brampton Interchange and Alconbury, and on the A14 between junction 24 (Godmanchester) and junction 30 (Dry Drayton); this is for site clearance

For up to date traffic information visit the roadworks planner on our scheme page.

Public information exhibitions

Public exhibitions

Between 27 September and 24 October, we ran 11 public information exhibitions in various locations along the route of the scheme.

 

We had 2845 visitors and 82% of those who completed our feedback form said they got the information they needed.

 

Penny Fletcher, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, said:

 

"We had a fantastic turn-out at these events and it was really good to meet so many people and answer their questions about the scheme. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along. We really enjoyed meeting you all."

Health and safety: doing things differently

In the run-up to construction we have been working hard to ensure that safety remains our top priority. This will be the case for road users and those working on site for the lifetime of the project.

 

Our Integrated Delivery Team, comprised of Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain and Skanska, have created a set of standards that puts health and safety at the forefront of everything we do.

 

The team evaluated each organisation’s safety standards and, where standards were found to be higher, incorporated those into the single, shared set of health and safety processes.

 

Wayne Brice, Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, said:

 

"This really is a different way of working and reflects just how seriously we are taking health and safety on this project.

 

"A lot of time and effort has gone into getting this right. We’ve been speaking with industry experts and other specialists and have had some really weighty discussions to make sure we’re raising the bar.

 

"This innovative approach demonstrates the delivery team’s commitment to collaborative working. It’s an exciting project to be involved with."

Environment: A14C2H vegetation to be used for biomass energy

A large proportion of the A14C2H scheme’s plant waste, created from vegetation clearance, is being sent to a facility which will convert it into biomass energy.

 

Biomass is the term used for anything that grows (biological matter) and biomass energy is created from those waste materials, such as wood, grass clippings, plants, paper and food scraps.

 

In biomass power plants, this waste is burned to produce steam that runs a turbine to make electricity, or provide heat to homes and offices.

 

Biomass energy is a low carbon fuel that is already available throughout the UK. As biomass energy uses plants it is a renewable form of energy.

 

Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a significant reduction in net carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels.

Creating a positive legacy: A14 Community Fund update

A14 community fund

The A14 Community Fund supports projects with up to £10,000 of funding for activities which respond to the changes the scheme will bring to the local area.

 

The fund launched in summer 2016 and has already generated a lot of interest through two successful funding rounds.

 

Four projects were approved in the first round and delivery plans are currently being finalised. These include:

  • a transport themed mural in a primary school hall
  • „„new gardening equipment and an information board for a community orchard
  • „„support for a community shop
  • „„support for people with mental health and disability to develop landscaping skills

The second funding round has attracted 16 applications and we will share the outcome of that once decisions have been made.

 

Gerard Smith, Head of Legacy, said:

 

"The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme will bring fundamental change to the area. We want local communities to consider the impact of that and how they might develop projects that respond to these changes."

 

Panel Chair Sam Weller said:

 

"As the fund becomes more established we are starting to see projects which have really thought about the impacts on their community and are responding with innovative ideas."

 

The next bid deadline is 1 February 2017 and further details are available on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation website.

Introducing the project team: Christian Leland

Christian Leland

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m 18. I enjoy watching and playing football, and spending time with friends outside of work. I joined Balfour Beatty in August 2016 and instantly started working on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.

What is your role on the project?

I’m an Apprentice Accountant working with the two lead accountants. I take on all sorts of tasks from working on accounts to creating payment requests for sub-contractors.

What did your last job involve?

Before joining the A14C2H team, I was a sixth form student at Stratton Upper School. I studied business, finance and an IT diploma.

What is your biggest challenge?

Adapting to the change in workload from education to working as an apprentice. I had to establish the balance between my coursework and my day job early on in my apprenticeship to ensure that I complete everything on time and to a good standard.

What do you like most about your role on the project?

The experience I am gaining is not only helping to improve my knowledge and ability as an accountant, but also helping to build a wide range of other skills. The help and support that I am offered as an apprentice is invaluable.

 

Working on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme is an experience that I’m very grateful for. It’s a big opportunity for someone of my age.

Out and about in the community: inspiring the next generation

Members of the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon project team are passionate about the project and the roles they play on it, so it’s not surprising that they are keen to inspire the next generation of civil engineers.

 

The team has been speaking to education bodies to find out how they can promote science, technology, engineering and maths (otherwise known as STEM) subjects and help plug the skills shortage in these areas.

 

They have also been working closely with schools and colleges in the A14 corridor to promote careers in the highways and construction sector.

 

They recently attended career fairs in both Ramsey and Cambridge to meet local students and talk about their own experiences on the project, as well as opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships.

 

Sarah Hough, Head of People and Collaboration, said:

 

“The scale of this project gives us a unique opportunity to demonstrate just how exciting the infrastructure industry can be.

 

“There are so many different types of jobs and roles available on a scheme of this size and it’s great to open up a new world of possibilities for young people.”