Junior transport minister and South Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne led the groundbreaking ceremony for the £1bn A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement scheme. “This is not just an infrastructure project; it’s a transformative commitment to enhancing the lives of people in South Cambridgeshire, St Neots, and beyond,” he said.
Mr Browne was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport last month having previously been appointed as the first Prime Minister’s Anti-Fraud Champion.
Skanska is delivering the improvement project on the A428 in Cambridgeshire to bring a new 10-mile dual carriageway between the Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet roundabouts.
The scheme, due for completion in 2027, will improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and the link between the M11 and M1.
The route is the only remaining stretch of single carriageway between Cambridge and the M1 near Milton Keynes.
Mr Browne said: “This project will mean lower journey times, less congestion, and cleaner air from St Neots to Cambourne.
“It also signifies our dedication to creating a more connected, safer, and sustainable future for our area. I’m proud to be delivering on that for our residents.”
He said it was an ambitious plan to connect the A1 and A421 at the Black Cat roundabout to the Caxton Gibbet roundabout near Cambourne.
“Both roundabouts will undergo major upgrades to become modern, free-flowing junctions,” he said.
“The project includes a new junction at Cambridge Road, significantly improving access for St Neots, while leaving the existing A428 as a local road.
“As part of the plans, commuters can expect a reduction in journey times by more than a third at peak times, potentially saving up to an hour and a half weekly.
“The scheme also aims to improve road safety by separating local and long-distance traffic, reducing congestion, accidents, and rat running.”
He added: “The scheme also promises improved air quality for residents, with reduced vehicle emissions and enhanced biodiversity through new landscape planting and wildlife conservation measures.
“Plans are in place for 5.2 miles of new shared pathways for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, with safe crossing points and right of way reconnections.”
