Diversions, closures and speed restrictions
We're trying to minimise road closures and keep traffic flowing as much as possible while the improvements are carried out. Stay up to date with diversions, road closures and current restrictions on this page.
While it won't always be possible to completely avoid some short-term delays and congestion, we have looked at lots of different scenarios and outcomes to keep open as many lanes as we can. We are working closely with local authorities to keep traffic moving as much as possible during construction.
What you can expect to see:
- The A1, A421 and A428 will mainly remain open for the duration of the works.
- There will be occasional overnight closures and full weekend closures, when we'll need to connect the new and existing roads, build bridges, and unload sizeable items of equipment or materials.
- We're committed to being a good neighbour - so we're working hard with our contractors to plan and phase the construction, to really minimise impacts to all road users and the local community.
Current updates
Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
A1 northbound Sandy to Black Cat roundabout weekend closure - Saturday 7 September 7am to Monday 9 September 5am
UK Power Networks (UKPN) and Anglian Water need to complete utility diversions on the A1 northbound.
So the utility companies can work safely, we'll close the A1 northbound carriageway between Sandy and Black Cat roundabout.
During the closure, your electricity and water supply won't be affected. Residents on this stretch will always have access to their homes.
Diversion
You'll be diverted:
- Westbound along the A603 from Sandy
- then you'll take the A421 eastbound
- you'll rejoin the A1 northbound at the Black Cat roundabout
A1 Sandy to Black Cat diversion map.
A428 road closures
We will be closing the A428 between the Cambridge Road (Tithe Farm) roundabout and Caxton Gibbet roundabout, on three separate occasions in September. This is to allow us to install a 40mph speed restrictions, roadworks signs, safety barriers, narrow lanes, speed cameras and CCTV. To undertake this work safely, the A428 will be closed on the following dates:
• Monday 2 September to Friday 13 September 2024 (weeknights only), 8pm to 6am: Overnight closure of the A428 in both directions between Cambridge Road (Tithe Farm) roundabout and Caxton Gibbet roundabout.
• Monday 9 September 2024, 8pm to 6am: Overnight closure of the A428 westbound carriageway between Cambourne and Caxton Gibbet roundabout. Westbound traffic should exit the A14 at J31, take the A14 Huntingdon Road to the A1 / A14 Brampton Interchange, return on the A14 eastbound to J23, exiting at J23 to take the A1198 to Caxton Gibbet roundabout.
• Friday 13 September to Monday 16 September, 8pm to 6am: Weekend closure A428 in the both directions between B1040 St Ives Road and Caxton Gibbet roundabout.
Temporary closure of Cambridge Road (Eltisley)
As part of our work to upgrade the Eltisley junction, we need to divert utilities and raise the level of the existing road. To get this done safely and efficiently, we'll need to temporary close Cambridge Road for an extended period of time from Tuesday 27 August 2024. We expect the work to be complete and the road reopened by spring 2025.
Diversion
Travelling from the A428: Traffic will be diverted along west of the A428 and then south onto the B1040 and east into Eltisley on the St Neots Road.
Travelling from The Green: Traffic will be diverted east out of Eltisley along St Neots Road, then north onto B1040 to the A428.
Permanent closure of A1 access from Chawston Lane
On Friday 30 August 2024, we will permanently close the access to and from the A1 on Chawston Lane. This is to allow us to accelerate progress with the construction of the new Roxton Road link without multiple road closures. The new link road is expected to be complete in spring 2025.
Residents who live on Chawston lane will still have access to their properties but will need to follow the dedicated diversion route.
Diversion
Travelling from Chawston Lane: Traffic will be diverted south down Roxton Road until they reach the junction with Bedford Road. Road users will then head east towards the Black Cat roundabout or west towards Roxton village.
Travelling towards Chawston Lane: Traffic will be diverted north up Roxton Road until they reach the junction with Chawston Lane.
Temporary closure of The Lane (Wyboston)
As part of our work to construct the new Roxton Road link road, we need to relocate some utility services. This includes relocating a watermain on The Lane in Wyboston. To get this done safely, we'll need to temporary close The Lane from Monday 2 September 2024. We expect the work to be completed and the road reopened by October 2024.
During this time, your water supply won't be affected, and residents on this stretch will always have access to their homes.
Diversion
Travelling from The Lane: Road users will be diverted west along The Lane and then south down Roxton Road until they reach the junction with Bedford Road. Road users will then head east towards the Black Cat roundabout.
Travelling towards The Lane: Road users will be diverted east along Bedford Road and then north up Roxton Road until they reach the junction with The Lane. Road users will then head east down The Lane.
Temporary road layout at A1 / A421 Black Cat roundabout
In January 2024, we made a temporary switch to the road layout at the Black Cat roundabout as we began work to upgrade the junction. This temporary layout has allowed traffic to continue to pass through the roundabout smoothly - removing the need to close any part of the road permanently.
The current road layout will be in place until spring 2025.
Please be assured that we take your feedback extremely seriously and have been monitoring the area constantly since implementation. We monitor via live CCTV, as well as multiple daily visits to site at various times of the day, in daylight as well as in the dark.
View temporary road layout map
Cycle, pedestrian and horse rider route closure, Caxton Gibbet
As part of our work, we need to close the cycleway, pedestrian and horse rider route (73/17) just north of the existing roundabout.
While these works take place, cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders will be directed along a diversion route, running eastward along the A1198 Ermine Street, avoiding our worksites and rejoining the road at Brockley Road.
We estimate the diversion will make journeys longer by:
- 5 minutes for cyclists
- 15 minutes for walkers
An upgraded route will open to cyclists, pedestrians, and horse riders in spring 2027.
Give us your feedback
Visit our A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements feedback tool to have your say. This tool includes an interactive map. You can click on a location to make a specific comment, or give us your general feedback.
ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you'd like a response to your feedback you can email the project team at: info@a428.co.uk
How do we plan diversions, road closures and speed limits?
We have monitored traffic volumes at 24 different locations in advance of construction and will continue to monitor it throughout the construction period. Click on some of the headings below to find out how we'll keep traffic moving during construction.
- We've carried out a ‘highest safe speed' assessment to work out the highest, safest speed you can travel through the roadworks.
- Our assessment found that a 40mph temporary speed limit is necessary to protect the road user and workforce for works to be carried out safely.
- The temporary speed limit means junctions can operate under normal capacity, resulting in a lower number of full road closures.
- The speed limit of 40mph means the temporary barriers and narrow lane systems are safer for all road users.
- We have planned construction so there are minimum road closures, diversions and road layout changes to reduce confusion.
- Road closures will be minimised as much as possible to only essential works, such as demolition works or major phasing changes.
- We will use static narrowed lanes and temporary alignments to maximise the construction work areas and keep the number of full closures as low as possible. For example, we will keep two lanes open on the A421 eastbound when we move into construction.
- At later stages in the construction we will use some of the newly constructed slip roads to keep the traffic moving: we will use slip roads and link roads to create a temporary ‘large gyratory’ at the Black Cat while the new A1 underpass is constructed.
- The A1 will be kept open as much as possible, although it is expected that A1 closures will be needed to allow the safe construction of parts of the new road. These may require a combination of weekday night closures, weekend night closures and full weekend closures.
- We have a commitment to you the road user to provide a safe and suitable diversion route around a closure.
- We will only use diversion routes that can take the type and volume of traffic that is being diverted.
- The diversion routes will stick to major A roads on our road network to minimise rat running through local villages and on local roads.
- We have to follow the diversions which are set out in the development consent order (which is like our planning permission).
- We aim to reduce disruption in your lives by managing the traffic with clear signage and advance warning.
- By standardising the way we do this, we can provide safer and more reliable journeys for you, resulting in familiarity along unfamiliar routes.
- All diversion routes are agreed with the relevant local authorities.
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