Construction of UK’s biggest road upgrade to finish ahead of schedule

Grant Prior 4 years ago
Share

The country’s biggest road upgrade project is set to be completed six months ahead of schedule.

The £1.5bn A14 scheme to improve journeys between the East of England and the Midlands was originally planned to open to traffic by the end of 2020.

It will now open ahead of schedule this spring.

Main contractors on the job are Balfour Beatty/Costain/Skanska.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “Opening this scheme more than six months early and on budget shows what the UK construction industry can achieve working with Highways England on the Strategic Road Network.

“I would like to thank them for their focus on our joint success and for their one team approach.”

A new 12-mile bypass south of Huntingdon, which forms part of the overall project, opened a year ahead of schedule in December.

Work on the A14 improvement project began in November 2016 and it has employed around 13,000 people in total, with up to 2,500 working on site during the its peak.

Alongside the Huntingdon southern bypass, the project includes an upgrade to the A14 between Swavesey and Milton, and a new local access road, the A1307, which runs parallel to it between Cambridge and Godmanchester.

Approximately 24 miles of new routes for cyclists, walkers and horse riders are also included in the scheme.

The spring opening date will mark the end of permanent roadworks and reduced speed limits on the new A14 and the A1307, but the project team will still need to carry out a number of completion activities such as landscaping, installing some of the new technology, and work in the verges.

Glennan Blackmore, highways sector director, Skanska said: “The delivery team’s collaborative approach is industry changing. With all partners truly integrating, it demonstrates the success that can be achieved.”

Richard Stuart, Costain sector director, highways said: “This has been an exemplar project and should set the model for other major infrastructure projects to follow and build on.”

Julian Lamb, A14 Deputy Project Director for Balfour Beatty and the joint venture delivery team, said: “With a focus on delivering a safe and sustainable road network, our expertise and capabilities has allowed us to deliver this project safely and efficiently ahead of schedule.”

Latest news

Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

Court fines specialist contractor £8,000 after site tragedy
3 days ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
3 days ago

Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

Rival doubled glazed window specialist commits to complete orders
3 days ago

Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

End in sight with 1.5m thick concrete wall to be demolished to link-up to Lee Tunnel sewer system
3 days ago

Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Keltbray must now await outcome of court challenge
3 days ago

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
4 days ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
4 days ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
4 days ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
4 days ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
5 days ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
4 days ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
5 days ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
4 days ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
4 days ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
5 days ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
5 days ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
6 days ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
5 days ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
5 days ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
5 days ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
6 days ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
6 days ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
6 days ago

Six civils clients to switch to low carbon concrete and steel

National Highways, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield sign fresh decarbonising pledge
7 days ago

Fortem extends homes repair deal across Birmingham

Willmott Dixon owned firm adds another two years to deal worth £170m
6 days ago

Kier wins £118m civil service Darlington hub

Work is expected to start towards the end of this year
1 week ago

Green light for 34-storey Digbeth apartments tower

480 flats will be delivered for Clarion housing association
6 days ago

LHC starts race for major retrofit and decarb framework

Hunt starts for firms to help with 6.1m social homes upgrade target
1 week ago

Windows giant Everest crashes into administration

Around 350 jobs at risk while hunt starts for a buyer to salvage business
1 week ago

Green light for £500m Newcastle health complex

Mixed use scheme will promote healthy living across all stages of life
1 week ago

Contractor services