Consultation - the highlights
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12 February 2020
We are currently analysing all your feedback and comments. We consider every single comment and will produce a detailed Public Consultation Report later this year.
Thank you to everyone who gave us their views.
- Over 2,500 joined us at an event
- 925 people and organisations took part
Please see below for the main findings from our 2019 consultation:
88% support the proposals for the alignment of the new dual carriageway.
Highlighted comments:
- The scheme will have a positive impact on traffic, safety and reduce the number of drivers using village roads as rat runs.
- People felt the roundabout will address the present situation in relation to congestion, safety, and connectivity between Bedford and Cambridge. A
- small number commented on the impact on local communities during construction. This included concerns over additional rat running and construction noise.
86% either support or strongly support the proposals for the refined design of the Black Cat junction.
Highlighted comments:
- People felt the new design of the Black Cat junction will reduce congestion at this critical point on the road network.
- The new design will reduce congestion at the junction as well as alleviating rat running in surrounding villages while improving road safety.
- A small number of people felt the design will fail to address existing issues with the A1, such as the bottlenecks at Sandy and Buckden.
79% either support or strongly support the proposals.
Highlighted comments:
- The junction will meet the needs of the local area with enough capacity to deal with any increase in traffic that may arise as a result of the new housing developments.
- A small number of concerns were raised that the junction has not been designed with adequate capacity for the Loves Farm or Wintringham development.
81% either support or strongly support the proposals for the Caxton Gibbet junction.
Highlighted comments:
- some people highlighted that the Caxton Gibbet junction will reduce congestion, journey times, traffic and the number of vehicles using unsuitable local roads, as well as increase safety
- a small number raised concerns that congestion at the new Caxton Gibbet junction will be worse than they are currently due to large volumes of traffic needing to navigate two roundabouts
73% support the proposed changes to the existing A428 junction at Eltisley.
Highlighted comments:
- Respondents said there will be a positive impact on traffic in the area, particularly in terms of safety and congestion both at the new junction and on surrounding roads.
- A small number of people felt the design of the junction was overly complex which could be difficult to navigate.
- Some also raised concerns about the potential for rat running through Eltisley during construction and once the new road is opened.
67% either support or strongly support the proposals.
Highlighted comments:
- The scheme will improve the safety of cyclists, walkers and horse riders because of the segregation from motorised traffic.
- A small number of people felt that insufficient consideration has been given to cyclists including concerns about the crossing proposed at Caxton Gibbet.
What happens next?
We’re continuing to work through people’s comments in detail and as we consider your responses, we may make changes to the scheme. If we make significant changes to the design, we may carry out further consultation on those changes. We will keep you informed if this happens.
We’ll also publish a detailed Public Consultation Report later this year as part of our planning application to build the scheme.
In the interim, find out more about the consultation and the initial findings in our February 2020 project update.
