Drivers urged to consider travel plans ahead of major A-road closures
Drivers are being urged to only travel through the Black Cat roundabout and surrounding areas if their journey is essential due to major road closures on the A1 and A421 in Bedfordshire next weekend.
The closures are part of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements and will allow National Highways to safely connect two new sections of road to the existing network at the Black Cat roundabout.
For the safety of both road users and workers, the following closures will be in place from 9pm on Friday 15 August to 5am on Monday 18 August 2025:
• A421 in both directions between Cardington Interchange and Black Cat roundabout.
• A1 northbound between Tempsford and Wyboston.
• Bedford Road between Roxton Garden Centre to the Black Cat.
Drivers are being urged to plan their journeys well and only travel if essential, to help ease pressure on the diversion route, which uses local roads.
Senior Project Manager, Paul Salmon, said: “We want people to spend their weekends relaxing and enjoying themselves - not stuck in traffic.
“If you’re planning to travel through the Black Cat roundabout or the surrounding area, please think carefully about your journey and only travel if it’s absolutely necessary.
“Allow extra time, use alternative routes where you can, and make sure to follow our official diversion signs rather than relying on sat-nav directions.”
The closures are needed to safely connect two new sections of road to the existing network at Black Cat roundabout - the new A421 eastbound to A1 northbound free-flow link, and the new A421 westbound slip road.
Paul added: “We’re making good progress across the scheme and remain on track to open in spring 2027. Following the weekend, the road layout at Black Cat roundabout will have changed again, so we’d ask drivers to be prepared and follow the signage as they approach the roundabout.”
The A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements is a £1 billion project to improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots, and Cambridge.
The scheme will see the creation of a 10-mile dual carriageway linking the A1/A421 Black Cat roundabout with the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout. Both existing roundabouts will be upgraded into modern, free-flowing junctions. A new junction will also be added at Cambridge Road, improving access to St Neots and its train station.
This new dual carriageway will replace the final stretch of single carriageway on the strategic road network between the M1 at Milton Keynes and the east coast ports of Harwich and Felixstowe.
At peak times, drivers will save up to 10 minutes per journey – adding up to 1.5 hours every working week – helping to support regional growth, ease congestion, and make travel more reliable.
The scheme is expected to open to traffic in spring 2027.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Diversion routes
• A421 eastbound traffic will be diverted off the A421 at Cardington Interchange onto the A603 towards Sandy. From the Sandy roundabout, drivers should take the A1 northbound to the Tempsford Interchange exit. They will then follow St Neots Road to join the A428 at St Neots, rejoining the A1 at Wyboston.
Westbound traffic are to use the same diversion route in reverse.
• A1 northbound traffic should exit the A1 at Tempsford Interchange. They will then follow St Neots Road to join the A428 at St Neots, rejoining the A1 at Wyboston.
• Bedford Road traffic will be diverted via Bedford Road towards Great Barford, onto St Neots Road. At the Renhold Interchange they should take the A421 westbound, exiting at the Cardington Interchange onto the A603 towards Sandy. From the Sandy roundabout, drivers should take the A1 northbound to the Tempsford Interchange exit. They will then follow St Neots Road to join the A428 at St Neots, rejoining the A1 at Wyboston.
About National Highways
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
View our press releases online at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/press/
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via its website (www.trafficengland.com), local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps.
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