Commuters using the A428 between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire could save up to an hour and a half on their journeys every week using a new 10-mile dual carriageway linking the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire to the Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire. Both roundabouts would also be upgraded into modern, free-flowing junctions and a new junction would be added at Cambridge Road near St Neots.

The project would replace the only remaining section of single carriageway between Milton Keynes and Cambridge and tackle one of the region’s most notorious congestion hotspots.

In February, Highways England announced the preferred choices from an earlier public consultation in 2017 which included three route options for the new dual carriageway and three options for improving the Black Cat roundabout. Now, the details behind that announcement are being put to the public for views before the final plans go forward for planning consent early next year. An eight-week consultation launching today is an opportunity for drivers, business owners and local people to get involved and help shape the plans.

Highways England A428 programme lead Lee Galloway said:

The current A428 carries twice the traffic it was designed for and cuts through small communities and villages. It can get painfully congested – in fact it is in the worst 20 per cent of roads for delays in the whole country. Our plans will make a real difference, improving people’s journeys, reducing rat running on local roads and better linking the two key economic hubs of Milton Keynes and Cambridge, with economic benefits being felt across the whole region. People’s input has been essential in getting us to this stage, and I am looking forward to hearing what people think about our plans.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

These important upgrades will not only relieve congestion but will also link businesses and communities helping to boost the region’s economy and make a real difference to people’s lives.

This is part of the government’s £15 billion Road Investment Strategy to improve our motorways and major ‘A’ roads helping get motorists to their destinations quickly, easily and safely.

The project team will be hosting eight consultation events at local venues across the area, and in addition a mobile visitor centre will visit popular locations and pop up events will be held in Milton Keynes and Bedford shopping centres. Each will give people the opportunity to find out more about the proposals, explore the project using innovative visualisations and put any questions directly to the project team.

People can respond to the consultation by visiting the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet webpage. Copies of the consultation booklet are also available at local council offices and libraries.

The consultation runs eight weeks from today and closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 28 July 2019.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Updated plans to transform one of the busiest road links in the East of England have gone on show today.

Minister for Middle East has issued a statement on plans to construct hundreds of settlement units in East Jerusalem.

On Thursday 30 May, the Israel Land Authority announced plans to advance tenders for 556 housing units in East Jerusalem.

Minister for the Middle East Andrew Murrison said:

The UK Government is gravely concerned by plans announced on 30 May to advance tenders for hundreds of settlement housing units in occupied East Jerusalem.

We are clear that settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory are contrary to international law and an obstacle to a two-state solution. Regrettably this takes us further away from a negotiated peace agreement.

I visited Jerusalem on 28-30 May where I reiterated UK support for a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital for both states.

Since launching in 2011, the event has attracted a total of around 10,000 visitors from more than 20 countries, representing thousands of companies both large and small.

At each of our events, attendees have:

• celebrated dozens of NDA Supply Chain award winners, in categories ranging from innovation to collaboration and exports

• made valuable face-to-face connections, built collaborative networks and win contracts across the NDA group

• found opportunities for their businesses to move into the nuclear decommissioning market for the first time, adding to our supply chain’s strength and diversity, and boosting the UK economy

• come from overseas to see the wide range of UK expertise at first hand

• met with other government departments, such as the Department of International Trade (DIT) and Ministry of Defence (MOD), to understand future opportunities and meet potential suppliers

The event has grown from attracting a few hundred visitors to almost 1,700 and is now the largest event of its kind anywhere in Europe.

The event started life in Bolton, Lancashire, before travelling a few miles down the M61 to Manchester’s EventCity. Whilst this has been an extremely popular, accessible location, we’re aware that this venue favoured suppliers based in the North West. It can be difficult or expensive for suppliers from elsewhere in the UK to travel to EventCity – especially the small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) we’re keen to encourage into the nuclear decommissioning sector. The influx of thousands of overnight visitors also brings a significant boost for local hotels and restaurants.

Looking across the whole UK and listening to other feedback, we believe it’s time for a change of venue, to look at a different time of year and improve the event for the future.

The next event will be on Thursday 18 June 2020 at The International Centre, Telford. This venue has has world-class facilities and easy access to motorway and rail networks. And we truly believe that the updates and improvements will be worth the wait!

We’ll still be holding our supply chain awards to celebrate our suppliers’ huge contribution to the clean-up mission.

The success of the event is down to our suppliers and we very much look forward to seeing you in Telford. 

Registration via the supply chain event website will open in the autumn. If you would like to be notified when registration opens please sign up to our e-bulletin.