Key A14 upgrade for the UK to cut congestion

A joint venture comprising 3137 BAM Nuttall and 2567 Morgan Sindall will carry out the 4km widening of the UK’s heavily congested A14 route. The €28.5 million (£24 million) project is being carried out for the 2309 Highways Agency to reduce journey times more reliable, improve safety and support proposed local development. 2579 Mott MacDonald will carry out the design work for the project. Junctions 7-9 of the A14 are highly congested at present due to a combination of heavy commuter traffic and the high percentage of HGVs carrying freight to and from the nearby port of Felixstowe. The widening scheme will provide an extra lane in each direction within the existing highway boundary between Junction 7 (A43N) and Junction 9 (A509) of the A14 Kettering Bypass. Mott MacDonald’s design retains as many existing features as possible and minimises the use of large construction machinery. This design includes the retention of drainage, safety barriers and lighting within the central reserve where possible and new concrete retaining structures which will be filled with excavated material from site to negate the import of material. Mott MacDonald’s design is due to be finished by the start of 2014, initial construction work on the scheme is due to begin in autumn 2013 and be fully completed by spring 2015.