Report heralds bid for £500 million roads upgrade including dualling of A10 between Ely and Cambridge

Congestion on the A10 Ely to Cambridge (Image: Archant)

The study, published today, says a whole range of transport improvements are needed to ease congestion and bring forward tens of thousands of new jobs and homes right along the route and beyond.

The A10 north is a key transport route for economic growth in the region, linking Ely, and other towns and villages to the north, with the city and wider transport network.

The study looked at current transport challenges and future opportunities to support growth. Recommendations include:

Dualling or part dualling of the A10 between Ely and Cambridge.

•A new Park & Ride north of Waterbeach

•Relocation and expansion of Waterbeach Railway Station.

•A new segregated public transport route between Waterbeach and Cambridge, together with new cycling and walking facilities.

The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer said: “It’s hard to think of a road in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that is more in need of investment than the A10.

“The road runs throughout East Cambridgeshire and as the former leader of the district council I am acutely aware of how the road is blighted by significant levels of traffic. At peak times it’s often at a standstill.

“Clearly with the significant amount of housing planned for Waterbeach and North Ely there is no alternative to significant investment and for the road to be upgraded as soon as possible.

“As mayor pushing for significant improvements is a top priority for me. This report provides the necessary evidence base for the case for investment to be made.”

Councillor Francis Burkitt, chairman of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said: “This is an important piece of work which will now allow for progress on this strategic transport route to be accelerated.”

Rapid growth in recent years has seen demand on the local network surge with roads, junctions and rail journeys all frequently operating at capacity.

Tens of thousands of new jobs and homes are planned along the route - including between 8,000 and 10,000 new homes at Waterbeach alone and plans for further development in North Cambridge.

At this stage, no options or routes have been put forward as the best solution as only preliminary desktop modelling has been undertaken. Further, detailed work needs to take place – including a full public consultation.

Bob Menzies, Cambridgeshire County Council’s acting assistant director, infrastructure and growth, said, “Rapid growth in recent years has seen demand on the network surge, with roads, junctions and rail journeys frequently operating at capacity. This has led to peak-time congestion over longer periods, with the potential to hinder future growth with no action.

“It is vitally important though that we recognise that, as well as increasing road capacity, we also need new and improved rail, bus, cycling and walking solutions to solve the problem.”

Councillor Ian Bates, chairman of the county council economy and environment committee and transport portfolio for the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said: “This study has taken a lot of hard work, and it’s great it is now in the public domain so that elected members and local people can have a good look through the options before we engage in conversations about this later this year.

“There will be lots of opportunities for residents to consider the options and give feedback before any decisions are made.”

Councillor Lewis Herbert, leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “The provision of quality public transport from Ely and Waterbeach, including on-road or off-road priority for the last five miles of the journey linking with Milton Road and into the city, is essential - dualling by itself won’t work.

“We need both a modal shift on commutes into the city and an answer from Government in 2018 on what extra A10 works they will fund.”

The study was commissioned by the Greater Cambridge Partnership and carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council and consultants Mott McDonald.

The report is due to be considered at meetings of the partnership, the county council’s economy and environment committee and the combined authority before any next steps are agreed.

The report will then be considered by the combined authority’s board on February 28.

The public will be invited to give their views on the initial options for various cycling, walking, public transport and road-based solution improvements in and around the A10 during the summer.