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Exhibition gives update on £36 million Ely Southern Bypass and how it will improve transport in the area
Stephanie Williamson, public liaison officer at VolkerFitzpatrick, Matt Klinefelter, structure site agent at VolkerFitzpatrick, Kathryn Robinson, communications officer at Cambridgeshire County Council and Nathan Thrower, project manager at Cambridgeshire County Council at the Ely Southern Bypass exhibition which was held at Ely Cathedral Conference Centre. PHOTO: Martyn Jolley. - Credit: Archant
Local people today learnt how the £36 million Ely Southern Bypass will improve transport in the area and ease congestion at an exhibition held in Ely today.
Visitors to the Ely Cathedral conference centre found out about the plans and saw artists’ impressions of how the 1.7km bypass will look when it opens in Spring 2018.
VolkerFitzpatrick, one of the largest engineering and construction companies in the UK, won the contract to build and design the bypass in August 2016 on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.
Nathan Thrower, project manager at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The existing A142 has a low bridge, so HGVs are not able to go underneath the bridge and have to use the level crossing.
“But when HGVs queue to use the level crossing, the queues go back onto the A142 which blocks the road completely and causes significant congestion.
“The purpose of Ely Southern Bypass is to improve the transport in the area: the new route will provide a new link between Suntney Causeway and Angel Drove to the south of Ely.”
Matt Klinefelter, structure site agent at Volker Fitzpatrick, said: “The bypass is important for transport links, and I think it will give a bit of a boost to the area as well. It should also minimise rail traffic.
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“Local people have been asking for this to happen for a long, long time - 20 years I believe.”
People who attended the exhibition also learnt more about the environmental impact and how the bypass will affect local wildlife. There were also maps and timelines on show throughout the exhibition.
Stephanie Williamson, public liaison officer at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “The people of Ely have wanted this bypass for ages, so today we’re giving information about the programme as to when things will start.
“So far we’ve had a nice, steady stream of people. They are definitely interested, without a doubt.
“The exhibition gives a run down on what work will be done and how it will all work.”
Councillor Mike Rouse, who attended the exhibition, said: “They’ve been talking about this for years and years, but in comparison to previous railway projects – this is lightning speed.”