Thanks for the link, that's the first I have seen anything official about the A1 becoming a motorway as wellmedgoode wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:04 A new newsletter has been released by the A14C2H team:
https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/asse ... +Oct18.pdf
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
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Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
There is a definite roller coaster between the M6 and J3 that causes problems for HGVs although as always sticking in a crawler lane will just cause a spread of flow followed by a jam so something a little more extensive is probably needed.
The mistake was not building this bit as a D2M with a wide central reserve for future widening to begin with.
The mistake was not building this bit as a D2M with a wide central reserve for future widening to begin with.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
The bit east of Thrapston will stand out even more once the new bit opens, from memory and GSV the alignment is mostly ok, it's the at-grade junctions which need sorting. A scheme to build some local links and a few new bridges shouldn't be all that expensivesi404 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 09:59 The only bits of the A14 that are likely to see major upgrades in the future are J3-7 (nearly as heavily trafficked as the Kettering bypass that they made D3 coupled with low quality J5 and J6) and J13 to J21 (at grade junctions and frontages). I'd imagine HE priorities would lie elsewhere though, even within that part of the country (E-W expressway, A47, A12 and A1 corridors)
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Excellent that a designation upgrade to motorway will now look to be formally approved. Keeping the local tractors separate from the longer distance traffic will most likely reduce the frustration amongst drivers feeling impatient and unwilling to slow down, and hence make the journeys safer.medgoode wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:04 A new newsletter has been released by the A14C2H team:
https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/asse ... +Oct18.pdf
E-roads, M-roads, A-roads, N-roads, B-roads, R-roads, C-roads, L-roads, U-roads, footpaths
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Given that the LAR provide more than adequate routes for tractors I doubt they would have been much of a problem, in fact in 40 years of using the A604/A14 from Cambridge to Huntingdon I don't recall ever having seen one. The main source of frustration was HGV's elephant racing and BMW's tailgating me. I did once see a moped but the rider was terrified and looking for a way off.Euan wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 22:07 Excellent that a designation upgrade to motorway will now look to be formally approved. Keeping the local tractors separate from the longer distance traffic will most likely reduce the frustration amongst drivers feeling impatient and unwilling to slow down, and hence make the journeys safer.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Whenever you see photos or video footage of the A14 today, the sheer density of traffic, and the overbearing proportion of HGV’s is scary. It really is something else.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. And I don’t think it’s fair to ascribe all of them to impatient drivers, merely the sheer weight of traffic.
Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. And I don’t think it’s fair to ascribe all of them to impatient drivers, merely the sheer weight of traffic.
Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Try the A1 north of Donny, identical traffic volumes 73-76,000 & slightly more HGV's at 12,000 (DfT count Wentbridge).Berk wrote: ↑Sat Oct 27, 2018 00:45 Whenever you see photos or video footage of the A14 today, the sheer density of traffic, and the overbearing proportion of HGV’s is scary. It really is something else.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. …………….Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I avoid Huntingdon - Girton. With the density of traffic - combined with narrow lanes the sort of mistake that normally makes other drivers shake their head (or post on Numpty overload) can lead to a collision that blocks the road for hours.Berk wrote: ↑Sat Oct 27, 2018 00:45 Whenever you see photos or video footage of the A14 today, the sheer density of traffic, and the overbearing proportion of HGV’s is scary. It really is something else.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. And I don’t think it’s fair to ascribe all of them to impatient drivers, merely the sheer weight of traffic.
Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I won’t even go anywhere near that section until the road is completely finished. Not “finished” finished like the A1 presently.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I have driven it 3 times this year and despite the roadworks the traffic moves quite well and if anything the 40 mph limit makes it feel safer. It also is a good opportunity to view the work in progress
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I have the same feeling as Berk but I've had to use it a few times anyway. It's alright to crawl through at 40mph but painfully slow given the long distances and the lanes are narrow. You then get Audi/BMW prats right behind you pushing to get above 40mph because they think they are immune to average speed cameras. Cameras that spot tailgaters would be more useful!
Having a large lorry or van on both sides really restricts your vision and gives me an uncomfortable sense of being squeezed.
It takes one wrong move on that section for the whole road to be buggered and everything grinds to a halt for hours. One time it took me over an hour to clear that stretch.
Last month I went under the Huntingdon Viaduct for the first time ever and it is a real eyesore from that level. Huge mass of concrete and steel blocking out the sky. It will look so much better there without that bridge. (There's an idea for a SABRE meet!)
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
A couple of months ago, I had to wait under it for a rail-replacement bus as there were (I think) signalling problems between Huntingdon and Peterborough. There are places where the steel (and rust) is actually visible and other places to avoid standing if it is or has been raining because water is seeping through and dripping down. Overall it doesn't make for a great first impression if your visit to Huntingdon is by train.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I have to use it a lot because of where I live and the sort of journeys I do. I try and use the A1198 or the A1 in preference when I can, but hitting the black cat at the wrong time is unhelpful, and the A1198 can be just as bad, particularly around Papworth if much traffic is diverting that way to avoid the A14. I suppose part of the issue is that there isn't really an option!
They might just be using their cruise control set to 40 and have a different accuracy on their speedo... That's the frustration I find there - if I put mine to 40 invariably I'll approach slowly someone who apparantly to me is doing 38.... Although yes, there do appear to be those who believe they're immune, or foreign HGV drivers that tailgate you if you're sitting in lane 1 on a quiet day with the cruise at 40.
You then get Audi/BMW prats right behind you pushing to get above 40mph because they think they are immune to average speed cameras. Cameras that spot tailgaters would be more useful!
I hit it on Monday at the wrong time and went practically nowhere for two hours...Having a large lorry or van on both sides really restricts your vision and gives me an uncomfortable sense of being squeezed.
It takes one wrong move on that section for the whole road to be buggered and everything grinds to a halt for hours. One time it took me over an hour to clear that stretch.
Welcome to Huntingdon!Last month I went under the Huntingdon Viaduct for the first time ever and it is a real eyesore from that level. Huge mass of concrete and steel blocking out the sky. It will look so much better there without that bridge. (There's an idea for a SABRE meet!)
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
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Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
I often find that traffic flow eases by 8:15pm!Berk wrote: ↑Sat Oct 27, 2018 00:45 Whenever you see photos or video footage of the A14 today, the sheer density of traffic, and the overbearing proportion of HGV’s is scary. It really is something else.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. And I don’t think it’s fair to ascribe all of them to impatient drivers, merely the sheer weight of traffic.
Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
Mike Hindson-Evans.
Never argue with a conspiracy theorist.
They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Never argue with a conspiracy theorist.
They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
The big chunks of steel are rather related to why this project became a "cannot not do" one- that's reinforcing the viaduct, slowing the rate of decay. But only slowing, not stopping. As a crossing of two major transport routes, that's a problem
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
That's probably because the Cambridge Northern bypass is about to close.mikehindsonevans wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 11:08I often find that traffic flow eases by 8:15pm!Berk wrote: ↑Sat Oct 27, 2018 00:45 Whenever you see photos or video footage of the A14 today, the sheer density of traffic, and the overbearing proportion of HGV’s is scary. It really is something else.
I don’t think I’ve seen as densely packed traffic on a road as you presently see on the A14. It’s not surprising there are so many accidents. And I don’t think it’s fair to ascribe all of them to impatient drivers, merely the sheer weight of traffic.
Put it another way: if nothing was being done today, by 2030 it’d be grinding to a halt.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Footage of bridges and construction work on Look East (West) at the moment - 3-4 minutes in for people iplayering it.
Discussion around the materials being sourced on site, and much of the fabrication occurring on site.
Also
* half way though project
* road users will start seeing more construction occur soon now that land clearance, embankments, cuttings, and utilities re-routing has occurred
* project on budget, and should be delivered on time by Dec 2020
* general gripes from people nearby about satnavs taking people through at night when road closed.
Discussion around the materials being sourced on site, and much of the fabrication occurring on site.
Also
* half way though project
* road users will start seeing more construction occur soon now that land clearance, embankments, cuttings, and utilities re-routing has occurred
* project on budget, and should be delivered on time by Dec 2020
* general gripes from people nearby about satnavs taking people through at night when road closed.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
Its coming along well now.
The only thing will be the abrupt change of quality when the A1(M) goes back to the A1 at Buckden.
I think this will accelerate calls for the A1 to be finished; either upgrading Buckden to Black Cat, or the whole thing to Baldock as a blue line. Its great the A14 getting improved but will likely funnel more traffic down the M11 which is only 2 lanes until you get to Stanstead.
The only thing will be the abrupt change of quality when the A1(M) goes back to the A1 at Buckden.
I think this will accelerate calls for the A1 to be finished; either upgrading Buckden to Black Cat, or the whole thing to Baldock as a blue line. Its great the A14 getting improved but will likely funnel more traffic down the M11 which is only 2 lanes until you get to Stanstead.
Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
One can but hope - it's certainly not fit for purpose, mixing strategic traffic with local traffic, property accesses, NMU crossings, and very narrow pavements. The section from Buckden to the Black Cat would be my first priority for the upgrade of this section, as a large amount of traffic heading for west of London leaves the A1 here to head over to the M1.James wrote: ↑Thu Nov 01, 2018 11:50 Its coming along well now.
The only thing will be the abrupt change of quality when the A1(M) goes back to the A1 at Buckden.
I think this will accelerate calls for the A1 to be finished; either upgrading Buckden to Black Cat, or the whole thing to Baldock as a blue line.
I'm not sure it will make that much of a difference to traffic levels on this section - I don't think that most of the strategic traffic currently has anywhere to divert to, so while there is likely to be a small amount of additional traffic opting to use the M11 rather than the A1, I'd have thought most of this originates in North London rather than from any of the ports.Its great the A14 getting improved but will likely funnel more traffic down the M11 which is only 2 lanes until you get to Stanstead.
I can see potentially some traffic diverting from East Norfolk and heading to the midlands using the A11/A14 instead of the A47 though.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
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Re: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon "news"
If you're aiming for something like Birmingham to Norwich, the A14/A11 route is something like 15 minutes faster at the moment than any route going via King's Lynn – and that's despite the current roadworks! So the new A14(M) will definitely be the route of choice for people going that way once the roadworks are finished. Going further east wouldn't change this at all.
What may be new may be that it also becomes viable for routes further north and/or west of Norwich (being further west means that you need to take more of a detour from the A11, but can use less of the A47, thus it favours the A47 route). For example, going from Birmingham to Swaffham is currently (according to Google Maps) 11 minutes faster along via A14/A605/A47 than along the A14/A1065 route; that takes the roadworks, accidents within the roadworks, congestion into account. It therefore seems highly likely that the A14/A1065 route will be faster once the roadworks are finished; it seems highly unlikely that they're creating less than 11 minutes of delay.