Double Delight: Mayor's Welcome for Full Dualling of Bedford to Cambridge Road Link and Crucial Black Cat ‘Grade Separation’

Mayor Dave Hodgson has given an emphatic welcome to today's Government announcement of a major project to link the dualled A421 east of Bedford to the dual carriageway section of the A428 west of Cambridge, creating a continuous dualled link and, crucially, achieving the all-important 'Grade Separation' of the Black Cat Roundabout.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This is fantastic news for motorists, for local businesses and for future growth and jobs in Bedford Borough. Alongside road users, business and others I have always argued that 'grade separation' is what we need at the Black Cat Roundabout, so I am delighted that the Government has listened and has given the green light. It is the news that beleaguered motorists who queue at the Black Cat on a daily basis have been waiting for.'

"For the Black Cat works to be part of a project to create a dualled link right through to Cambridge and beyond is even better. This will bring Cambridge and other destinations to the East within much shorter travelling times, making journeys faster and more reliable for all."

The government announcement confirms that dualling of the remaining single carriageway section between Caxton Gibbet west of Cambridge and the M1, via Bedford, will take place, and will include a 'grade separated' junction at the A1 Black Cat roundabout. The investment in the project was announced as part of the Government's 'Road Investment Strategy' launched today, which sets out the investment planned for the life of the next parliament, i.e. 2015 - 2020.

Mayor Dave attended a recent meeting which saw the launch of the 'A421/A428 Alliance', a partnership including Councils, MPs, the Highways Agency and Local Enterprise Partnerships to press for investment from central government for much-needed improvements to the A428 and A421 and its approaches. Now that this investment has been announced, Mayor Dave will continue to work as part of the group to support the project and encourage progress on delivery of the crucial works.