Highways Agency

The Project

Work was done on a 3km stretch of the A1 to improve safety at Chesterton, Cambridgeshire approximately 5 miles (7km) west of Peterborough city centre.

The scheme was carried out to address a number of Personal Injury Accidents (PIA) that have occurred on this stretch of the A1. There have been a total of 34 PIA accidents in the 5 year period between January 1999 to September 2004. It is considered that 15 of these accidents are treatable under the measures proposed in the scheme.

The works started just north of the junction with the A1(M) (Jct 17 - Peterborough Services) and continued for 3 km northwards. This required a 40 mph temporary speed limit being imposed; a 10 mph convoy working; and lane closures.

The Highways Agency would like to apologise for any confusion they have caused concerning this scheme. The date when work started was Tuesday 5th September and we finished on Tuesday 3rd October.

The following measures were proposed:

On the southbound carriageway at the lay-by near Chesterton Lodge:

• New "Parking" signs were erected in advance of the lay-by
• New merge warning signs before the exit from the lay-by;
• Chevron signs indicating a bend adjacent to the lay-by;
• High visibility road markings / road studs on the approach, adjacent to and at the exit from the lay-by
• The Cutting back of vegetation in the central reservation and near the exit of the lay-by to improve visibility.

On the northbound carriageway the new measures included:

• New central nosing road markings and road studs near the northbound access slip from Oundle Road;
• New warning lines and road studs commencing near the access to Hill Farm (just north of Jct 17 A1(M)) extending past the entrance/exit to Kate's Cabin refreshment stop;
• Cutting back of vegetation in the nearside verge to improve general visibility of the road and signs.