Highways Agency

A421 Great Barford Bypass

Overview Map

• Download overview map of scheme (140KB PDF)

Howbury Hall Underpass

Reinforcement required to strengthen the box shaped structure.

Howbury Hall Underpass

The concrete floor slab.

Newt Fencing

Start of works temporary Great Crested Newt translocation fencing to trap and move newts.

Kiln Excavation

Excavation of a Roman period pottery kiln, probably last used in the 3rd century AD.

Posthole Excavation

Most buildings in the Great Barford area from the Roman period were built of wood This photograph shows the remains of a single posthole which is all that remains of a building dating to the 2nd century AD. When in use this building may have been thatched with wooden planked walls.

Earthworks

Large earth moving machinery constructing the main carriageway, embankments and cuttings.

Earthworks

The main embankment forming operation has begun in earnest.

Black Cat Roundabout

This is an aerial photograph of Black Cat Roundabout, before enlargement.

Fencing

12,000m of fencing have been installed to delineate farm boundaries and protect animals from traffic hazards.

Trial Panel

Built to demonstrate concrete finish, this is a small model of what the bridge piers will look like.

Casket Cremations

In the late 1st century AD the tradition of cremation was popular amongst the farming communities who once occupied the land around Great Barford. In many cases the cremation was accompanied by gifts. In this example a wooden casket, which appears as a black rectangle in this photograph, contained two small pottery jars, possibly containing offering for the gods.

Temporary Traffic Diversions

First area of tarmac laid to construct traffic diversions to accommodate traffic across the site during construction.

Water End Overbridge

Earth moving machines digging the large excavation for the bridge foundations.

Water End Overbridge

After the earth moving was completed a crane platform was built for the crane to place the steel bridge beams.

Coming soon - Structure

• Around the end of June - Bridge beams will be placed on Water End Bridge
• Mid July - Birchfield Road and Barford Road bridges foundations to commence.
• Around the end of July - the construction of the Howbury Hall underpass will near completion.

Coming soon - Earthworks

The main earthworks cut and fill operations began in April and are planned to be completed by October to take advantage of the summer months.

This work is very sensitive to weather conditions and cannot be undertaken as efficiently in the winter. Drainage works are under way and will proceed until the end of the project duration.

Coming soon - Landscaping (trees and shrubs)

Trees and shrubs will be planted throughout the site. The trees will range from Standards, of between 2.5m and 3m high; Feathered Standards, between 1.25m and 1.5m and smaller trees up to 30cm.

Coming soon - Black Cat Roundabout

Construction of the new Black Cat Roundabout will begin to take shape. The new roundabout is twice as large as the old one. Temporary speed restrictions and traffic management will be required while this work is being carried out. Due to extensive phasing work necessary it is expected to take up to 14 months to complete this work.

Coming soon - Water End Junction

Construction of the new Water End Junction has already commenced. This will replace the existing A421/A428 roundabout. In July work will commence to construct the new approach roads. Temporary speed restrictions and traffic management will be required while this work is being carried out.

Construction Programme

For further information contact:

If you would like a paper copy of this document including a diagram of the construction programme then please contact Wendy Brown on 01234 796242.