Highways Agency

A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement

Construction Information November 2005

The scheme

• The A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement is one of the schemes included in the Government's list of Schemes of national importance.
• The Public Inquiry was held from 30th September to 8th October 2003 and the Secretary of State's decision to proceed with the road improvement was published in February 2004.
• In April 2004 the Highways Agency awarded the contract for design and construction of the new road to Edmund Nuttall, with Capita Symonds as their designer.
• Details of the scheme are shown on the plan. A total of 4.8 miles (7.7km) of dual carriageway is to be built. The total scheme cost is £55m.

Construction scheme plan. View larger Image (224KB GIF)

Protecting the environment

• Ecological and archaeological studies and protection measures will minimise the effects of construction on the natural and cultural heritage. This will continue throughout the duration of the work.
• Measures will be implemented to prevent any contamination of the local rivers and streams.
• Where possible recycling techniques will be incorporated into the design to maximise the use of on-site materials. This should reduce the need for delivery lorries to import materials, and also reduces the number of delivery lorry journeys required.
• There will be approximately 134,000 new trees and shrubs planted which will help to blend the new road into the existing environment over time.

Working with the local community

• The project team is committed to working with the community to lessen the impact of construction works on residents, road users and the general public.
• This construction scheme has been carefully planned to minimise noise and disturbance to the local community.
• Noise and pollution levels will be monitored during construction activities.
• All construction activities will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. These include being considerate to the public, environmentally aware, and being safe and responsible.
• Through visits to local schools, we will encourage construction site safety awareness and encourage learning projects centred on our works involving local history and archaeology.
• Clean, controlled and safe routes for public access both through and past the works will be maintained at all times on public roads and rights-of-way.
• Impact on the local roads will be minimised by the provision of a route for construction vehicles through the site from end to end. Construction traffi c will access the site from the A428.
• Newsletters and letter drops will explain how the works may affect residents. Posters will also be displayed at prominent locations during the course of the works to provide progress updates and answer questions.
• Our Public Liaison Officer will be available to respond to your questions and concerns on telephone number 01954 212940.

The Works

Site work started in August 2005 and will include the following:

Site Clearance	74 hectares
Fencing	19,000 linear m.
Earthworks Movement	350,000 cubic m.
Carriageway Surfacing	130,000 square m.
Slipformed Drainage Channels	14,000 linear m.
Concrete For Structures	3,600 cubic m.
Steel Reinforcement	805 tonnes
Structural Steel	600 tonnes

It is anticipated that the works will be complete by Autumn 2007, however, the contractor will make every effort to complete the works before that time.

Keeping you up to date.

We plan to keep you updated on the progress of the works in various ways:

• Regular updates will be published on this website.
• Press and media coverage will be used to advertise major road works and any work likely to cause delays.
• Leaflet drops will be made to specific areas informing residents of any works that may affect them.
• Newsletters will be sent out at regular intervals to local residents and Parish Councils and displayed on prominent notice boards.
• These will give a general update on the project as well as contact numbers.
• Periodically attending Parish Council meetings from time to time to give update briefings and answer questions.

For further information contact:

The main site office is at Childerley Gate just north of the A428 at the Caldecote roundabout. If you want to contact the team for any reason please call our Public Liaison Officer on 01954 212940.

Or write to:

Edmund Nuttall Ltd,
Site Office,
Childerley Gate,
St Neots Road,
Dry Drayton
Cambridge
CB3 8BE