logo
The legacy of a £1.5bn A-road upgrade

The legacy of a £1.5bn A-road upgrade

Yahoo10 hours ago

For decades, a dual carriageway in Cambridgeshire was synonymous with slow-moving traffic, jack-knifed lorries and long, long delays.
That changed in May 2020, when the new A14 opened ahead of schedule, a12-mile (19km) Cambridge to Huntingdon three-lane carriageway.
More than five years after the £1.5bn road improvement scheme was completed, what do locals think - and what is its legacy?
The BBC has been finding out.
"Driving to Stansted Airport could potentially be a two-hour trip, just to get there for a pick-up or drop off - now it's a 45-minute journey," said Stuart Gibbons.
The co-founder of Le Mark, a Huntingdon-based company, is a huge fan of the improvements.
"We are a business that is rural, we're in a nice part of the county, but we need to get up and down the motorways when we need to," he said.
The company produces tapes, custom-printed labels, professional dance floors and crew-wear for the entertainment industry, including TV, touring bans, theatre, stage and performance.
It buys and sells internationally, which is why getting to Stansted Airport is so important.
But Mr Gibbons can also confidently tell customers in north London that Le Mark can drop off items within an hour and a half.
"The difference is we can make an appointment we are fairly certain we can meet," he said.
Heidi Brown has been working for Le Mark for three years - and commuting along the A14 for much longer than that.
The upgraded road has transformed her journey to work.
"Historically, it was quite a lot of congestion, it wasn't the easiest of journeys - I'd often have to find alternative routes to work," the purchasing assistant said.
"Now I can confidently leave knowing I can get to work and I don't have to allow more time in advance."
Her colleague, social media content creator Charlotte Brooks, agreed, adding: "I'd hear [the old A14} a lot near our house, but it's a lot better now, much more quiet."
"It's a hugely important bridge, the level of vehicles using this bridge is massive - from villages like Oakington, Cottenham, Longstanton and Willingham," said Luis Navarro.
The newly elected Liberal Democrat county councillor has found himself negotiating with National Highways over settling embankments on land around the Bar Hill bridge at junction 25.
The new layout there was part of the A14 project, but now locals are saying they feel a bump when they drive over it and Mr Navarro is "concerned it could become a hazard".
"The technical term is the bridge is 'settling' and National Highways have now attached monitoring devices to it, to provide data on how fast or if the bridge is still settling," he said.
"It's important we are on top of this issue... it's a major artery and the idea is we try to get a permanent solution to reassure drivers that it's safe."
A National Highways spokesperson said it had been monitoring the bridge for more than a year, initially with inspections by engineers.
"This has now been enhanced to include digital monitoring," they said.
"This is part of a phased assessment process as we continue our work with Cambridgeshire County Council to determine the root cause and put an appropriate solution in place."
About 270 hectares (670 acres) of habitat, including 40 native tree and shrub species, was created for wildlife along the new section of the A14, which realigned the dual carriageway south of Huntingdon.
Locals say the tree screen will be vital to mitigate against noise from the road.
However, National Highways said in 2022 about 20 to 30% of the trees had died, although all have been replanted.
It has since planted another 165,000 trees and shrubs, 90% of which have survived.
Vhari Russell, who founded the rewilding group Creating Nature's Corridors and with her family, lives close to the A14 in Brampton.
They took matters into their own hands by planting their own trees.
"What we're really lacking is the mulching and the watering and the nurturing and that wasn't done by National Highways," she said.
Paul Salmon has been working on the latest National Highways infrastructure project in Cambridgeshire, from Caxton Gibbet to the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire, for more than three years.
The £1bn A428 project includes a new 10-mile (16km) dual carriageway, as well as bridges and junctions connecting to the existing road.
"Everyone locally knows about the Black Cat junction, it's infamous for multiple reasons and has been a pinch point - including the last single carriageway on this east-west corridor between Milton Keynes and Felixstowe," he said.
"And we will move that traffic off the local road.
"Currently it's about 35,000 vehicles on the A428 a day, and by the time the new road opens, it'll be down to about 3,000 a day."
The agency and its partner Skanska have spent time working out "the good, the bad and the indifferent" of the A14 project, the senior project manager added.
"For this project, we're top-soiling early, so it'll be green by the time the scheme opens," he said.
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
'Parts of A14 still like a desert after trees die'
Residents plant own trees to replace dead A14 ones
The multibillion-pound infrastructure set for the East of England
National Highways

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Magic Roundabout ranked as one of UK's most stressful junctions
Magic Roundabout ranked as one of UK's most stressful junctions

Yahoo

time12 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Magic Roundabout ranked as one of UK's most stressful junctions

The Magic Roundabout in Swindon has been ranked as one of the UK's most 'stressful' junctions. A new survey of 1,000 drivers found that the iconic landmark placed second, just below the Hanger Lane Gyratory in London. For more than 50 years, the unusual layout - which arranges five mini-roundabouts in circle around a central island - has fascinated and confused people who are unfamiliar with Swindon's roads network, particularly as it is possible to navigate that central island in an anti-clockwise direction. The survey, by the Scrap Car Comparison website, is based on how drivers felt when shown one street view perspective and one satellite image of various junctions and roundabouts. These motorists were then asked to rate from on a scale of one to 10 how much confusion, fear, anxiety and confidence they felt at the thought of driving through it. The Magic Roundabout scored 42, which placed it above Norwich's Cromer Road & Boundary Road Junction, The Crooked Billet Interchange in Waltham Forest, and Ynysforgan Roundabout in Swansea. Recommended reading: Eager shoppers queue up as new Designer Outlet store opens Town centre Poundland closed and boarded up Health warning made more severe as Wiltshire hit with 30C heat Customer service manager Matt Clamp said: 'Driving through unfamiliar junctions can rattle even the most experienced motorists. 'Our advice? Start by planning ahead, tools such as Street View or route planners can help you visualise the road before you set off. 'Try to get into the correct lane early by watching for signs and markings. 'Don't let other road users rush you - it's perfectly okay to go at your own pace. 'Always signal clearly and confidently to show your intentions, especially if you need to change lanes. 'Consider driving at quieter times of day when the roads are less busy. A little preparation can go a long way in turning a potentially stressful drive into a safe and confident journey.' The Magic Roundabout may seem bewildering at first glance but it is easier to navigate than it looks. It recently won the honour of Roundabout of the Year, with the awards body describing it as a 'terrific traffic-island system'. Cllr Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet member for transport, said: 'The Magic Roundabout is a proud part of Swindon's history and we wouldn't have it any other way. 'We know it can be intimidating for some, but if drivers take it slow and steady then it can be easily navigated. 'While accidents might happen, this isn't inherently to do with the roundabout itself and it is very safe. 'If drivers are still nervous, there's always the tried and tested method of just driving round the outside.'

Former Swansea head coach Luke Williams working at Bristol Airport while on gardening leave
Former Swansea head coach Luke Williams working at Bristol Airport while on gardening leave

New York Times

time30 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Former Swansea head coach Luke Williams working at Bristol Airport while on gardening leave

Luke Williams, who was the head coach of the Championship club Swansea City as recently as February, is now working at Bristol Airport. A photo of Williams at the airport, wearing uniform, was posted on social media on Saturday, prompting a reaction of disbelief among many people, in some cases questioning whether the picture was some sort of a hoax. Advertisement A source close to Williams has since confirmed to The Athletic that the 44-year-old has been employed at Bristol Airport, which is in the south west of England, for the last two weeks. Williams' job involves helping disabled and limited-mobility passengers around the airport terminal. The former Notts County and Swindon manager is on gardening leave since being sacked by Swansea in February after 13 months in charge at the Welsh club, and, on the face of it, there is no financial need to work while he waits for another opportunity in football to come up. However, Williams has always talked about the importance of a good work ethic — 'in my opinion, motivation in life is everything', he told The Guardian in a wide-ranging interview in February 2024 — and, according to those close to him, he was keen to do something meaningful with his time rather than sit at home. It is a highly unusual tale but, at the same time, in keeping with Williams' backstory. In that interview with The Guardian, Williams explained how he had loaded lorries for British Home Stores, and also drove minibuses to and from airports and nightclubs, to help to fund his coaching career in the early days, when he was earning £1.50 ($2) for every player that attended his sessions. Williams also applied to get on an electrician's course when he left Swansea for the first time, two years ago, when he had been working as assistant manager to Russell Martin. He subsequently took over at Notts County and led the club back into the English Football League via the play-offs, playing an expansive and attractive brand of football that prompted Swansea to appoint him as head coach in January last year. ()

Warren Buffett's Top 7 Money Mistakes (And What He Learned From Them)
Warren Buffett's Top 7 Money Mistakes (And What He Learned From Them)

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Warren Buffett's Top 7 Money Mistakes (And What He Learned From Them)

Warren Buffett didn't build his more than $100 billion fortune by being perfect. In fact, the Oracle of Omaha has been surprisingly candid about his biggest financial flubs over the decades. The good news is his mistakes offer valuable lessons for anyone trying to build real, sustainable wealth. Plus, they prove that even legendary investors are just humans who get it wrong sometimes. Welcome to the club! Find Out: Read Next: Here are Buffett's top money mistakes and, more importantly, what he learned from them. Buffett's investment in U.K. grocer Tesco shows how hesitation can turn small problems into major losses. Berkshire owned 415 million shares by 2012, but when concerns about management surfaced, Buffett sold only part of his position for a $43 million profit. When Tesco later overstated profits and shares collapsed, his delayed action cost Berkshire $444 million in after-tax losses. 'An attentive investor, I'm embarrassed to report, would have sold Tesco shares earlier. I made a big mistake with this investment by dawdling,' Buffett said. Speed matters in damage control. When red flags are abundant, sometimes quick decisive action means you avert a financial disaster. Learn More: Believe it or not, Buffett has called Berkshire Hathaway 'the dumbest stock I ever bought.' He purchased what was, at the time, a failing textile company because he felt insulted during a sale negotiation. Instead of walking away from Berkshire Hathaway as planned, his wounded pride led him to buy the entire business and fire the previous owner. The financial cost was enormous. Buffett said his holding company would be 'worth twice as much as it is now' if he'd stuck to his original plan of investing in insurance companies instead. This single emotional reaction cost him decades of better returns. The takeaway is clear: Never let personal feelings influence money decisions. When you feel personally slighted in a financial deal, that's exactly when you need to step back, take a breath and think logically. In 1993, Buffett thought Dexter Shoes had lasting competitive advantages that would protect its profits. Within a few years, those advantages evaporated and the company became worthless. Buffett explained: 'What I had assessed as a durable competitive advantage vanished within a few years.' This loss taught him that 'a truly great business must have an enduring 'moat' that protects excellent returns on invested capital.' Companies need permanent moats — like unbeatable brands, exclusive technology or cost advantages — that competitors can't easily copy. Without sustainable protection, any successful business will eventually attract competitors who'll drive profits to zero. The key is finding businesses whose advantages will last decades, not just a few good years. This mistake still haunts Buffett. Despite owning Geico insurance, which spent millions on Google advertising, he completely missed the search giant's investment potential. He had firsthand evidence of Google's business model working but failed to connect the dots. 'I made the mistake in not being able to come to a conclusion where I really felt that at the present prices, the prospects were far better than the prices indicated,' Buffett admitted. His reluctance to venture beyond familiar territory cost him one of the greatest investment opportunities in history. The lesson here is about missed opportunities. Sometimes the best investments are hiding in plain sight, but we ignore them because they seem too complicated or unfamiliar. Buffett's $9 billion acquisition of Lubrizol Corporation became an issue when it emerged that David Sokol, a Berkshire executive who recommended the deal, secretly owned stock in the company. Sokol made $3 million from the transaction without disclosing his conflict of interest. The oversight violated insider-trading rules and hurt Berkshire's reputation. At the 2011 annual meeting, Buffett said he should have asked better, more direct questions about Sokol's involvement. The lesson? Trust but verify, especially when large sums are involved. Even with people you've worked with (or simply known) for years, asking uncomfortable questions can prevent you from making mistakes. When crude oil hit $100+ per barrel in 2008, Buffett jumped into ConocoPhillips stock expecting energy prices to keep climbing. Instead, he bought at the peak and watched the investment lose billions as oil crashed. This demonstrates how even smart investors can get caught up in market excitement. 'When investing, pessimism is your friend, euphoria the enemy,' Buffett has said. When everyone is optimistic about a sector, prices often reflect that optimism, leaving little room for profit. Buffett learned that great companies can still be terrible investments if you pay the wrong price. Market euphoria creates expensive stocks, while pessimism creates bargains. The best time to buy is when others are selling, not when everyone else is buying too. U.S. Air's impressive revenue numbers looked very attractive in 1989, so Buffett bought preferred shares. Bad news for Buffett, those revenues came with a hidden cost. Airlines need constant capital to grow, buying new planes and expanding routes, leaving little for shareholders. By the time the airline achieved meaningful profits, debt payments ate up most of the returns. The company couldn't even pay dividends on Buffett's preferred stock. He got lucky selling at a profit later, but knew it was pure chance. This taught him to distinguish between real growth and expensive growth. As Buffett said, 'Investors have poured money into a bottomless pit, attracted by growth when they should have been repelled by it.' Some businesses need to spend huge amounts just to increase sales, leaving shareholders with nothing. The lesson is: If it looks too good to be true, it just might be. What makes Buffett extraordinary isn't his perfect track record, it's his willingness to admit errors publicly and extract valuable lessons from them. Each mistake became a teaching moment that improved his future decisions. His Google miss made him more open to technology investments, eventually leading to major positions in Apple. His ConocoPhillips overpayment reinforced his discipline about buying only at attractive prices. His Dexter Shoes loss sharpened his focus on truly durable competitive advantages. The real wisdom isn't avoiding all mistakes. Unfortunately, that's impossible. It's learning from failures quickly and adjusting your approach. Buffett's biggest errors became steppingstones to better investing, not permanent setbacks. For the rest of us, it's a lesson in endurance. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 10 Used Cars That Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks This article originally appeared on Warren Buffett's Top 7 Money Mistakes (And What He Learned From Them) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store