Funding is urgently needed to progress the dualling of the A10 between Ely and Cambridge, according to district councillors.

Work undertaken to date has assessed a range of intervention options, ranging from dualling of the corridor to more targeted junction improvements.

Following a Motion, which was approved at Thursday’s Full Council meeting, East Cambridgeshire district councillors are now calling on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) to ensure the dualling remains a priority and progress work continues without delay.

Cllr Lucius Vellacott, district councillor for Soham South and Wicken who bought forward the Motion, said: 

“The A10 corridor is critical to supporting planned growth across the region, including up to 17,000 new homes and 14,000 new jobs, and is essential to maintaining the economic vitality of East Cambridgeshire and neighbouring areas.

“Full dualling of the A10 between Ely and Cambridge is the most effective long-term solution to address congestion, improve safety, and provide the capacity required to support the sustainable growth of the region.

“Failure to progress the scheme risks constraining economic development, worsening congestion for residents and businesses and undermining confidence in the delivery of essential regional infrastructure.”

The road currently carries more than 18,000 vehicles per day and remains largely single carriageway, often causing congestion, delays and safety concerns

The need to upgrade the A10 corridor has been recognised for decades, with studies dating back to the 1970s examining options to increase capacity and improve connectivity between Ely and Cambridge.

More recently, Cambridgeshire County Council undertook extensive work looking at the options around highway capacity improvements, junction upgrades, modal shift, and active travel measures, the outcome of which was a recommendation for full dualling of the corridor with a parallel active travel route.

This work was subsequently taken forward by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), culminating in a Strategic Outline Business Case in 2020, which proposed a range of improvement options, including dualling the A10 and providing associated cycling and walking infrastructure.

Public engagement undertaken in 2020 also demonstrated strong local interest in addressing congestion and improving connectivity along the corridor.

The CPCA is also working with Homes England to explore funding options for the corridor improvements.

Following the Motion on Thursday night, the council will now:

• reaffirm its strong support for the full dualling of the A10 between Ely and Cambridge, including the provision for high-quality active travel infrastructure
• write to the Chief Executive of the CPCA requesting the A10 dualling remains a strategic transport priority and that work to progress the project continues without delay. The council will also ask that clarity is provided on the programme for further development work, including the study by the Strategic Place Partnership and the pathway towards delivery of the scheme

Details of the Motion are also to be shared with neighbouring local authorities, Members of Parliament representing communities along the A10 corridor, and relevant regional stakeholders, inviting them to demonstrate their support for progressing the scheme.