The chief executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has written to the government demanding to know why vital upgrades to the A14 are being delayed until at least 2010.
John Bridge says the route between Huntingdon and Cambridge is the worst A-road in the UK in terms of dealing with the volume of traffic travelling on it, yet the Highways Agency (HA) has let a planned upgrade slip, allowing estimated costs to rise to £1bn.
Bridge even claims that the HA should be sued
for corporate manslaughter because fatal accidents on the A14 due to inadequate capacity are the fault of the agency. And he says with plans for up to 12,000 more houses to be built along the A14, generating 25,000 extra vehicle movements, the problems will get worse.
Bridge has written to Secretary of State Ruth Kelly asking: "When will the key authorities take responsibility for the fact that we need action now, and that the escalating magnitude of incidents with their very severe impact on individuals and their families, is becoming totally unacceptable?" The HA had not responded to Bridge's comments as CM went to press.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
