National Highways is hitting the road this week and encouraging people to drop into one of its public information events ahead of construction beginning later this year on a new dual carriageway section of the A47 in Cambridgeshire.

To accompany the events a new computer-generated film is available. This provides a visual representation of the upgrade to the 1.6-mile section of road between Wansford and Sutton, to the west of Peterborough.

The project to improve the road was granted planning permission – known as a Development Consent Order (DCO) – by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Mark Harper MP in February.

With a projected cost of up to £100 million, the scheme will also solve a notorious traffic bottleneck by creating a new, free-flowing link road that will smoothly carry traffic from the southbound A1 onto the eastbound carriageway of the A47.

A new section of dual carriageway will be built with improved junctions. This section of the A47 currently carries around 34,000 vehicles each day.

Further improvements – specifically designed to make the A47 safer – will see roundabouts redeveloped and junctions enhanced. New routes for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders will also be created.

Following completion of the scheme – which is expected to be open to traffic from winter 2026 - casualty projections over the next 60 years indicate that as many as 42 fatal or serious injury collisions could be prevented, with up to 160 fewer accidents.

Ahead of major construction work starting this winter, National Highways will host public drop-in events to meet the local community face-to-face. The first of these will take place today at Wittering Bowls Club in Peterborough. Full details of the events can be found below.

Thurs, June 15, 3pm to 7pm, at Wittering Bowls Club, 1 Silver Burch Court, Wittering, Peterborough PE8 6BY.

Friday, June 16, 4pm to 7pm, at John the Baptist C of E Church, Church Walk, Peterborough PE6 7BD.

Saturday, June 17, 10am - 3pm, at Sacrewell Heritage Farm and Country Centre, Thornhaugh, Peterborough PE8 6HJ.

Wedneday, June 21, 3pm - 7pm, at Ufford Village Hall, Main Street, Cambridgeshire PE9 3BH.

Thursday, June 22, 10am - 7pm,  at Wansford Parish Council Community Hall, Peterborough Road, Wansford PE8 6JN.

Friday, June 23, 10am - 3pm at Stamford Town Centre, St Michael’s Church Yard, 41-52 High St, Stamford PE9 2AW                   

Chris Griffin, National Highways programme leader for the A47 improvement schemes, encouraged people to come and speak to the team behind the improvement plans.

He said: “Ahead of major construction getting underway, we’d love to meet as many people from the local community as possible. Since we first began planning this work some years ago, the views of local people have played a key part in our decisions, and we have always felt very supported with our work to improve the A47.

“These events are an extension of that ongoing communication and a further opportunity for people to ask any questions they may have, ahead of construction getting underway.

“We are also aware that with any major project there will be some temporary inconvenience as the building phase begins, but we have designed this scheme to minimise disruption and that is just one the things we are hoping to talk to people about over the next two weeks.”

To find out more about National Highways plans to improve the A47 between Wansford and Sutton, you can visit: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/a47wansford

This scheme is one of six major improvement projects and almost half a billion pounds of investment National Highways plans to deliver on the 115-mile section of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.