Amendment to diversion route: Overnight closures of the A14 Junction 7 to 9 at Kettering, Northamptonshire
A series of overnight carriageway closures start on the A14 between junctions 7 and 9 at Kettering this weekend as part of the Highways Agency’s ongoing improvement scheme.
Highways Agency Project Manager Raymond Chitwanga said:
We are continuing to make good progress on the scheme and these closures will enable us to move into the next phase of work - construction of the new third lane on the westbound carriageway.
We would like to thank road users and local residents for their continuing patience as we widen the A14, which, once completed, will reduce congestion and improve safety and journey times.
Road users are advised to plan ahead and allow enough time for their journeys, and when driving through the roadworks to observe the 40 MPH speed limit which is in place for their safety and that of our road workers.
From Friday 11 July the eastbound carriageway will be closed for three nights from 8pm Friday to 8am Saturday, 8pm Saturday to 9am Sunday and 8pm Sunday to 6am Monday 14 July. During this time the new eastbound carriageway will be surfaced.
The westbound carriageway will close from 8pm Wednesday 16 July to 6am Thursday 17 July for maintenance and installation of a temporary barrier.
On the weekend of Friday 25 July to Monday 28 July either the east or westbound carriageway may be closed for three nights for surfacing work. Hours of closures will be 8pm Friday 25 July to 8am Saturday 26 July, 8pm Saturday 26 July to 9am Sunday 27 July and 8pm Sunday 27 July to 6am Monday 28 July.
In addition to the closures on the weekend of the 25 July, there may be a further requirement for overnight closures to complete this work. If so, these will take place on the weekend of of 8 to 11 August .
The eastbound carriageway will be closed for three nights from Tuesday 26 August to prepare for the existing contraflow to be moved. The closures take place from 8pm to 6am each night.
Then, from Friday 29 August to Wednesday 3 September the westbound carriageway will be closed to complete the contraflow switch, which will in turn allow work to start on the westbound carriageway. Closures take place from 8pm on Friday to 8am on Saturday, 8pm on Saturday to 9am on Sunday, then 8pm to 6am on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
During the closures through traffic will be diverted off the A14 at junction 12 and follow the A6116 and A43 to re-join the A14 at junction 7, or vice versa. Separate signed diversions through Kettering will be in place for local traffic.
The A14 is an important road that connects the M1 and M6 motorways in the Midlands with the A1, the M11 and the east coast ports near Felixstowe. Because of its links with the port, it is part of the Trans-European Network. The section around Kettering suffers from congestion and poor journey times daily. By improving this section the Highways Agency aims to create smoother and more reliable journeys, contribute to the region’s economy and to allow for the increased demand in the area that will occur as a result of the Government’s Growth Agenda to develop 40,500 homes in the area.
Further information about the project is available on the scheme’s website
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.