A new £1.5bn scheme to improve the A14 - in a bid to relieve congestion and connect communities in the East of England - has been given the go-ahead. Highways England have already welcomed the decision. The main phase of the scheme will be to add extra capacity to the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, with construction work to start in late 2016. Further details regarding the scheme will be announced in due course. The project will cover 21 miles of road and will also include the building of a new bypass of Huntingdon set between Brampton and Swavesey. Other improvements will include the widening of the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury, widening the A14 between Swavesey and Milton and the improvement of the junctions at Bar Hill, Girton, Histon, Milton and Swavesey. Chris Taylor, the director for complex structure at Highways England, who will be responsible for leading the improvement scheme, said: 'The scheme will provide much needed additional capacity to improve journey times and safety. 'We are keen to keep the momentum going and will get preparations for construction underway as soon as possible after the end of the six-week statutory challenge period.î The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has also welcomed the decision, with head of road network management policy, Malcolm Bingham adding: 'We look for an early start to the sets of works and a system that will inform freight operators and motorists about disruptions that could be caused. Reliable and timely information will give freight operators the chance to better plan their journeys while the construction is taking place.î The bypass and widened lanes will open fully to traffic in 2020, though some finishing work is expected to continue beyond that date.