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Cambridge Evening News, 17 th March 2005
HIGH-TECH speed cameras are set to be introduced on the A14 as part of a £2million package of short-term measures to improve the road before its major upgrade.
The Highways Agency also announced a new traffic signal scheme for the Spittals interchange and the introduction of a 60mph speed limit between Spittals and Girton at the latest A14 forum meeting last night.
In addition, Lolworth layby, where young Indian couple Nishan and Perminder Singh were killed when their car veered off the A14 into the back of a parked lorry, will be closed by the end of May.
The Highways Agency has funds to implement all these schemes during 2005/06. They are designed to improve safety on the notorious road before longer-term improvements are made, as these may not be completed until 2011-2015.
The A14 will also become the only non-motorway site in the country to get Highways Agency Traffic Officers (HATOs). HATOs are designed to free up police officer time by concentrating on incidents such as directing traffic, setting up diversions and clearing debris from carriageways.
They will work on the M11, the A14 from the M11 to the A1M, and the A1M, and will be based at Whittlesford from July 2006.
Cambridgeshire Chief Constable Tom Lloyd, who led the A14 forum, welcomed the measures, including funding for the SPECS speed camera system, which uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition digital technology to record motorists' average speed along a stretch of road rather than at one specific camera site.
He said: "The idea is to keep speed down over a long distance rather than simply at safety camera sites, and it has proved effective where used elsewhere in the country."
But he stressed that major work to improve the A14 still needed to take place as quickly as possible.
"What my organisation and the Highways Agency are concerned about is reducing casualties and reducing congestion, and while the actions we are taking now will have a positive impact, we will see a greater impact with the longer-term improvements."
John Pearman, divisional director of traffic operations in the east and east midlands for the Highways Agency, said: "There is a big scheme to come but we must not lose sight of the need to invest now and consistently until we get that major relief.
"We are pleased to have secured funds for this very worthwhile programme of improvements."
The A14 forum was held at police headquarters in Huntingdon, and included representatives from the police, local authorities, the Highways Agency, road haulage and road user groups.
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