Good luck at the Black Cat with £6.5m improvements

The future looks bright for drivers with the news that a £6.5 makeover of the Black Cat Roundabout will soon start.

The roundabout, near Roxton on the A1, is notorious for its lengthy backlogs.

Central Beds Councillor Doreen Gurney, who has been campaigning to improve the roundabout and nearby roads for two years, said that changes to the Black Cat will now definitely go ahead.

The roundabout will be elongated so that it covers part of the former gravel pit.

Approaching the roundabout from the south, the road will widen from two to three lanes entering the roundabout plus an inner lane that will go directly into Roxton.

The first main lane will go to the A421 to Bedford and the outer two lanes will continue around the roundabout for the A1 exit.

The southbound A1 will split into four lanes at the roundabout with the two outer lanes going to Roxton and the A421 and the inner lanes taking vehicles on to the next section of the A1.

There will be part time traffic lights at the A1 northbound and southbound junctions.

The eastern access route will be relocated to allow for the larger roundabout.

Mrs Gurney said: “The Black Cat suffers from significant existing congestion in both the morning and evening peak.

“Queueing on the A1 south bound is particularly problematic with queues often extending 2km back past the on slip from Wyboston.

“The model predicts that with traffic conditions in 2029 and the existing road network this congestion will significantly worsen.”

The traffic lights will make the area safer because the traffic will flow smoothly, rather than constantly stopping and starting as it does at present, she added. Similar roundabouts in the country have worked well.

The money is coming from the government’s £200m Pinch Point Programme.

The Highways Agency is not required to undertake a formal consultation but there will be a meeting for local councils and members of the public in early September.

You can also send your views to Mrs Gurney on 0300 300 8528 or [email protected] or call Glen Bartram at Bedford Borough Council on 01234 267422.