Transport minister, Anthony Browne, broke ground on the project yesterday to mark the main start of construction on the scheme which will involve a total investment of £1bn.

Plans from National Highways will see the creation of a new 10-mile dual carriageway linking the A1 and A421 Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire to the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire.

A number of junction improvements will be made, including a new three-tier junction at the Black Cat roundabout allowing free flowing traffic onto the A1 and the new carriageway.

The project will fill in the missing link of dual carriageway on the strategic road network between Milton Keynes and Cambridge, helping drivers save up to an hour-and-a-half on their journeys every week.

The scheme will deliver significant benefits by preventing delays and increasing capacity along the route.

Lee Galloway, A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements Project Director, said:  “Today marks a pivotal milestone for everyone connected with this much-needed and wanted scheme.

“To get to this point would not have been possible without the dedication of our team, the support of our partners and stakeholders and the invaluable input from local communities.  ”

The scheme was first announced by the Coalition Government in 2014 and formed part of the first (2015-20) Road Investment Strategy (RIS). Its start has been put back several times since then through various budget reviews and finally a delay challenge.