Diversion of up to 25 miles due to roadworks

Drivers face long diversions of almost 25 miles after overnight road closures were put in place on a busy road into Cambridge for 21 weeks.

The work on the A603 Barton Road is to widen and upgrade the walking and cycling path, and will involve closures from the A603/M11 roundabout to approximately the Barton Road lay-by closest to the city centre.

Closures will take place between 20:00 BST and 06:00, and each morning the road will be reinstated to two lanes, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) said.

While the works were under way, one lane on the A603/M11 roundabout will be closed to ensure the traffic speeds were in line with the temporary 30mph (48kph) limit on Barton Road.

A signed diversion route will be in place and is also available on the GCP's website.

The official route is: Cambridge Road (A603) – Ermine Way (A1198) – Old North Road (A1198) – A505 – A10 – Hauxton Road – High Street – Trumpington Road (A1134) – Fen Causeway (A1134) – Newnham Road (A603) – Barton Road (A603).

A temporary walking and cycling path will be in place to divert users while the main path is closed.

A map showed the official diversion route during the overnight closures

The work is part of the development of the Barton Greenway, which is intended to create a safer, more accessible walking and cycling route between Barton and Cambridge.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, head of the GCP programme, said: "Our greenways are designed to make active travel safer and more attractive for everyone.

"The simple aim is to give people choice in how they move, whether they are travelling to Cambridge or visiting a nearby village.

"The works to widen the current walking and cycle path along Barton Road will enable us to deliver on this goal of making it easier for those wishing to go to and from the city on foot or by bike."

Asked about the length of the diversion, a spokesperson for the GCP said: "The diversion route to accommodate works on Barton Road has been chosen to use main A-roads that are suitable for all vehicles, including HGVs.

"These roads are built to handle higher traffic volumes safely and help maintain steady traffic flow during the overnight closures.

"While shorter routes exist, they often run through residential areas or narrower roads not designed for heavier loads. Using the main route helps protect local roads and reduce disruption for communities.

"Clear signage is in place to guide drivers along the official diversion routes."