Part of a four-year £1.5bn A14 improvement scheme, which has brought frequent closures and speed restrictions, has been completed ahead of schedule.

Highways England said it opened the A14 18 hours early yesterday after the installation of two bridges at Bar Hill, included in the Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme.

The A14 had been closed from 9pm on Friday and had not been scheduled to open until this morning.

However, teams completed the work ahead of schedule and opened the road at noon yesterday.

Julian Lamb, construction director for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme on behalf of Highways England said: “I’m delighted we were able to re-open the A14 ahead of schedule. The work has been long in the planning and I’m pleased to say went ahead smoothly.

“I would like to thank motorists, businesses and residents, especially in Bar Hill, Longstanton, Willingham and surrounding villages, for their patience.”

Prior to installation four abutments were built to support the bridges as well as two bridge decks at the side of the carriageway.

This weekend the team wheeled the bridge decks, each measuring 44 metres, into place on top of the abutments using a big, remote controlled platform on wheels.

The new bridges are part of the £1.5 billion major improvement scheme and form a new, improved Bar Hill junction that will connect the A14 to the future local access road between Cambridge and Huntingdon, as well as to the existing local road between Bar Hill and Longstanton (B1050).

The scheme started in November 2016 and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2020.