The A14 near Thrapston, between East and West England, also has more than one incident on it at the moment. These events have resulted in action, especially delays for spaghetti lovers and passengers. Here is your full rundown of what happened and the latest on the traffic advice.
Major incident Near Thrapston, Northamptonshire.
Another serious incident saw a collision between two lorries. Blocking the A14 eastbound at Thrapston, Northamptonshire, between junctions 13 and 15. The crash caused lengthy delays, with traffic lined up seven miles back. It caused delays of almost an hour for those traveling through the area. With road authorities urging drivers to take alternative routes.
Emergency services, including Northamptonshire Police, firefighters, and National Highways Traffic Officers, were quickly on scene to help with the situation. They diverted traffic and made sure of the safety of road users before clearing the area. As well as the A14, delays were also reported on the intersecting A45 and A605. As well as around Titchmarsh, where the diversions added to congestion.
Animal obstruction closes A14
An even stranger event took place between Finedon and Burton Latimer when a horse was found roaming the A14. That resulted in a partial shutdown while officials tried to protect the bear, as well as drivers. Authorities secured the area and one lane of the road was reopened. However, some delays were still reported as traffic was made to adjust. Although rare, animal-related highway incidents underscore the wide array of hazards, motorists face on the road in an unpredictable world.
Police Activity Near Bury St Edmunds
Another “police incident” earlier this week temporarily shut the westbound A14 near Bury St Edmunds. The nature of the incident has not been revealed, but police later reopened the road after deeming the area safe. But, the closure also extended travel times and intensified congestion for some time.
Road works and traffic woes brewing
In addition to accidents, planned roadworks are creating delays on the A14. Road works that involve upgrading an intersection or, in the case of the Coast Road opening this summer, the road itself to improve safety and efficiency will usually result in speed reductions and/or lane closures again, extending travel times. Although needed for long-term improvements, these projects can create serious congestion during peak hours.
So How Do You Avoid A14 Traffic?
As these interruptions are likely to become a more regular occurrence for drivers using the A14, here are some proactive steps they can take to reduce delays:
Live status: Check Google Maps, National Highways, or other local traffic platforms for live updates. Newspapers and news websites give real-time alerts so that drivers can be aware of unexpected closures and traffic accidents.
Explore Substitution Routes: Try to come up with other routes to take to try to avoid the traffic, especially if you are driving at peak times. Alternatively, routes such as the A45 or A605 may provide a diversion, but these can be busy in any major incident elsewhere on the A14.
Factor In Additional Travel Time: Plan to add extra travel time to your trip because you never know when an incident will occur especially if your commute touches on areas that are known for having accidents.
Follow Caution: Act out caution near accidents or construction zones by following all temporary signs and speed limits and instructions from traffic officers Slow down and use caution to pass safely, especially near emergency responders or active roadwork.
Travel Off-Peak: Try to avoid any travel during peak times when congestion is worse, especially weekday mornings and evenings.
Next Steps and Community Input
The A14 has seen several incidents in quick succession, in one case prompting talk of an upgrade to cope with the increased traffic and a finer system of management overall. Local residents and commuters have called for more action on the A14 to improve traffic flow and safety, although road work projects are designed to help the A14 infrastructure. Both need time to build plans for long-haul fixes, however.
