Due to major planned road closures this month, local drivers are being urged to only travel through the Black Cat roundabout and surrounding areas if their journey is essential.
Drivers are advised to avoid the A1 and A421 in Bedfordshire from 9pm on Friday, 15 August to 5am on Monday, 18 August.
The closures are part of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements and will allow National Highways to safely connect two new sections of road to the existing network at the Black Cat roundabout.
It is hoped that the advanced warning will avoid the lengthy delays and traffic chaos experienced by drivers in early July, which saw some travellers stuck in their cars for over six hours.
Read: Drivers stuck for hours on A421 and A1 after traffic chaos at Black Cat roundabout
Road closures in place
- A421 in both directions between Cardington Interchange and Black Cat roundabout
- A1 northbound between Tempsford and Wyboston
- Bedford Road between Roxton Garden Centre to the Blackcat roundabout
Roxton Garden Centre will remain open and will be accessible during the closure.
National Highways says drivers should plan their journeys well and only travel if essential, to help ease pressure on the diversion route, which uses local roads.
With the road forming part of the route between Bedford and Stansted Airport, many Bedfordian’s holiday plans will likely be disrupted by this announcement.
Senior Project Manager at National Highways, Paul Salmon, said: “We want people to spend their weekends relaxing and enjoying themselves – not stuck in traffic.
“If you’re planning to travel through the Black Cat roundabout or the surrounding area, please think carefully about your journey and only travel if it’s absolutely necessary.
“Allow extra time, use alternative routes where you can, and make sure to follow our official diversion signs rather than relying on sat-nav directions.”
The closures are needed to safely connect two new sections of road to the existing network at Black Cat roundabout – the new A421 eastbound to A1 northbound free-flow link, and the new A421 westbound slip road.
“We’re making good progress across the scheme and remain on track to open in spring 2027,” said Mr Salmon.
“Following the weekend, the road layout at Black Cat roundabout will have changed again, so we’d ask drivers to be prepared and follow the signage as they approach the roundabout.”
The A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements is a £1 billion project to improve journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots, and Cambridge.
Read: New road opens in Bedfordshire as part of £1bn Black Cat upgrade
The scheme will see the creation of a 10-mile dual carriageway linking the A1/A421 Black Cat roundabout with the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout. Both existing roundabouts will be upgraded into modern, free-flowing junctions. A new junction will also be added at Cambridge Road, improving access to St Neots and its train station.
This new dual carriageway will replace the final stretch of single carriageway on the strategic road network between the M1 at Milton Keynes and the east coast ports of Harwich and Felixstowe.
At peak times, drivers will save up to 10 minutes per journey, adding up to 1.5 hours every working week, helping to support regional growth, ease congestion, and make travel more reliable.
The scheme is expected to open to traffic in spring 2027.
Update: This article was updated on 7 August 2025 at 11.40am. National Highways have since clarified that the road closure is from Roxton Garden Centre and we have included information that Roxton Garden Centre will be open.
