Project Overview

Skanska appointed Danaher & Walsh to deliver the A1307 highway safety scheme near Babraham, Cambridgeshire. The work spanned three schemes, improving safety and accessibility for all road users.

As part of the A1307 highway safety scheme, Danaher & Walsh built a new signalised toucan crossing at the Babraham Research Campus roundabout. The crossing includes equestrian facilities and links a new multi-user path through to Babraham village. The team also replaced all existing street lighting at the roundabout and added a further 120m footway to the west. Danaher & Walsh originally built the roundabout itself back in 2009.

A second scheme added a new bus lane along the A1307 towards Haverhill, on the approach to the A11 junction. At Babraham High Street, Danaher & Walsh removed the right turn onto the A1307 to improve safety. The team also installed new pedestrian crossing facilities alongside an existing bus stop.

A third scheme tackled long-standing congestion at the junction of the A1307 Babraham Road and Granham’s Road. The previous layout caused queuing traffic and delays, particularly for buses. Danaher & Walsh widened the A1307 to create a dedicated right-turn lane and removed the existing splitter island to simplify the junction.

The team also installed new signage, road markings and street lighting, and carried out asphalt surfacing. Granham’s Road closed for the duration of the works, with a signed diversion in place. The busy A1307 stayed open throughout, thanks to careful traffic management.

Outcomes

The A1307 highway safety scheme delivers lasting benefits for pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and motorists travelling through the area. The new toucan crossing and multi-user path improve connectivity between Babraham Research Campus and the village. Upgraded street lighting and footways make journeys safer after dark.

At Babraham High Street, removing the right turn has reduced conflict points. Improved pedestrian crossing facilities have also made journeys safer for road users and pedestrians alike. The new bus lane towards Haverhill supports more reliable bus journey times along the corridor.

The junction improvements at Granham’s Road have eliminated the queuing and delays once caused by right-turning traffic. Both private motorists and bus services benefit from the smoother route.

Throughout the works, Danaher & Walsh maintained a proactive working relationship with Skanska, including daily liaison. This close collaboration helped the team deliver each scheme on time and on budget, despite the challenges of working on a live, busy road network.