The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer, has added his support to the A47 Alliance Campaign to upgrade the key route through the north of East Anglia.

Mayor Palmer has pledged his Combined Authority’s full support to the campaign to dual the A47.

The Mayor, who describes improving the A47 as essential to unlocking the economic potential of the north of East Anglia, will lend his weight to the campaign, which includes his strategic transport powers, and direct lines of communication to central government.

The Mayor is using devolved powers to push for a full dualling of the A47 between Peterborough and Wisbech. The Combined Authority has commissioned a business case on the upgrade, which is due for reporting in the spring.

It is expected that any works will be funded mainly by Highways England and the Department for Transport.

Mayor Palmer has also met with the chief executive of Highways England, Jim O’Sullivan, about the scheme, and will meet with him again once the business case has been published.

The Mayor is looking to work with Highways England to include the scheme in RIS2 (Road Investment Strategy) which covers Strategic Roads Network (SRN) spending for the financial years 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Mayor Palmer said: “Since my election, I have been working to press for dualling for a large section of the Cambridgeshire section of the road – from Wisbech all the way to Peterborough.

“I strongly felt that the proposals already on the table with Highways England – to dual the A47 between Wansford and Sutton, and make improvements at the Guyhirn roundabout – were simply not ambitious enough.

“This dangerous road is crying out for full dualling, with clear benefits to be gained for residents and businesses of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and beyond.”

The Mayor’s backing comes as members of the A47 Alliance met with Jesse Norman MP, parliamentary under secretary of state for the Department of Transport, to send a message to central government on the need for a fully dualled A47.

The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (GCGP LEP) was a member of the A47 Alliance before its merger into the Combined Authority.

The Combined Authority will be able to lend its strategic transport authority status to the campaign and provide continued cross-county support.