Drivers in Whittlesey and Peterborough are being warned to prepare for another major period of disruption at the King’s Dyke Bridge, despite the crossing only recently fully reopening. Councillor Chris Boden has confirmed that resurfacing work on the bridge — officially known as the Ralph Butcher Causeway — will begin under two-way temporary traffic lights from July 13 until August 14.
The works, approved by Cambridgeshire County Council Highways, will see traffic lights operating around the clock for more than a month while resurfacing is carried out across the bridge.
A further full closure lasting three days is also expected to follow immediately afterwards to allow the final surface layer to be completed. The exact closure dates still need approval from both Cambridgeshire County Council Highways and National Highways.
Boden, Conservative leader of Fenland District Council and county councillor for Whittlesey, said residents deserved advance notice of the disruption.
He said: “No disruption is desirable, of course. But at least this should be the final disruption we will have on the King’s Dyke Bridge, or so I am told.”
However, he also questioned whether those assurances could be trusted following repeated delays to the project over the past two years.
Boden added: “It’s my responsibility to pass on the information I’m given. However, as we all know, CCC Highways’ previous promises about the bridge didn’t all work out the way we were told.
“I said ‘or so am I told’ because two years of missed deadlines mean that I no longer have confidence that CCC promises about the King’s Dyke bridge will necessarily be fulfilled.”
He said he had requested that the planned three-day closure should take place over a weekend to minimise disruption for commuters and businesses.
“I have asked that the three-day closure takes place over a weekend so that only one working day would be affected by the traffic chaos that will undoubtedly be caused by the full closure,” he said.
Boden also confirmed he had challenged county council highways officials to explain why both a month-long traffic light system and a full closure are necessary.
The latest disruption follows a long-running series of structural problems at the crossing linking Whittlesey with Peterborough on the busy A605.
Picture by Terry Harris.
The bridge and embankment suffered cracking and movement shortly after opening, leading to emergency lane restrictions in 2024. For around 18 months the crossing operated under single-lane traffic control, causing severe congestion and lengthy delays for motorists.
Repair work has included stabilising the embankment using soil nails and sprayed concrete.
Cambridgeshire County Council fully reopened the route on February 28, 2026, although lower embankment works and resurfacing remained outstanding.
The King’s Dyke crossing project ultimately cost around £32 million after major increases linked to redesigns, inflation, contractor disputes and difficult ground engineering conditions near the railway embankment.
The bridge opened in July 2022.
