Cadent Roadworks Hills Road

The planned Cadent Gas mains replacement works that were scheduled to begin on 1 May 2026 and continue until the end of June on Long Road and Hills Road, Cambridge. As you may now be aware, these works have been postponed following the Street Works Team’s decision to revoke Cadent’s previously approved permits. I just wanted to provide you with a clear view as to what happened and why as well as the next steps for these works. 

Cadent began the gas main replacement scheme on Long Road last summer, completing the section between Rutherford Road and Sedley Taylor Road. However, due to commitments elsewhere on their network, they were unable to continue at that time. The next available window for them to return was 1 May to the end of June 2026.

On 21 April, CCC Street Works were informed that, despite having planned these works for a considerable period, Cadent had failed to submit a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) in time. This TTRO was required to suspend the cycle lanes and close several side roads along Hills Road between the signalised junction with Long Road and the junction with Luard Road. Without this, the only works they could legally undertake—without resorting to emergency orders—were those on Long Road.

We agreed that Cadent could proceed with the Long Road works as originally planned. We then asked them to confirm with local members whether they were content for urgent orders to be raised to cover the Hills Road elements. At that point, we were not aware that Cadent had undertaken no engagement with residents, businesses, schools, or the hospital.

The first indication we had of this lack of engagement was when our Traffic Management Centre publicised the upcoming works on social media. Since then, we have received numerous complaints and concerns from residents, schools, and elected officials. As a result, we have revoked all granted permits and will now be discussing with Cadent when they can return to complete the outstanding mains replacement works.

While we appreciate that the timing of these works is far from ideal, the volume of activity across Cambridge and the wider county means that some works will inevitably need to take place at times we might previously have avoided. As the highway authority, we have a statutory duty to facilitate works on the public highway. The County Council’s Street Works Team has been working with Cadent for some time to support the planning of their replacement schemes, and it is well known that we have several challenging locations requiring essential upgrades. We will, however, continue to coordinate works across the network as effectively as possible.

We will now be looking to go into to finish Long Road and Hills Road between the 5^thOctober – 4^th December 2026. This is subject to Cadent and their contractors completing the required stakeholder engagements with local businesses, school, colleges, residents, and the hospital and submitting permits and the required temporary traffic regulation orders in time.

If you have any questions please do get in contact with me at karen.young@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.