Where is it?
Just north of Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire.
Can you show me that on a map?
What makes this a pathetic motorway?
Well, it doesn't appear on any signposts - secretive, you see!
What does appear?
The A1(M), that's what. Or the A14, if you're heading south.
The "start of motorway" signing is odd, though. Note the complete lack of a number on it!
Why would that be?
Because A1(M) can't be put there, because it's not. And to put A14(M) there would be giving the unsigned motorway away!
Secretive, isn't it?
And it doesn't appear on any maps. Well, not many anyway.
Nearly none?
Well, none that you'd find in an everyday book shop, or online, that's for sure.
There is a page (a PDF copy of which can be found here) on the Highways Agency's website that refers to the A14(M). But...
But?
The link to the larger map (PDF copy here) shows A604(M)!
Is there anything else to clear up this numbering mess?
The only other documents yet found referring to the road are the original Special Road Orders (PDF), in other words, the document that makes this road a motorway. There this is referred to as the A604(M) Motorway.
Why the different number?
Well, the story of the A604, and how parts of it started life as A14, became A604 and then became A14 again is too long to tell here. Suffice it to say that the road from here to Cambridge, now the A14, was once part of the A604.
Weirdly, the Government documents mentioned above date from 1993, AFTER the road was renumbered as part of the A14...
Is it A14(M) or is it A604(M)? Make your mind up!
I would, but as the documents refer to it as both... Blame the Government, not me!
Isn't the A14 south of here really rubbish?
Yes, it is. It's very, very busy - carrying both east-west traffic and north-south traffic. As usual, though, it wasn't meant to be this way...
What do you mean by that?
Well, it turns out that the secretive little A14(M) has a secret - there's a great long unbuilt section!
Well fancy that. Tell me more!
In the early 1990s, many routes were cancelled by the Conservative government due to a downturn in the economy. However...
Suddenly in 1994, the A14(M) Bar Hill - M1-A1 Link Road appears in Government documentation. It appears to be an upgrade to the rubbish section of A14 between the M11 and A14(M), creating a continuous motorway between the two.
In 1997, the new Labour Government came to power and shredded what was left of the roads programme - including the A14(M). That may not be the end of the story, as there have been recent studies undertaken to improve the road network in the area, so the A14(M) extension may not be dead after all.
You can see a section of the documentation here, and a map showing the proposed upgrade here.
Can I see some more photographs?
Can I comment on this motorway?
Of course! Contact me and I'll put them here!
Have any other visitors commented?
Yes, comments can be found in the comments archive.