the highways agency unveiled its plans in march 2005. details of the preferred route for the fen drayton to fen ditton section were published in march 2007. the contract was awarded to costain skanska joint venture on 28 january 2008, which worked on detailed plans and the highways agency before publishing a draft order. the scheme was expected to open in stages between 2015 and 2016. the highways agency estimated that the ellington-fen ditton widening would cost between £690 million and £1.2 billion, making it the most expensive scheme in their roads programme.