WIREDGOV

A series of overnight and weekend closures on part of junction 24 of the M1 in Leicestershire starts on Monday 4 August for seven weeks. 

The south bridge of the junction is being altered to accommodate a third lane as part of a £6 million Pinch Point scheme to improve capacity, but needs to be strengthened and re-waterproofed first.

For the first six weeks the bridge will be closed overnight only, with narrow lanes in place during the day. There will then be two full weekend closures over the weekends of 12 to 15 September and 19 to 22 September. Both weekend closures take place 24/7 from 8pm on the Friday evening to 6am on the Monday morning.

The closures will affect M1 southbound, A453 southbound or A6 northbound traffic heading to East Midlands Airport as well as A453 and A6 traffic heading to the A50 westbound.

Highways Agency Project Manager Rob Edwards said:

This work will lead to improved capacity and better traffic flow around junction 24 as well as prolong the life of the bridge but for that to happen safely and efficiently we need to close the bridge first.

We have timed it so the majority of the work takes place in the summer holidays when traffic flows are lighter, and the bulk of the closures take place overnight when traffic is lighter still.

We advise road users to allow extra time for their journeys during this work, particularly if they have a flight to catch.

We would also like to advise people that some of the work, particularly the waterproofing, is weather dependent and can only be carried out in the dry. There may therefore be times the closures do not go ahead.

The times of the overnight closures will vary depending on traffic flows, but the earliest time the bridge will close will be 8pm and the latest time it will re-open will be 6am.

During the closures traffic will be diverted southbound on the M1 to junction 23 where it will turn around and head north, leaving the M1 at junction 23a. A separate signed diversion will be in place for non-motorway traffic. Road users are advised to allow at least an extra 15 minutes for their journey.

The Highways Agency and its contractors have liaised with a number of stakeholders about the closures including East Midlands Airport, Donington Park, public transport operators, local authorities and a number of local businesses.

The £6million M1 junction 24 scheme will see the construction of a new carriageway in the middle of the junction to remove traffic travelling from the A50 to the M1 southbound from the roundabout and instead redirect it to the entry slip road at M1 junction 23a via the A453.The work is due to end early in 2015.

People can find out more about the scheme, including regular updates about traffic management and diversions on the Agency’s project page or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000. For real time traffic information the Highways Agency’s website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.