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Motorway 1 turns 50

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 29 October 2009

As the M1 turns 50, Transport Minister Chris Mole predicts a successful future for the route which forms the backbone of the UK’s road network.

Half a century to the day that the M1 was officially opened by then-Minister of Transport Ernest Marples, Roads Minister Chris Mole will visit Watford Gap service area in Northamptonshire on Monday 2 November to unveil a plaque commemorating the special birthday.

He also looks to future plans to increase capacity on the busiest sections of the 190-mile motorway which links London and the South East with the North of England and beyond and carries an average of 160,000 vehicles every day.

Chris Mole said:

"I am delighted to mark the 50th birthday of the M1 - a motorway with an iconic past which will soon benefit from the latest in motorway modernisation thanks to Government investment of up to £6 billion.

"The M1 is a key artery, impacting upon both national and local economies, moving goods and people to places around the United Kingdom, whilst supporting investment.

“Managed Motorway technology, including hard shoulder running, is being rolled out to some of the busiest sections of the M1 - with main construction work due to start soon on delivering the congestion-busting system to a key stretch of the motorway.

"Following a successful trial on the M42 in the West Midlands, we are confident that by using variable speed limits to improve traffic flow during busy periods and opening up the hard shoulder as a running lane, we will reduce congestion and improve safety, as well as make journeys more reliable for road users.

"That's why we confirmed earlier this year our plans to bring Managed Motorways to J10 to 13 in Bedfordshire and on two stretches of the motorway in Yorkshire, with longer term plans to introduce it on stretches of the M1 between Milton Keynes and south of Rugby and in the East Midlands."

Schemes that the Highways Agency plan to start on the M1 between now and 2015 include:

• Main work is expected to start later this year to deliver the Managed Motorway with hard shoulder running scheme on the M1 between J10 (Luton) and J13 (Milton Keynes).

• Subject to the completion of statutory processes, work is expected to start during 2010-11 to deliver the Managed Motorway with hard shoulder running scheme on the M1 east of Sheffield between J32 and 35a.

• Subject to the completion of statutory processes, work is due to begin by 2015 on delivering the Managed Motorway with hard shoulder running schemes between J28 and J31 of the M1 south of Sheffield, and at Wakefield between J39 and J42.

• Subject to the completion of statutory processes work is due to begin on the M1 J19 / M6 Improvement scheme at ‘Catthorpe Interchange’.

In the longer term further locations planned for managed motorways include M1 J13-19 south of Rugby and J24-25 (Long Eaton).

Last year an award-winning £300m project to relieve congestion and improve safety by widening the M1 between the M25 and Luton was opened to traffic. The Highways Agency is also currently widening the M1 between J25 and J28 in the East Midlands.

Drivers on the M1 are also benefitting from the Highways Agency’s national and regional traffic control centres, and from the work of Highways Agency Traffic Officers who patrol the motorway and help to clear up incidents more quickly.

Ends

Notes to editors
Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact the National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Some facts about the M1:
- The M1 today is over 190 miles long, and celebrates its fiftieth anniversary on 2 November 2009.

- One of the busiest sections of the M1 in 2008 was between junctions 7 (A414) and 8 (Hemel Hempstead) with an average annual daily traffic flow of around 160,000 vehicles.

- According to a supplement to Transportation Professional (published in November 2008) - in 1960 around 20,000 vehicles per day used the M1.

- There are 48 junctions in total along the whole length of the M1, which starts near Brent Cross (Junction 1) and ends at the A1(M) near Garforth (Junction 48).

- There are 12 Motorway Services Areas along the M1 (London Gateway Services J2-4; Toddington Services J11-12; Newport Pagnell Services J14-15; Northampton Services J15A; Watford Gap Services J16-17; Leicester Forest East Services J21-22; Leicester (Markfield) Services J22; Donington Park Services J23A; Trowell Services J25-J26; Tibshelf Services J28-29; Woodall Services J30-31; Woolley Edge Services J38-39).

- Highways Agency Traffic Officers patrol this and other motorways throughout England, to monitor traffic conditions and respond quickly to incidents such as road traffic collisions, debris, or breakdowns.

- There are three Regional Control Centres which cover the M1: the East region, based at South Mimms; the East Midlands, which is in Nottingham; and the North East, at Wakefield. Highways Agency Regional Control Centres perform several tasks to assist the smooth running of the roads and safety of road users, including responding to Emergency Roadside Telephones, liaising with Traffic Officers on patrol, and working with police and other organisations to coordinate an effective service.

- Maintenance: The M1 is maintained by three different Managing Agent Contractors, who are contracted by the Highways Agency to perform routine maintenance and repair work to the road and associated furniture.

3. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available:

- From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".

- Online at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call.

- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time (Calls to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

Safety at roadworks

The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:

- Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.
- Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.
- Observe all signs – they are there to help you.

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Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact the National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.

Contacts:

Alexander Barnett
Phone: 020 7153 4847
alexander.barnett@highways.gsi.gov.uk