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