A MAJOR motorway that’s used by over 90,000 cars daily is set to shut down across three days, sending drivers on a 15-mile diversion.
The route will then close a further four months this month alone as National Highways carry out large-scale roadworks.
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The significant project, which affects an 11-mile stretch of the road, is intended to “improve the safety and reliability of journeys” going forward.
Motorists are expected to suffer delays of up to 40 minutes thanks to the works, with several diversion routes in place.
The largest of these will take Brits around 15 miles out of their way, taking a 26-mile loop to go just over 11 miles as the crow flies.
The M1 is one of the UK’s busiest motorways, connecting London and Leeds together via the East Midlands.
It was opened in 1959 and initially had no speed limit, crash barriers or lighting.
Now, though, things are quite different and the latest safety upgrades are taking place this week.
A major overhaul project is taking place between junctions 11 and 14 in both directions.
The works have been going on since late 2023 and are set to finish in Spring 2025.
The first phase of the latest round will see a full overnight closure of the northbound carriageway between J9 and J11a from July 8.
It will remain closed between 10pm and 5am on each of the following five nights, with officials recommending that drivers leave an extra 25 minutes for their journeys.
However, that’s just the first of four shut downs this month alone.
The same restrictions will then be in place on the southbound carriageway along the same stretch between July 15 and 17.
On the latter of those dates, the northbound side will be closed again, meaning that the entire section will be completely shut down that night.
Following that, J14 to J11a southbound will see the most disruptive closure on July 18, with delays of up to 40 minutes expected.
Finally, a small part of the southbound carriageway, from J11a to J10, will close overnight on July 19, marking the end of this round of works.
The longest diversion will be in place between J11a just north of Luton and J13 near the village of Brogborough in Bedfordshire.
Instead of taking a relatively straight 11-mile road, drivers will have to turn off onto the A5 and take a 26-mile loop through Milton Keynes before rejoining the M1 southbound to u-turning at the next exit.
The precise dates and times of the works may be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances
National Highways
National Highways said: “For safety reasons, we have some planned overnight road closures from 10pm to 5am on the following dates.
“The closures can only be in place once traffic flows are at their lowest.
“Roadworks affect all journeys, which is why it is important they are completed as quickly and safely as possible.
“The precise dates and times of the works may be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.
“We kindly ask that drivers follow the signed diversion routes displayed on the local roads on the day of the closures.
“The diversion routes are chosen as they can deal with all motorway traffic in the event of planned roadworks, or any unplanned incidents that may occur, which result in a closure of the motorway.”
It comes after residents living next to Britain’s “most hated” roundabout revealed the junction’s mocking nickname.
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