East Midlands - Maintenance schemes

We’re maintaining safety barriers between South Witham and Harlaxton.

We began work on 17 March and expect to finish by 19 December 2025.

We'll work overnight (8pm - 6am) Monday to Friday.

Initially, we will be operating within existing roadworks currently in place. 

Traffic management

While we work, we'll need:

• lane closures
• slip road closures, with diversions directing drivers to the next junction and back

We’ll try to minimise disturbance. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience we may cause.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We’re replacing bridge joints on the A14 Nene Viaduct between junctions 10 (Islip) and 13 (Thrapston).

Closures

On-going until mid January 2026 - A14 eastbound between junctions 10 and 13

Overnight closures (8pm - 6am) Monday to Friday.

Also includes:

• lane 2 westbound
• junction 10 eastbound entry slip road
• junction 11 eastbound entry and exit slip road
• junction 12 eastbound entry and exit slip road

Friday 16 and Saturday 17 January 2026 - A14 eastbound between junctions 10 and 13

Extended overnight closures (8pm - 11am) for removal of bridging plates.

Also includes:

• lane 2 westbound
• junction 10 eastbound entry slip road
• junction 11 eastbound entry and exit slip road
• junction 12 eastbound entry and exit slip road

Tuesday 20 January to Spring 2026 - A14 westbound between junctions 13 and 10

Overnight closures (8pm - 6am) Monday to Friday.

Also includes:

• lane 2 eastbound
• junction 13 westbound entry slip road
• junction 12 westbound exit slip road 

8pm Friday 23 January to 6am Monday 26 January 2026 - A14 westbound between junctions 13 and 12

• Full weekend closure for bridge joint removal

We’ll continue using the diversion route of the A45 and A6 detailed below, but please note the westbound entry slip road at junction 12 will remain open over the weekend.

Diversions

To reduce traffic cutting through local communities where weight limits are in place (particularly Thrapston) we'll divert traffic:

• off the A14 at Junction 10
• along the A6 and A45 to re-join the A14 at junction 13
• or vice versa

Diversion route map

This route is suitable for HGVs. 

To maintain safety, a reduced speed limit of 40mph will be in place throughout our works.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We'll start on Monday 26 February 2024 and expect to finish by December 2025.

Closures

We'll use overnight (8pm to 6am) traffic management Monday to Friday:

• full closures of slip roads and the A42
• lane closures on the M1, and A453 dual carriageway

Heavy goods vehicles won't be granted access during restricted times and will need to follow diversions.

All carriageways will be open as usual during the day.

Diversions

A42 northbound diversion

• exit A42 at Junction 14
• turn left and travel along the A453
• turn right onto the A453
• continue past the Airport to Finger Farm Roundabout.

A42 diversion for southbound traffic from M1

M1 Northbound Exit Slip Diversion Route

• continue on M1
• take exit slip at Junction 24
• take first exit onto A453
• continue to A453 Finger Farm Roundabout

A453 Northbound Diversion Route

• continue on A42 to A453 Finger Farm roundabout
• take the third exit slip on the roundabout and join A453
• continue on A453 to M1 Junction 24 Interchange
• take third exit on roundabout and join M1 North

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Persimmon Homes are building the Towcester relief road which will link the A5 with the A43. This is part of their planning agreement for the nearby Towcester Grange development.

The road is expected to open in early 2026.

For more information about the scheme including road closures, visit the Towcester relief road portal site.

Kier Transportation and West Northamptonshire Council are improving the Queen Eleanor interchange in Northampton which links the A45 with the A5076 Mereway.

Work is expected to finish in December 2025.

Work is mainly taking place on weekdays (8am - 5pm) with occasional weekend closures.

Full roundabout closures will be necessary at times, but these will occur at night time or off-peak.

Traffic management will be in place 24/7 which includes lane closures and traffic lights turned off.

You can find more information about the scheme, including upcoming road closures, on the West Northamptonshire Council website.

Work

As part of the work, we’ll be combining the below activities to provide a smoother, safer carriageway and minimise disruption for road users. 

• Resurfacing of carriageway in both directions and renewing the road markings and road studs
• Vegetation clearance and removal of overhanding branches from the public footpath from Barnes Meadows to Brackmills
• Replacement of traffic loops
• Installation of new repeater 60mph signs
• Drainage cleaning
• Reset or replacement of roadside drainage frames and gratings
• Removal of detritus from sides of road

Closures and diversions

We’ll be working overnight, Monday to Friday, between 8pm to 6am, from 5 January 2026 to 2 March 2026. 

In order to carry out this work safely, we’ll install full closures as below.

5 January 2026 to 30 January 2026 

A45 eastbound from Queen Eleanor Interchange to Barnes Meadow Interchange full closure. 

Eastbound diversion route map

2 February 2026 to 3 March 2026

A45 westbound from Barnes Meadow Interchange to Queen Eleanor Interchange full closure. 

Westbound diversion route map

During the closures, a fully signed diversion will be in place.

Access for emergency service vehicles will be maintained throughout. 

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Urban & Civic is constructing the Southern Link Road to link the A46 near Farndon with the A1 at Fernwood. This is part of their planning agreement for the nearby Middlebeck Way development.

Work is expected to finish in 2026.

For further information about the scheme, including road closures, visit the Middlebeck Newark portal site. 

We’ll be working, Monday to Friday, between 9:30am to 3:30pm, from 19 January 2026 to 5 February 2026. 

Our works will be undertaken in the following order. 

19 January 

A5/Richmond Road junction 3-way traffic lights.

20 January

A5 Watling Street outside Shepherd and Co 2-way traffic lights and bus stop suspension and on street parking suspension.

21, 22, 26 and 27 January

A5 Watling Street/Vernon Road/Reffield Close area 2-way traffic lights and bus stop suspension and temporary pedestrian crossing. 

28 January

A5 Watling Street/Brackley Road/Northampton Road junction 4-way traffic lights and temporary pedestrian crossing.

29 and 30 January

Northampton Road/Moat Lane junction 3-way traffic lights and on street parking suspension.

2 February

A5 Watling Street outside Shepherd and Co 2-way traffic lights and bus stop suspension and on street parking suspension.

3 and 5 February

A5 Watling Street between Marling Fish Bar and Pizza Time 2-way traffic lights and on street parking suspension.

We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum.

We always aim to work to the programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes. 

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Work

We’re doing maintenance work which will include inspection and repairs of drainage, lighting, signs, and vegetation clearance.

Closures

We’ll be working weekday nights from 8pm to 6am.

To complete our work safely, we’ll carry out works with both lane and full carriageway closures.

Gamston Roundabout to RSPCA junction

• Monday 5 January 2026 2 nights - lane 1 closure in both directions

RSPCA junction to Bingham Road

• Wednesday 7 January 2026 - full closure in both directions

 Bingham Road to Bingham Interchange

• Thursday 8 January 2026 2 nights - full closure in both directions 

Diversion route map for both directions

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We’re carrying out inspection and repairs of drainage, lighting, signs, and vegetation clearance.

We’ll be working overnight from 8pm to 6am.

To complete our work safely, we’ll close the A52 between Wheatcroft Island and Gamston Roundabout in both directions.

There are two separate diversion routes (the same in both directions) for vehicles under 4.4m (14’6”) and vehicles over 4.4m (14’6”)

Diversion for vehicles under 4.4m (14’6”)

Diversion for vehicles over 4.4m (14’6”)

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.