A5 Stony Stratford to Portway concrete surface repairs and maintenance

We'll be carrying out repairs and maintenance on stretches of the concrete road surface on the A5 between Stony Stratford and Portway in both directions, as well as other repairs and maintenance for approximately six weeks during autumn 2024. The work will include repairs to the concrete surface on the main carriageway, clearing drains, repainting road markings, and inserting new reflective road studs (cat’s eyes).

Start date Autumn 2024

End date Autumn 2024

Cost £3.2 million

Latest updates

27 August 2024

Work gets under way this autumn

We are resurfacing and repairing potholes and cracks in the concrete road surface on the A5 between Stony Stratford and Portway in both directions.

For the safety of our workers and motorists, and to minimise disruption, we need to close the road between Old Stratford Roundabout and Abbey Hill Roundabout to do our repairs.

We’re planning to do most of our work during overnight road closures, working from 8pm to 6am.

While the A5 is closed a fully signed diversion route will be in place via Towcester Road, London Road, Queen Eleanor Street, Watling Street and H3 Monks Way.

Diversion route

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Project information

Most of our road network is surfaced with asphalt, also known as tarmac, but some roads are built of concrete. These make up around 400 miles (4%) of England’s motorway and long-distance A-road network.

The surface of concrete roads that were designed between the 1950s and 1970s have an average life span of 50 years. Their surfaces are now reaching the stage where they will need to be repaired or replaced for safety reasons, and to help them be less noisy and better to drive on.

Around half of the old-style concrete roads will either have repairs or will be replaced over a five-year period. We’ll be using innovative techniques and new technology to provide a modern road that will last for decades to come, and which is easier and quicker for us to repair in future.

Find out more about our national concrete roads improvement programme, how we are working to improve the environment and our innovative ways of working.

Our road repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface. It is essential that we complete repairs to the potholes and cracking to ensure a smoother and safer ride on the A5. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to five years.