M1 junction 13 to junction 16: smart motorway

We’re improving the 23-mile section of the M1 between junctions 13 and 16 by upgrading it to an All-Lane Running (ALR) motorway to support economic growth and ease congestion in the area.

Start date
End date Completed March 2023
Cost £373 million

Latest updates

  • 07 November 2023

    Planned road closures during November 2023

    There are some planned overnight work taking place between the hours of 10pm and 6am on the dates shown in the table below.

    Please be considerate of residents living along the diversion routes when travelling during these closures. We close the road once traffic flows are at their lowest, and all planned works are subject to change depending on weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. 

    Please note that whilst the project to upgrade the M1 between junctions 13 to 16 has been completed, there is work being carried out at junction 15a of the M1. This is being carried out by the Segro Logistics Park (Winvic) in Northampton. Please visit their website for further information on their closures that may impact your journey.

    Date

    Southbound

    Northbound

    Monday 13 November 2023

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 16 and 15a closed

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 14 and 15 closed

    Tuesday 14 November 2023

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 16 and 15a closed

    No planned closures

    Junction 14 Exit slip road closed

    Wednesday 15 November 2023

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 16 and 15a closed

    No planned closures

    Thursday 16 November 2023

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 16 and 15a closed

    No planned closures

    Friday 17 November 2023

    Lane 1 and 2 between junctions 16 and 15a closed

    No planned closures

    Other M1 planned closures

    We’re resurfacing the A5183 Dunstable Road roundabout by the M1 bridge at junction 9 (St Albans North for Flamstead, Harpenden and Herts County Showground). 

    We plan to complete this work over 4 nights on Monday 20 November, and then from Wednesday 22 November to Friday 24 November. We will work between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only, weather conditions permitting.

    Read more about this work.

  • 09 March 2023

    Upgrade now fully open

    The final 11-mile section of the M1 J13-16 upgrade has fully opened, with the national speed limit (70mph) restored.  

    We have been opening the 23-mile M1 upgrade in phases since late 2021. Completing this final section, at the northernmost section of the upgrade, means that we have now fully opened our upgrade on the M1 between Bedford, Milton Keynes and Northampton, creating an extra lane in each direction and adding technology to improve journeys and give drivers better information. 

     

    On motorways where the hard shoulder has been converted to a traffic lane, there is a whole system of inter-related features, working together to help keep traffic moving safely. They include:   

    • Variable speed limits to help keep traffic moving, reducing frustrating stop-start traffic and making journeys quicker   
    • Clearly signed and orange-coloured emergency areas set back from the road and with telephones linking directly to our control rooms   
    • Detection systems to monitor traffic for changes in flows and speeds, including stopped vehicle detection to spot stopped vehicles and get help on the way more quickly   
    • CCTV cameras that our operators are able to move and zoom to monitor and manage congestion and incidents, where notified. The system has the ability to see 100% of the carriageway  
    • Signs and signals to provide better information and that can alert drivers to hazards ahead and display Red X signals to close lanes to other traffic when a stopped vehicle is identified  
    • Enforcement cameras to deter the minority who break speed limits and ignore Red X signs   

    All this is overseen and joined up by our dedicated teams in the control rooms and on the road, who are here to help motorists 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  

    Benefits 

    You can read more about the main features of smart motorways, and advice and guidance on safer driving and what to do in an emergency on our ‘Driving on motorways’ hub. 

  • 05 December 2022

    Phased opening of upgraded sections continues

    Today a 4.2-mile section of the M1 north of junction 14 at Newport Pagnell services (to Cattle Creep, near Hartwell) fully opened, with the 70mph national speed limit restored.

    On motorways where the hard shoulder has been converted to a traffic lane, there is a whole system of inter-related features, working together to help keep traffic moving safely. They include:  

    • Variable speed limits to help keep traffic moving, reducing frustrating stop-start traffic and making journeys quicker  
    • Clearly signed and orange-coloured emergency areas set back from the road and with telephones linking directly to our control rooms  
    • Detection systems to monitor traffic for changes in flows and speeds, including stopped vehicle detection to spot stopped vehicles and get help on the way more quickly  
    • CCTV cameras that our operators are able to move and zoom to monitor and manage congestion and incidents, where notified. The system has the ability to see 100% of the carriageway 
    • Signs and signals to provide better information and that can alert drivers to hazards ahead and display Red X signals to close lanes to other traffic when a stopped vehicle is identified 
    • Enforcement cameras to deter the minority who break speed limits and ignore Red X signs  

    All this is overseen and joined up by our dedicated teams in the control rooms and on the road, who are here to help motorists 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

    Next Steps

    A further 4.5-mile section to junction 15 for Northampton is set to fully open in early 2023. Together, these make up the second section of the M1 upgrade.

    The third and final section of the upgrade, between junctions 15 and 16, began its phased opening last month, with four lanes in each direction at 60mph, and is expected to fully open by March 2023.

    Benefits

    You can read more about the main features of smart motorways, and advice and guidance on safer driving and what to do in an emergency on our ‘Driving on motorways’ hub.

  • 15 November 2022

    More new lanes open to traffic

    The final stretch of our upgrade of the M1 started its phased opening from today (Tuesday 15 November).

    An extra, fourth lane is being made available over the next four nights to drivers in both directions on a 6.5-mile section of the motorway between junction 15 (Northampton) and junction 16 (the Upper Heyford Interchange). The whole section is due to have the additional lane open by 6am on Friday morning.

    Drivers travelling through this section will see a 60mph speed limit in place, temporary additional CCTV from the roadworks, and a free recovery service alongside the new permanent systems while final technology tests are carried out.

    This can only happen when there aren’t roadworks, and when drivers are able to use all lanes of the upgraded carriageway.

    The scheme is opening in sections; a fourth lane opened on the 9.4-mile stretch between Newport Pagnell Services and junction 15 (Northampton) in September. Both sections are expected to fully open, with the national speed limit restored, in the coming weeks.

    Drivers will now be able to use 46 new emergency areas if they need to stop in an emergency.

  • 22 September 2022

    New lanes open to traffic

    From today (Thursday 22 September), 4 lanes on the 9.4 mile stretch between Newport Pagnell Services and junction 15 (Northampton) are now available to traffic with a 60mph speed limit in both directions. 

    Once construction is complete, and before we fully open our motorway upgrades, new technology, which includes stopped vehicle detection, is tested. This means it is finely adjusted to suit the particular environment of the road where it has been installed. This can only happen when there are no roadworks, when drivers are able to use all four lanes of the upgraded carriageway.

    Safety measures which have been in place during the roadworks, such as the 60mph reduced speed limits, and a free recovery service for drivers who get into difficulty, continue. The temporary CCTV used during the roadworks also remains in place, working alongside the new permanent CCTV installed as part of the upgrade.

    Once testing shows the system is performing satisfactorily the maximum speed is increased to the national speed limit of 70mph.  We expect this to happen next month.

    The first section of the upgrade, a 7.6 mile stretch between junction 13 and Newport Pagnell services, opened earlier this year. We expect the final remaining link of the upgrade, the 6.5 mile section between junction 15 and junction 16 (Upper Heyford Interchange) to start its phased opening next month.

    This newly opened section includes 19 new emergency areas, where drivers can stop in an emergency. Once finished, the 23-mile upgrade will feature 46 new emergency areas, 8 more than originally planned.  

    We expect the scheme to be fully open, with the national speed limit restored, by March 2023. 

    If you’d like to know more about the main features of smart motorways, and advice and guidance on safer driving and what to do in an emergency, visit our ‘Driving on motorways’ hub

Project information

Give us your feedback

Visit our M1 J13-16 Smart Motorway feedback tool to have your say. The tool includes an interactive map. You can click on a location to make a specific comment, or give us your general feedback.

ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you’d like a response to your feedback you can email the project team at: M1J13-16Smart@nationalhighways.co.uk

Map showing route

We’re converting the existing section of the M1 from Junction 13 at Milton Keynes South to Junction 16 at the Upper Heyford Interchange (A45 to Daventry, A4500 to Northampton) into a smart motorway. 

The project involves: 

  • converting the motorway between junctions 13 to 16 into four lanes of traffic with no hard shoulder 
  • installing 38 new (and two upgraded) emergency areas with emergency roadside telephones 
  • new overhead gantries and electronic signs to show the variable speed limits and provide driver information  
  • new and replacement safety barriers in the central reservation and verge areas 
  • CCTV cameras 
  • new noise barriers and partial replacement of the existing noise barrier 
  • planting trees and bushes to replace any removed during construction

 

Covid-19

During the pandemic, we are following Government policy which is that construction activity should continue where it can be done safely. All our sites have strict safeguarding measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and none of our sites are open to the public. With traffic volumes on our roads still lower than usual, we are taking the opportunity to push ahead with our work before traffic levels return to normal. We plan our work carefully in order to minimise disruption to motorists.

Safety

During the current roadworks, there is no place for motorists to stop or leave the motorway other than the exit slip roads or motorway service areas. A free vehicle recovery service is offered for motorists who breakdown in our roadworks.

Always try to exit the motorway immediately if your vehicle is damaged or experiencing difficulties. If this is not possible and your vehicle stops in the nearside lane (lane 1) and you feel able to exit safely with any occupants, try to exit your vehicle via the nearside (left hand) door, and wait behind the safety barriers on the verge if it's safe to do so. In all cases, switch on your hazard warning lights.

 

The M1 is a key strategic road, carrying high volumes of heavy goods and other vehicles between London and the North.

This project will help ease congestion and make journey times more reliable during busy periods on this stretch of motorway.

Our project aims to:

  • reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic to improve travel times and make journeys more reliable between Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.
  • support the economy within the region by providing much needed capacity on the motorway, reducing the cost of economic delay to commuters and business traffic
  • maximise motorway capacity while maintaining safety on motorways
  • minimise environmental impacts

Traffic management

While we're carrying out this work, there will be narrow lanes on the motorway and a reduced speed. During the day-time, we'll keep three lanes open in each direction. To carry out essential works, off-peak lane closures and overnight full carriageway closures will be necessary, for example, when we put new gantries into position and resurface the carriageway. Wherever possible, we'll keep this to a minimum. Night-time working hours will vary depending on traffic conditions.

During construction, there will be:

  • Three lanes open to traffic in each direction
  • Free breakdown recovery service along the extent of the scheme
  • 24-hour CCTV coverage to identify incidents and allow timely recovery
  • Planned diversion routes

Length of roadworks

We're carrying out this work in a way that will create the minimum of disruption to drivers using this busy stretch of the M1.

We'll be working in phases to reduce the extent of roadworks and the timescales for completing the scheme. 

Roadworks and traffic management

Safety is at the heart of what we do. Working close to machinery and live traffic brings hazards, so it’s important that our staff have regular rest breaks. If it appears that work is only taking place on one small section of the road, staff may be on their rest breaks. Alternatively, they may be moving steadily along the coned-off lane.

Reduced speed limits help keep all road users safe, not just road workers. Roadwork sites can be dangerous places. The driving environment around roadworks can be very different from normal. There may be changes to the normal standard of carriageway, such as lane restrictions or contra-flow running, as well as works vehicles entering or leaving the site. Excavations, vehicles and equipment pose additional risks and the safety of road users is always our primary consideration.

Roadworks during public holidays

Where possible, we'll remove traffic management during public holidays.

An environmental screening exercise at an early stage of the project indicated that it was considered unlikely there would be significant adverse effects resulting from the M1 junctions 13 to 16 smart motorway scheme. The key issues considered include:

  • air quality mitigation, in relation to housing and air quality management areas
  • surveys for protected species and habitats including bats, badgers dormouse and great crested newts
  • to minimise the loss of vegetative screening along the scheme and to design mitigation to reinforce screening for the future

Some sections of the existing noise barrier will be replaced with new sections of environmental barrier as they have reached the end of life. Additional noise barriers will also be delivered as part of the scheme design at a number of Noise Important Areas.

Documents

M1 junction 13 to junction 16 environmental study report (ESR)
ESR Appendix B - Air Quality
ESR Appendix C - Noise and Vibration
ESR Appendix D - Landscape and Visual
ESR Appendix E - Cultural Heritage
ESR Appendix - Affected Road Network 2021
ESR Appendix - Air Quality Management Areas
ESR Appendix - Committed Developments
ESR Appendix - Compliance Risk Road Network
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J13-14 northbound
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J13-14 southbound
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J14-15 northbound
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J14-15 southbound
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J15a-16 northbound
ESR Appendix - Construction Noise and Vibration diversion routes J15a-16 southbound
ESR Appendix - Construction noise. Areas of potential significant adverse effects
ESR Appendix - Construction vibration. Areas of potential significant adverse effects
ESR Appendix - Cultural Heritage Receptors
ESR Appendix - Discussion Region Receptors
ESR Appendix - Do Something Results 2021
ESR Appendix - Ecological Receptors
ESR Appendix - Enviromental Masterplan (mitigation strategy)
ESR Appendix - Flood Risk from Rivers
ESR Appendix - Landscape Character, Viewpoints and Visibility
ESR Appendix - Location and results of noise survey
ESR Appendix - Monitoring Locations
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Long term Do-Minimum comparison day time
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Long term Do-Minimum comparison night time
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Long term Do-Something comparison day time
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Long term Do-Something comparison night time
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Proposed Noise Barriers
ESR Appendix - Operational road traffic noise. Short-term comparison day time
ESR Appendix - Scheme Location
ESR Appendix - Surface Water Flood Risk
ESR Appendix - Verification Zones
ESR Appendix - Viewpoint Photographs

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

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