M1 Junctions 10 to 13 enhancements
We’re upgrading 11.2 miles of central reservation barrier in Bedfordshire, upgrading it from steel to concrete, to improve the safety and reliability of journeys along this stretch of the M1. We are also installing more CCTV and improving traffic and information signs between the junctions.
Central reservation barrier removal
Central reservation barrier removal
Breaking up the old concrete foundations
Concrete foundation removal
Concrete infilling
Cats eyes being installed
Saw cutting
Temporary metal barrier being installed
Latest updates
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08 April 2024
Road closures, April 2024
We're carrying out essential maintenance on the M1 between junction 10 (Luton South/airport) and junction 13 (Milton Keynes South).
Our work will involve repairing the carriageway to ensure the M1 remains in a safe and serviceable condition. During these closures, we’ll also be carrying out repairs to CCTV and variable message signs, which are used to assist with the management of traffic on the motorway.
To carry out this work safely, we’ll need to close the road between 10pm and 5am when traffic levels are at their lowest. Each closure will have fully signed diversion routes in place. The road will be closed on the following dates:
Dates Closure details Extra time to allow Wednesday 17 April for 1 night Full overnight closure of M1 junction 9 to 11a Northbound 25 mins Thursday 18 April for 1 night Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 14 Northbound 40 mins Friday 19 April for 1 night Full overnight closure of M1 junction 14 to 11a Southbound 40 mins Saturday 20 April for 1 night Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 10 Southbound 25 mins -
05 April 2024
Abnormal load needing M1 and M25 closures, 6 to 7 April 2024
There will be a slow-moving, abnormal load on our roads in Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire this weekend, taking place overnight on Saturday 6 April into the morning of Sunday 7 April.
This is the final part of three large pieces of equipment that are being taken from the Port of Tilbury in Essex to Millbrook Power Station in Bedfordshire.
These are essential pieces of equipment for the power station that, when completed, will have the capacity to generate power to provide enough instant electricity to power 150,000 households.
The load will be safely escorted by police on its 79-mile journey, who will need to temporarily hold traffic to allow the convoy to safely progress. This has been chosen as the safest route for the convoy to take and will move very slowly while it is on the road.
The convoy is expected to leave the Port of Tilbury at around 4pm on Saturday 6 April and follow an approximately 18-hour route using the M25 and M1 to arrive at Millbrook between 10am and 12 noon on Sunday 7 April.
Due to the complexity of transporting such a load, we’re expecting this to impact on journeys, so please plan ahead if travelling on the M25 or M1 during this period.
To move the equipment, the following road closures will be in place:
- The M25 between Junction 21a and Junction 19 will be closed in both directions between 10pm and 6am. A diversion will be in place.
• The exit slip road from the M1 onto the M25 at Junction 6a will be closed in both directions between 10pm and 6am. A diversion will be in place.
• The entry slip road from the A12 onto the M25 anti-clockwise at Junction 28 will be closed between 8pm and 5am
• There will be a temporary holding delay of around 30 minutes at the Gallows Corner roundabout on the A12, and this is likely to be around 10pm
A rough estimate of timings as it moves along the route starting on Saturday 6 April are below. Please note, these are subject to change depending on progress.
Tilbury to M25 Junction 30
16:00 to 19:30 Saturday 6 April
Passes through M25 Junction 28
21.30 to 23:00 Saturday 6 April
Leaves the M25 at Junction 21 to join the M1
03:00 to 04:00 Sunday 7 April
Arrives at Millbrook in Bedfordshire
10:00 to 12:00 on Sunday 7 April
Thank you to everyone in advance for your patience while we support moving this essential equipment.
- The M25 between Junction 21a and Junction 19 will be closed in both directions between 10pm and 6am. A diversion will be in place.
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19 March 2024
Progress and upcoming road closures, March 2024
Progress to date
Work is progressing well and we’ve removed 8.5 miles (13.6km) of the existing old steel central reservation barrier between junctions 10 and 13, with 2 miles (3.2 km) of existing steel barrier left to remove.
We’ve completed 70% of our excavation work and started work to fill any ditches in the existing concrete hardstanding areas between junction 10 to 11. These need to be filled with concrete to prepare the area on which the new barriers are to be built. As well as removing old street lighting bases between junctions 10 to 12.
Preparation work to fill any ditches on the existing concrete hard standing has started between junction 11 and 11a. This involves removing drainage covers, cleaning and removing ironwork in the central reservation where necessary.
Before we can begin drainage work between junction 11a and 13, we need to carry out investigation and prepare the area. This involves digging trial holes to check where services are, setting out for drainage, clearing and opening existing drainage chambers.
We’ll start removing the old steel barrier foundations between junctions 11a and 12 later this week.
Whilst investigation and preparation work is being done between junction 11 to 12, you may not see an active workforce in these locations.
We kindly ask everyone to be extra cautious when travelling through our roadworks and thank you for your continued patience.
Other work
We are also repairing CCTV and variable message signs, which are used to assist with the management of traffic on the motorway.
Our control centre operators monitor the motorway for incidents, allowing us to deal with these events and manage the M1 road.
To do this repair work safely, we’ll need to close the motorway overnight between 10pm and 5am on the following dates:
Date
Closure details
Extra time to allow
Wednesday 20 March for 1
nightFull overnight closure of M1
junction 9 to 11a Northbound25 mins
Thursday 21 March for 1
nightFull overnight closure of M1
junction 11a to 14 Northbound40 mins
Friday 22 March for 1 night
Full overnight closure of M1
junction 14 to 11a Southbound40 mins
Saturday 23 March for 1
nightFull overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 10 Southbound
25 mins
As part of our effort to cut carbon emissions from road lighting, we’re also upgrading street lighting to LED lights which are more efficient and greener.
We'll be changing to LED lights at M1 junction 9 (Watery Lane) from Friday 22 March to Friday 29 March 2024.
LED lights are better for the environment because:
- they use far less energy to produce the same amount of light as conventional lamps
- they last longer and require less maintenance, meaning fewer road closures for repairs.
Diversion route for junction 9 closure
We kindly ask that drivers follow the signed diversion routes. 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.
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28 February 2024
Upcoming road closure dates, February and March 2024
Progress to date
Temporary changes to the road layout on M1 between junction 10 to 13 are needed for our workers to do their job safely alongside the moving traffic.
We’ve completed our work to create temporary narrow lanes along the M1 between junction 10 and junction 13, as well as temporary road signage.
Traffic can now use the hard shoulder, lane 1 and lane 2.
We’ve already removed 5.6 miles (9km) of the existing old steel central reservation barrier between junctions 10 and 12 and started removing its foundations which are made of concrete and will need to be broken and taken out.
Once this is out, we’ll then construct a new foundation for the concrete barrier. This involves removing the topsoil and then further digging to remove and replace the existing drainage.
Road closures
Unfortunately, recent bad weather means that we’ve not been able to fully install the temporary metal central reservation barrier needed between junctions 12 and 13. The temporary metal barrier still needs to be pinned to the road to make the area safe for road users and our workers whilst they carry out their work.
To do this work safely, we’ll need to close some lanes of the M1 on the following dates:
Date
Southbound
Northbound
Wednesday 28 February for 3 nights from 10pm to 5am
Lanes 3 and 2 closed between junction 13 and 12
Lane 1 closed between junction 10 and 13
Sunday 3 March for 1 night from 10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 9 Southbound
No planned closures
Diversion routes
When the road is closed, please follow the official signed diversion routes. Please do not use satellite navigation (sat nav) when following the diversion, as they may give conflicting information.
Please be considerate of residents living along the diversion routes when using these roads when the M1 is closed. Diversion timings are approximate and are a guide only: please check Traffic England for current traffic conditions.
-
26 January 2024
Road closures in January
Our important upgrade work on the M1 will start once the narrow lanes and traffic management barriers have been fully installed.
We’ll begin by changing some of the existing road layouts. This involves removing and reconfiguring road markings and installing temporary metal barriers in the central reservation to protect our workers.
Road closures
This work will be done overnight when traffic levels are at their lowest. The overnight closures will usually start from 10pm and finish by 5am but this can change slightly depending on the volume of traffic and when we can close the road safely. Each closure will have fully signed diversion routes in place.
We'll need to have planned road closures on the following dates:
Closure details
Details Extra time to allow Monday 29 January for 4 nights from 10pm to 5am
Full overnight northbound closure of M1 junction 11a to 14
40 mins
Please note these are provisional dates which may be subject to change due to conditions outside of our control, such as adverse weather or road incidents. Please check this page for updates.
Diversion route
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03 January 2024
Work starts on 10 January 2024
Our important upgrade work on the M1 will start once the narrow lanes and traffic management barriers have been fully installed.
We’ll begin by changing some of the existing road layouts. This involves removing and reconfiguring road markings.
To minimise disruption, we'll be keeping three lanes open with a 50mph average speed restriction in place during our work. The hard shoulder and lane 1 will remain at the current lane widths, with lane 2 being narrowed down.
Lane 3 will be closed while work is being carried out for the safety of road users and road workers. We do this to make the area safe for our team to work in.
We’ll also install temporary metal barriers in the central reservation to protect our workers.
Road closures
This work will be done overnight when traffic levels are at their lowest. The overnight closures will usually start from 10pm and finish by 5am but this can change slightly depending on the volume of traffic and when we can close the road safely. Each closure will have fully signed diversion routes in place.
We'll need to have planned road closures on the following dates:
Date
Duration
Closure details
Extra time to allow
Thursday 4 January for 2 nights
10pm to 5am
Overnight closure of M1 junction 13 entry and exit slip roads Northbound
15 mins
Saturday 6 January for 2 nights
10pm to 5am
Overnight closure of M1 junction 13 entry and exit slip roads Southbound
15 mins
Wednesday 10 January for 4 nights
10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 9 to 11a Northbound
25 mins
Tuesday 16 January for 4 nights
10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 14 Northbound
40 mins
Saturday 20 January for 4 nights
10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 14 to 11a Southbound
40 mins
Wednesday 24 January for 4 nights
10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 9 Southbound
25 mins
Monday 29 January for 5 nights
10pm to 5am
Full overnight closure of M1 junction 11a to 14 Northbound
40 mins
Please note these are provisional dates which may be subject to change due to conditions outside of our control, such as adverse weather or road incidents. Please check this page for updates.
Slip road diversion routes
The diversion routes for the slip road closures are as follows:
Northbound entry slip road closure: Traffic to use the southbound entry slip road, travel to junction 12 and return northbound
Northbound exit slip road closure: Traffic to continue to junction 14 and return southbound to junction 13
Southbound entry slip road closure: Traffic to use northbound entry slip road to travel to junction 14 and return southbound
Southbound exit slip closure: Traffic to continue to junction 12 and return northbound to junction 13.
Other diversion routes
M1 J9 to J11a northbound diversion
M1 J11a to J14 northbound diversion
M1 J14 to 11a southbound diversion
M1 J11a to J9 southbound diversion
M1 J11a to J14 northbound diversion
Project information
Safety is our top priority. Upgrading these barriers will improve journeys and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion.
We are continuing to deliver safety enhancements to the M1 motorway, which is amongst the busiest in the country and relied on by hundreds of thousands of people every day.
National Highways is delivering a series of safety enhancements to sections of dynamic hard shoulder motorways across the country. Dynamic hard shoulder sections allow traffic to use the hard shoulder under mandatory variable speed limits to ease congestion when traffic levels are heavy. The work is part of our commitment to invest in the safety of smart motorways and improve people’s confidence in them.
Concrete barriers are even stronger than metal ones and significantly reduce the risk of vehicles crossing over from one carriageway to another, improving safety and reducing the duration of incident-related congestion. They are also virtually maintenance free and will last twice as long as normal metal barriers, with far less need for closures for routine repairs .
As well as the barrier upgrade, CCTV along the motorway will be upgraded and improved signage will be installed on this stretch.
Diversion routes
When the road is closed, please follow the official signed diversion routes. Please do not use satellite navigation (sat nav) when following the diversion, as they may give conflicting information.
Please be considerate of residents living along the diversion routes when using these roads when the M1 is closed. Diversion timings are approximate and are a guide only: please check Traffic England for current traffic conditions.
M1 J10 to J11a northbound diversion
M1 J11a to J13 northbound diversion
M1 J11a to J14 northbound diversion
M1 J14 to 11a southbound diversion
M1 J13 to J11a southbound diversion
M1 J11a to J9 southbound diversion
M1 J10 to J9 southbound diversion
Our work approach
We’ve carried out as much advance work as possible using overnight lane closures.
But now that main construction on the barrier upgrade has started, we need to have roadworks in place. We’ve designed the roadworks to try to keep disruption to an absolute minimum for all our customers and complete the work as quickly as possible.
We’re in regular contact with the emergency services to ensure that our work does not impact their response times, including providing access through our roadwork areas if that should ever be needed.
We’ll reopen sections of road as soon as the barrier in each location is complete and we expect to do this in three phases from south to north. We expect to open the first of these sections in summer 2024 and to have completed the full road upgrade by the end of spring 2025.
We’ll do all we can to keep disruption to a minimum, but we anticipate delays during peak times, so encourage drivers to plan their journeys.
We know that our construction work will create some congestion and longer journey times, so we want to help you decide your travel plans by giving you information to help you consider alternative ways of reaching your destination.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience our construction work will cause, and we’ll continue to liaise with local business and public transport providers whilst we’re working.
We know that it’s a lot to ask, but we’d like to encourage you to think about how best to make your journey, and whether there's an alternative whilst we work on this road.
Car sharing
If you need to travel for work, could you car share with a colleague, a family member or a friend who is travelling in the same direction? Car sharing means less traffic on the roads and reduced congestion, which means quicker commutes. It’ll also help to save you money and reduce pollution.
Re-timing your journey
If you can’t work from home, another option could be choosing to make your journey at a different time. Whether you’re travelling by car or public transport, re-timing your journey to avoid morning and afternoon peak travel times can help reduce congestion, and travelling when the road is less busy will help reduce the amount of time you spend commuting.
Documents
Related Road projects
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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