Work starts early to provide a smoother, quieter road surface for the M1 in Northamptonshire
A major scheme to resurface approximately 15 miles of the M1 in Northamptonshire will start on Tuesday 5 January, thanks to £10 million Government fiscal stimulus funding.
The work includes overnight resurfacing for ten and a half miles of the southbound carriageway between junction 18 and junction 16, and almost five miles of the northbound carriageway starting at 3.7 miles to the north of Watford Gap service area.
The resurfacing scheme will include the entry and exit slip roads for Watford Gap service area, and when this work is taking place the service area will be closed.
Work will take place overnight to minimise delays to road users and all traffic management and speed restrictions will be lifted during the day.
Martin Fellows, Planning and Performance manager for the East Midlands said:
“I am delighted that additional funding from the Department for Transport has allowed us to start this essential work on the M1 in Northamptonshire. Road users will benefit from improved safety and a quieter road surface on this section of the M1 in Northamptonshire. Clearly signed diversion routes will be displayed when slip road closures are in place, and advance signs and publicity will warn motorists when Watford Gap service area will be closed.
“This work is in addition to our investment in hard shoulder strengthening and carriageway resurfacing on the M1 between J30 and Tibshelf service area, the current widening work between J25 and J28, and the re-waterproofing and resurfacing work at West Meadow Viaduct between J23 and J24.
“Road users should also allow extra time for their journeys while these roadworks take place to improve the motorway. We advise drivers to plan their journeys before setting off by using the Highways Agency website on www.highways.gov.uk: http://www.highways.gov.uk/, tuning in to traffic radio and listening to local travel news reports on the radio.”
The works are due to be completed by the end of March 2010.
Motorists are advised that there will need to be lane closures with hard shoulder running at times. A 50mph speed restriction will be in place overnight only. The improvement works will also result in night closures of the M45 eastbound from its junction at the A45 south of Dunchurch to junction 17 of the M1, and slip road closures at the M1 J18 entry slip road and J16 exit slip road when required.
Traffic management will begin approximately two miles before the sections to be resurfaced and take place overnight. From Monday to Thursday the work will be between 8pm and 6am, on Friday from 10pm to 8am, on Saturday from 7pm to 10am and Sunday from 10pm to 5am.
The M1 along this stretch is used by 5,000 vehicles per hour at peak times in each direction, but the work is being carried out overnight when traffic flows are approx 1,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
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