Skip to main content

UK government’s US$283 million road building boost for Bedfordshire

Two road-building schemes worth US$283 million, which are a key part of the UK government’s long-term economic plan for Bedfordshire, are on course to be delivered on time and on budget by spring 2017. The 2.8 mile, US$229 million A5-M1 Link scheme is being delivered by Highways England, while the US$54 million, 1.8 mile Woodside Link project is being completed by Central Bedfordshire Council. The A5-M1 Link dual carriageway project is intended to improve the east-west connection between the A5 and M1
March 4, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Two road-building schemes worth US$283 million, which are a key part of the UK government’s long-term economic plan for Bedfordshire, are on course to be delivered on time and on budget by spring 2017.

The 2.8 mile, US$229 million A5-M1 Link scheme is being delivered by 8101 Highways England, while the US$54 million, 1.8 mile Woodside Link project is being completed by Central Bedfordshire Council.

The A5-M1 Link dual carriageway project is intended to improve the east-west connection between the A5 and M1, north of Dunstable and help reduce congestion through Dunstable town centre, offering motorists better journey time reliability and safer journeys. It includes the building of a completely new dualled road, three new junctions including a new motorway junction, and six new bridges.

The Woodside Link project will connect the industrial areas of Houghton Regis and Dunstable to a new M1 junction 11a. It is already attracting new businesses to the area. When open the 1.8 mile road will also reduce congestion on local roads and improve air quality.

Delivering the schemes will unlock up to 40 hectares of land for businesses and provide the infrastructure for 7,000 homes to be built to the north of Houghton Regis. They will also provide better access to the M1 and reduce congestion in Dunstable.

UTC

Related Content

  • December 22, 2015
    Jeddah juggles transport needs of residents, pilgrims and tourists
    Mass pilgrimages, new tourists and a growing population lead Jeddah to seek some smart transport solutions as David Crawford finds out. Rationalising traffic movement and public transport in a major Middle Eastern business and tourist centre that is also a gateway for millions of religious pilgrims every year is the challenge for the 20-year Jeddah Strategic Plan and the Jeddah Public Transport Programme (JPTP) it spawned. The latter is costed at US$8bn.
  • January 27, 2012
    Integrate systems to reduce roadside infrastructure
    David Crawford reviews promising current developments. Instrumentation of the road infrastructure has grown to become one of the most dynamic sectors of the ITS industry. Drivers for its deployment include global concerns over the commercial and environmental pressures of traffic congestion, the importance of keeping drivers informed throughout their journeys, and the need to reduce accident rates and promote the safety of all road users, for example by enforcing traffic safety rules.
  • April 11, 2014
    M25 becomes UK’s smartest motorway
    Final preparations are taking place for the M25 to become England’s first smart motorway, improving journeys and boosting the economy. Two sections of the motorway opening this month and next are between junctions 23 and 25 in Hertfordshire and between junctions 5 and 6/7 on the Kent/Surrey border. For the first time on a motorway scheme in England the hard shoulder will be used as a permanent traffic lane, with enhanced technology to manage traffic flow to improve the reliability of journey times.
  • January 27, 2016
    Jacobs to provide technical advice for Welsh Government’s A465 improvements
    Jacobs Engineering Group is to provide the Welsh Government with technical advisory services for the upgrade of sections 5 and 6 of the A465 between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun. The A465 is a key transport link in Wales and forms part of the trans-European transport network. It is an important strategic route for the urban area of South Wales, providing routes between key settlements. It connects South and West Wales to the Midlands and beyond, to ports serving Ireland, and to other European destinations.