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.

Related Content

  • Transport for the North gears up
    January 13, 2015
    UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin attended the inaugural Transport for the North meeting as northern leaders met to discuss their plans to transform the region into a northern powerhouse. The meeting in Leeds heralded the first step of drawing up with the government a comprehensive transport strategy to transform the north’s economic infrastructure and help maximise the region’s growth potential, rebalancing the national economy. As well as examining east-west rail links to better connect the
  • Norway gets ready for more EVs
    September 14, 2021
    Norway’s road transport network is changing radically. The country is gearing up for greater electric vehicle use as well as gradually phasing out its traditional ferry links
  • Funds for junction improvement to boost safety and tackle congestion
    October 6, 2014
    A US$4.6 million Highways Agency project to boost safety and reduce congestion around key junctions along the A585 south of Fleetwood in Lancashire, UK, is underway. The road is to be widened and improved at two junctions, boosting capacity between Bourne Way and West Drive and providing an additional lane in each direction. Signals at the junction with Bourne Way will improve the safety and ease for drivers joining and leaving the A585. Work on the improvements started on Monday 15 September and is due
  • New Zealand to invest in state highways, major road projects
    May 25, 2017
    The New Zealand Government is to invest US$6.4 billion (NZ$9.17 billion) into New Zealand’s state highway network over the next four years through the New Zealand Transport Agency, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says. The government’s 2017 budget includes funding for the reinstatement of damaged sections of State Highway 1 between Picton and Christchurch following the Kaikōura earthquakes. It also includes many other key projects such as completion of Auckland’s ring road, Northern and Southern Corridor S