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• A421 Bedford to M1 Junction 13

Update October 2010

Since July a good deal of our focus has been on the construction of the mainline which will continue until the opening. We will finalise details of the opening ceremony in the near future.

GENERAL SITE ACTIVITIES

Utility Diversions

All diversions have now been completed with the exception of BT at Manor Farm Bridge which is scheduled for late October / early November.

Road Construction

Mainline activity has taken priority. Good progress has been made at Marsh Leys Junction and the two new roundabouts at M1 Junction 13 are virtually complete. Wearing Course has now been laid on the majority of the Eastbound mainline from M1 to Fields Road. White lining will begin w/c 18th October. Maintenance and access laybys have been substantially completed along the length of the scheme. During this phase we have been able to reduce night time closures and operate under temporary traffic lights. Many embankments and bunds have already been seeded and tree planting will start in early November.

West of M1

The A421 Milton Keynes Link and the slip roads at Junction 13 are substantially complete with surface course and white lines in place. We are now making the final connections from the mainline A421 to the M1 bridge/Milton Keynes roundabout. Current work also includes tidying verges, completing signs and lighting and installing traffic signals.

Brogborough and Salford Road bridges

The two bridges are both complete and the final surface is currently being installed over the top.

M1 to Salford Road

We are tying in the East and West bound slips at the new Salford Road/A421 interchange. Traffic management will stay in place here until the A421 is opened.

Manor Farm / North Common Farm / Landfill Site

The earthworks for Manor Farm Bridge will be completed by w/e 22nd October.

Landfill Site to Beancroft Road

We are in the process of building a special, maintenance only, access for the Landfill site which will be completed by the end of October.
We have been installing kerb and main drainage, and have laid the final running surface.

Marston Junction

The slip roads are awaiting their final running surface.

Lower Shelton Road

Final finishing works have begun in this area and will continue for the next three weeks. This will also include some night time road closures. Residents will be informed by letter drop.

Hoo Lane

The Eastbound carriageway now has its final running surface which will be white lined during October.Fields Road to A6

Fields Road

The laying of the wearing course on the westbound carriageway from Fields Road to Brogborough will commence during w/c 18th October. The concrete central reservation has been completed from Fields Road to Brogborough.

Manor Road

The bridleways and culverts are due to be completed w/c 18th October and all major earthworks by 23rd October.

Marsh Leys Junction

Bridges are complete and the asphalt road base has been laid on the eastbound carriageway. Earthworks between Marsh Leys and Marsh Leys Railway Bridge are substantially complete and laying of road-base asphalt has commenced.

Widening of the western arm of the existing A421 at the longabout will begin w/c 18th October.

Marsh Leys to A6 Junction

The Eastbound carriageway of the three lane section is nearing completion and the central reservation will be constructed soon.

Traffic management will change from w/c 25th October. Eastbound traffic will be directed round the longabout and up the new eastbound slip road, whilst work continues in Lanes 2 and 3. Westbound traffic will continue to run on what will become the off slip road whilst finishing works are carried out on the Marsh Leys longabout.

What happens after the opening?

Once the new A421 has been opened there will be some ongoing works which include minor works to the existing A421, removal of the average speed cameras and finally removal of the compound in Hoo Lane. We will however still be here at Hoo Lane until early 2011 should you require more information.

Considerate Constructors Scheme

In May our contractor Balfour Beatty, achieved a Gold Award at the 2010 Considerate Constructor Award Ceremony. This major roadworks project required the construction of 8 miles of dual carriageway, together with 17 major structures and 20 minor structures. The A421 improvements Scheme was praised for the work that was carried out to protect the ecology of the area.  The rural location of the site demanded great environmental care and this was managed to an exceptionally high level by the site team. 'Environmental Observation' cards were issued to operatives and encouraged their active participation in improving the site's performance. A total of almost 400 great crested newts were 'rehoused' and 13.6 miles of newt fencing was erected to protect them. Around 3,500 common amphibians were also moved to a safer habitat and over 500,000 discarded tyres were used to build embankments.

Staff welfare was an equally high priority, with a high proportion of qualified first aiders and a dedicated first aid suite with a full time Occupational Health Specialist. Extensive schools site visits, strong safety standards and high levels of cleanliness and presentation throughout ensured that this site was one of the UK's very top performers.

Scheme History

On 22 March 2007 the Secretary of State published the proposals in the form of Draft Orders. A three day public exhibition of the proposals was held at the Sports Pavilion in Marston Moretaine from 29 - 31 March 2007.  The public and other interested organisations were allowed a period of 14 weeks until 28 June 2007 to express their support, to comment on, or to object to the proposals.  A total of 98 objections to and 20 letters in support of the proposals  were received.

Following the end of the Objection period, on 5 July 2007 the Highways Agency announced its intention to hold a Public Inquiry. On 19 July 2007 the Highways Agency gave notice that a local Pre-Inquiry Meeting would be held. The Pre-Inquiry meeting took place on 25 October 2007 at Saturn Facilities, Bedford Heights, Manton Lane, Bedford.  The meeting was presided over by Mr J Moffett, BSc, FICE, MIHT an Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. 

All persons with an interest in the scheme were invited to attend. An independent Programme Officer from Persona Associates was appointed for the Pre-Inquiry Meeting and Public Inquiry.  The Programme Officer's role is to provide the interface between the Inspector and those who participate in the Inquiry, to arrange the Inquiry programme and to maintain the Inquiry library.

The Public Inquiry held by Mr J Moffett commenced at 10.00 am on 4 December 2007 at Saturn Facilities, Bedford. It provided the opportunity for all points of view to be heard and considered before the Inspector reports his findings to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

On the 20 December 2007 the Inquiry was adjourned to re-open on 29 January 2008 to allow the Highways Agency to carry out additional detailed traffic modelling on the design of the proposed junctions at the M1/A421 interchange. The Inquiry was adjourned for a second time on 1 February 2008 to re-open on 13 February to allow the Highways Agency to carry out further traffic modelling. The Inquiry closed on 13 February 2008.

Following the Inquiry, the Inspector produced a report making a recommendation to the Secretaries of State based on the evidence presented by the Highways Agency, the objectors and supporters.

Secretaries of States' Decision

A decision by the Secretaries of State for Transport and Communities and Local Government was made jointly to proceed with this scheme. The Secretaries of State accepted the Inspector's recommendations in his report of the local public inquiry.

A copy of the decision letter and Inspectors report are available on the Publications page of this website.

Made Orders were published on 31 July 2008, copies of the public notices are available on the Publications page of this website.

Start of Works

Roads Minister Andrew Adonis announced the start of works on 28 October 2008 to prepare for the building of the new A421 dual carriageway.  The preliminary works included ground clearance, fence installation and archaeological work.  Major construction began in early in 2009. The road is due for completion in late 2010.

Start of Works Exhibition

A public exhibition to show construction plans and scheme proposals was held at Marston Moretaine Sports Pavilion, Bedford Road, Marston Moretaine, Beds, on 7 and 8 November 2008. A construction information leaflet is available on the Publications page.