Highways Agency

• Executive summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Route description
• 3 Policy objectives
• 4 Route functions
• 5 Land use and development control statement
• 6 Route problems and performance
• 7 Route outcomes
• 8 Strategy impact statement

Executive summary

Executive Summary

This report outlines an Initial Route Management Strategy, which is being developed for the M1 between Junctions 1 to 19 and the M10.

During February 2002 an initial consultation letter was sent out to 175 consultees. 52 replies were received, of which 5 had no comment. Of the remaining 47 replies, there have been 30 comments relating to transportation issues, 17 comments relating to environmental issues, 11 relating to noise, 3 relating to air quality and 1 relating to drainage. Details of comments received during the initial consultation are to be found in Section 6 of this report.

A Draft Initial RMS Report was submitted to the Highways Agency, the findings of which were presented at an internal workshop on 19 April 2002. At the time of the report the main issues were:

• Congestion during peak periods at a number of junctions;
• Slow moving HGVs on uphill gradients causing congestion between Junctions 9 and 10;
• High number of HGVs causing congestion between Junctions 11 and 8 southbound and to the north of Junction 12 during peak flow;
• Impact on the local road network particularly in the event of disruption on the M1;
• Noise impact between Junctions 10 and 17.
• Proximity of motorway service area to Junction 12 causing weaving difficulties

Three Multi Modal Studies (MMSs); London to South Midlands (LSMMMS), ORBIT and East Midlands (M1MMS) were being carried out in parallel with this RMS, the outcomes of which will affect the development of appropriate strategies. For this reason the HA introduced a break in the programme and delayed completion of the Initial RMS until after the MMSs had reported.

This revised report therefore takes account of the seminar and workshop that took place at the Vauxhall Recreation Centre in Luton and the Highways Agency in Bedford, respectively during June and July 2003. In addition to the recommendations of the MMSs and the Secretary of State's (SOS's) response to the MMSs which forms the base information for a Public Consultation. A programme of remaining work is detailed in Section 1.6.

A Route Problems and Performance Framework is to be found in Section 6.4, which summaries the main issues.

A list of Route Functions and Objectives has been developed and are detailed in Sections 2 and 4 of this report. Route Problems and Performance are detailed in Section 6 and following the Seminar and subsequent workshop, a set of outcomes was agreed. The Route Outcomes are detailed in Section 7. The main issues that have been identified in light of the Government's transport criteria are:

Safety

• Congestion prior to junctions.
• Lack of HGV parking at service areas results in queues on the slip roads.

Environment

• Noise pollution at some sections of the M1.

Economy

• Junction 5 - Southbound off slip backs up onto M1 in peak periods. This is associated with the traffic signals at the junction with the A4008 and A41.

Accessibility

• Current scheme to provide new parapets to bridges needs linking with study of usages of bridges by NMUs.
• Improved signage generally - consistency between Area 5 and Area 8.
• Crossing points for NMU's should be provided across the M1 at Junction 11.

Integration

• A significant proportion of traffic on this stretch of the M1 appears to be made up of local trips.

Route Outcomes (RO) set out what the Highways Agency seeks to achieve for the route over the 10 year period of the RMS. They should contribute to Policy Objectives, improve the performance of the route consistent with its Future Functions and seek to address Route Problems and Issues. Some of the Outcomes may point towards individual projects and investigations which will subsequently be developed by the HA as a Route Management Plan.

A Public Consultation will be undertaken based on the findings of this Initial Route Management Strategy.