Progress report

We're currently working up smart motorway design options that would meet the aims of this scheme.

The government announced that the preferred solution was for a smart motorway with all-lane running. This means the existing hard shoulder would be converted into a traffic lane providing 3 lanes for traffic. Regular refuge areas are available in place of the hard shoulder for emergency use.

As part of this we'll assess a wide range of information about the road to establish the nature of the current problems. This will help us develop an outline design concept and determine the smart motorway operating system best suited to this section of road. We aim to complete this first design stage by the end of May 2017.

We'll also liaise with local authorities and technical stakeholders so we can take into account their views.

What's next?

We'll begin the next phase of design in summer 2017.

Timeline

Why we need this scheme

The A1(M) is a route of strategic importance linking London and the South East with the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East. The route has been identified as a focal point for future growth around the large and medium-sized urban centres of Hatfield/Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Hitchin, Harlow, Bishop’s Stortford, St Neots, Cambridge, Alconbury/Huntingdon, Peterborough, Wakefield and Doncaster.

The A1(M) between junction 5 and 9 is in the top ten busiest sections of the entire London to Leeds (East) route with existing capacity problems. Every junction is close to existing or possible housing sites with the potential to accommodate up to 13,000 additional new homes by 2030.

Congestion occurs frequently at peak times at a number of links and junctions.

Aims

This scheme aims to:

• reduce congestion and delays
• improve journey time reliability
• maintain a high standard of safety
• support economic growth and job creation

Roadworks and Events for England

The latest incident information for England's motorway and trunk routes provided by Highways England