Disabled Driver Questionnaire
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Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Traffic news on your desktop
Helpful ways to access the latest traffic information when you need it.
Improvement Options
We have developed three possible motorway junction options and three Local Road Network (LRN) options. These can only be combined as follows:
- Blue Junction and Green LRN
- Brown Junction and Green LRN
- Red Junction and Green LRN
- Red Junction and Orange LRN
- Red Junction and Purple LRN
These alternatives have been assessed and are presented below under Current Options, followed by the Comparative Effects on traffic and economics, and the environment.
Rejected Options
One further option has been considered but rejected because of environmental impact, engineering issues and cost. Other options considered and rejected during the previous public consultation can be seen at the public exhibitions.
Current Options
Blue Junction and Green LRN
View a plan of the Blue Junction and Green LRN option
The Green LRN would include:
- Improvements to Shawell Road between Swinford and Shawell
- A new link between Shawell Road and Shawell Lane
- Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and Catthorpe village.
The Blue Junction would cater for movements in all directions. It would be constructed on four levels, with the top tier above the highest level of the existing junction.
New direct links would be provided for the:
- M6 to A14 in both directions
- M6 to M1 southbound
- M1 northbound to M6 including a new viaduct over the River Avon.
Traffic between the A14 and the M1 would use a new roundabout at the level of the existing double roundabout. The new roundabout would also provide for all other long distance traffic movements, but would remove direct access from the local roads. The M1 would remain on its current alignment.
The estimated cost is in the range of £205 million to £325 million.
Brown Junction and Green LRN
View a plan of the Brown Junction and Green LRN option
The Green LRN would include:
- Improvements to Shawell Road between Swinford and Shawell
- A new link between Shawell Road and Shawell Lane
- Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and Catthorpe village.
The Brown Junction would be constructed on four levels, with the top tier above the highest level of the existing junction. New direct links would be provided for the:
- M6 to A14 in both directions
- M6 to M1 southbound
- M1 northbound to M6
A new roundabout, at the level of the existing double roundabout, would provide for all other existing long distance traffic movements. Movements between the A14 and M1 south of the junction would not be provided.
The Brown Junction does not require a new viaduct over the River Avon. The Brown Junction would remove direct access to the motorway network from the local roads. The M1 would remain on its current alignment.
The estimated cost is in the range of £205 million to £325 million.
Red Junction and Green LRN
View a plan of the Red Junction and Green LRN option
The Green LRN would include:
- Improvements to Shawell Road between Swinford and Shawell
- A new link between Shawell Road and Shawell Lane
- Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and Catthorpe village.
The Red Junction would be constructed on three levels and would be similar in height to the existing junction. The Red Junction would not include a roundabout but would provide the following direct links:
• A14 to M1 northbound
• M1 southbound to A14
• M6 to A14 in both directions
• M6 to M1 southbound
• M1 northbound to M6
Movements between the A14 and M1 south of the junction would not be provided. Existing movements between the M6 and the M1 north of the junction would not be allowed.
The Red Junction would remove direct access to the motorway network from the local roads. The M1 would remain on its current alignment.
The estimated cost is in the range of £185 million to £285 million.
Red Junction and Orange LRN
View a plan of the Red Junction and Orange LRN option
This option includes the motorway and trunk road improvements described previously for the Red Junction.
The Orange LRN would include:
- A new link between Rugby Road and Shawell Lane north of the M6
- A local route under the junction between Swinford and Catthorpe
- Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and the M6
The estimated cost is in the range of £200 million to £310 million.
Red Junction and Purple LRN
View a plan of the Red Junction and Purple LRN option
This option includes the motorway and trunk road improvements described previously for the Red Junction.
The Purple LRN would include:
- A new link between Rugby Road and Shawell Lane north of the M6
- Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and Catthorpe village.
- The estimated cost is in the range of £195 million to £295 million.
Comparative Effects
We have compared the effects of each option. The general effects are summarised below. More specific detailed findings are presented in an Options Comparison Table in the Public Consultation leaflet - June 2008, which can be downloaded from the Publications page.
Traffic and Economics
- All options would remove existing congestion and queues at the junction, improving journey reliability
- All options would improve road safety
- All options would provide high value for money
- All options would remove local access to the junction
- Predicted traffic flows between A14 and M1 south of the junction and between M6 and M1 north of the junction are small
Environment
- The most noticeable changes in noise would be for dwellings affected by local traffic through the villages
- Low noise surfacing would be used for all new motorway and trunk road construction
- Changes in air quality due to each option would be small
- All options would result in a small decrease in carbon emissions compared with the existing junction
- The key issues for landscape would be the scale and height of the options and the retention of screen planting
- A key heritage issue is the impact of the options on Lilbourne Motte and Bailey, a Scheduled Monument
- All options would impact upon archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes
- All options would include the creation of new habitats, but would disturb protected species
- All options would include ponds to improve existing drainage, providing better pollution control
- Safer facilities would be provided for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, in consultation with user groups and other interested parties
- The key issue for agriculture is the loss of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land
- Noise, dust and other pollution would be controlled during construction Engineering
- All junctions are likely to be lit, but the Local Road Network would remain unlit
- The Blue and Brown Junctions would be on four levels and the Red Junction on three levels
