Highways Agency

The Project

The A5 provides a route from Milton Keynes to the M1 at Junction 9, passing through the built-up area of Dunstable, which often experiences traffic congestion. Other local routes also carry significant amounts of traffic, including the A5120 passing through Houghton Regis and Toddington to Junction 12, and the A505 linking Dunstable and Luton town centres via Junction 11.

Our proposals are to construct a two-lane dual carriageway running east from the A5 north of Dunstable to join the M1 at a new Junction 11a south of Chalton. Land will be required to construct the road and allow for environmental features including water drainage, earth mounds or barriers to reduce noise and landscaping.

The scheme aims to reduce journey times and improve journey time reliability for long distance traffic currently travelling through Dunstable. This traffic will be able to use the M1 motorway as an alternative route. In addition, the new route will aim to reduce traffic travelling to Junctions11 and 12 from the local road network in Dunstable, Houghton Regis and surrounding areas.

The Public Consultation period was 9th September 2005 to 2nd December 2005. Responses to the Public Consultation were carefully analysed, and details can be found in the Public Consultation and Publications sections of this scheme website.

Preferred Route Announcement

We presented both a Southern Route option of approximately 4.3km (2.7 miles) and a Northern Route option of approximately 4.6km (2.9 miles).  Also presented were options for connections to the new road from the A5120 between Houghton Regis and Toddington, and from the B579 Luton Road and Sundon Road at the proposed M1 Junction 11a.

We aim to take forward the Northern Route with an at grade roundabout junction at the A5120, but with no connections to the local roads at Junction 11a.  The Link Road will connect to the A5 just to the north of the existing A5/A505 roundabout junction. There will be no repositioning of the A505, which is a variation from that shown at the Public Consultation.

The Secretary of State for Transport has considered the views of those who responded to the consultation and our recommendations.  He agreed with the proposals shown and announced this as the Preferred Route.

A leaflet detailing the Preferred Route Announcement is available in PDF format in the Publications section of this website.

Copies of the plan showing the Preferred Route will be given to the local authorities for planning and development control purposes.

We have prepared two reports:

• Report on the Public Consultation, which summarises the responses to the Public Consultation
• Scheme Assessment Report, which explains the factors that determined the choice of route

Copies of these reports have been sent to Luton Central Library, Dunstable Library, Houghton Regis Library, Toddington Library and Chalton Post Office. They have been asked to make them available to local people on request. Copies can also be purchased from the Highways Agency at the address in the Contact Information page at a cost of (the charges cover the cost of printing and materials only):

Report on the Public Consultation £18.00
Scheme Assessment Report £20.00

Contractor Appointment

We have appointed Costain Carillion Joint Venture and their design agent Scott Wilson to take forward the Preferred Route and to prepare the Draft Orders and Environmental Statement required under the Highways Act 1980.

Public Information Exhibition

We held a Public Information Exhibition in October 2007 to show the development of and changes to the scheme previously shown at Public Consultation in 2005. 

What Happens Next?

Following the recent announcement on the 4th of March by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport on the outcome of a feasibility study into extending the successful pilot of hard shoulder running on the M42 near Birmingham to other sections of motorway, the M1 J10-13 widening scheme will now be reviewed, to consider whether hard shoulder running could provide a better value solution.

Until a decision is reached regarding how the M1 Junction 10 – 13 scheme will be implemented, we cannot give a date for delivery of the A5 – M1 Dunstable Northern Link Road,  because any alterations to the M1 J10 -13 scheme could potentially affect the A5 – M1 Dunstable Northern Link Road proposals.  It is anticipated that a decision will be made in autumn 2008 and further information will then be provided.