Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Update

The Spending Review announcement on 26th October 2010 listed the A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass) scheme for potential construction in future spending review periods, subject to the outcome of statutory processes. For more information visit our Future Delivery Programme page.

The A5 M1 Link was originally due to go to Public Inquiry (PI) in June 2010. The PI was postponed due to the Comprehensive Spending Review, the result of which was that the scheme was put into the group of "future schemes" for potential construction in future Spending Review periods.

However, following this announcement and in response to representations from a local Developer offering a contribution to the scheme, the Secretary of State (SOS) subsequently agreed that, subject to an appropriate agreement being in place in regard to the contribution, the PI would be re-started as soon as possible with a potential start of works in 2014. This agreement is now in place. Therefore, the Highways Agency has announced the decision to proceed with the PI into the draft Orders for the A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass).

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 pages.

Further Information

The draft Scheme and Orders that have been published on 9th December 2009 and the relevant sections of the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 are listed below;

The A5 Trunk Road (A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass Connecting Roads) Scheme 20 - under Sections 16, 17 and 19 of the Highways Act 1980 - this order is required when a new section of motorway (Special Road) or motorway connecting road is being created.

The A5 Trunk Road (A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass) Side Roads Order 20 No.1 and No.2 - under Sections 12, 14 and 125 of the Highways Act 1980 - this Order would authorise the improvement, stopping up and construction of local highways in the vicinity of the junction improvement, together with the stopping up of private means of access to premises and provision of new private means of access to premises.

The A5 Trunk Road (A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass) Compulsory Purchase Order 20 No. 1 and No. 2 - published under Sections 239, 240, 246 and 250 of the Highways Act 1980 and Section 2 of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 - this Order would authorise the compulsory acquisition of any land needed to construct the new junction, all connecting roads and all new and altered side roads as provided for by all of the above mentioned Schemes and Orders

The A5 Trunk Road (A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass) (Detrunking) Order 20 - published under Section 10 of the Highways Act 1980 - this order will authorise that a length of the A5 will cease to be a trunk road from the date on which the Secretary of State notifies the Central Bedfordshire Council Bedfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire County Council that the new trunk road is open for traffic.

The A5 Trunk Road (A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass) Order 20 - published under Section 10 and 41 of the Highways Act 1980 - this order authorises the construction of a new section of trunk road or trunk road slip roads.

Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary

An Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary are published under Section 105A of the Highways Act - these describe the Scheme and the main effects it is likely to have on the environment together with the measures proposed to reduce or eliminate adverse effects of the scheme on the environment.

The Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement and The Explanatory Statement can be found on the Publications page. The full Environmental Statement can also be found on the Publications page

What happens next?

Re-start of Public Inquiry

A notice of intention to hold a Public Inquiry was published on 22nd September 2011 and a notice of intention to hold a Pre-Inquiry meeting was published on 13th October 2011.

A notice of intention to hold a Pre Inquiry Meeting was published on 7th April 2010 and a notice providing details of the Pre Inquiry meeting was published on 13th April 2010.

A notice providing details of the Public Inquiry was published on 28th April 2010.

A copy of the Public Notices can be found on the Publications page.

Any comments received will be made available to the Inspector, who may decide to make them public. All those who have responded will be notified of the date and venue at least 6 weeks beforehand.

Further information on the Public Inquiry can be found on the following link - http://www.persona.uk.com/A5dunstable/index.htm

The Outline Statement of Case was issued in May 2010 and can be found on the Publications page. However, the Highways Agency intends to revise the outline statement of case, the statement of case and proofs of evidence to incorpate the findings of an on-going review. These new documents will replace the exisiting ones in due course.

Further Information

To contact the Project team please see the Contact Information page.