Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

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

In February 2007 the Preferred Route for the A5 M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass) was announced.

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. 

Changes since the Public Consultation

On the 15 January 2009, the Secretary of State announced that the M1 Junctions 10 to 13 scheme would now be taken forward as a Hard Shoulder Running scheme.
 
The Highways Agency has assessed the implications for the A5-M1 link of changing the M1 Junctions 10 to 13 scheme from a widening to Hard Shoulder Running scheme.
 
There will be some implications for the cost and design of the proposed new junction 11A which forms part of the A5-M1 Link.  However, the Highways Agency will continue to prepare the new junction so that, if funding is available, it can be delivered at the same time as the works on the M1. 

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

More information  

Copies of each draft Scheme and Order and their associate plans, along with the Environmental Statement, can be inspected free of charge at all reasonable hours from 9^th December 2009 until 2^nd March 2010 at:

Highways Agency, Woodlands, Manton Lane, Manton Lane Industrial Estate, Bedford, MK41 7LW

Highways Agency, 5 Broadway, Broad street, Birmingham, B15 1BL

Government Office for the East Of England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge

Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP

Luton Borough Council, Town Hall, George Street, Luton, LU1 2BQ

Central Bedfordshire Council, The Council Offices, High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LF

Houghton Regis Town Council, Council Offices, Peel Street, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, LU5 5EY,

Dunstable Town Council, Grove House, 76 High Street, Dunstable, LU6 1NF

Public Exhibitions will be held as follows;

Thursday 17th December 2009 -  2pm to 8pm

Adult Learning Office, Kingsland Skills & Enterprise Centre,Parkside Drive

Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, LU5 5PY

Thursday 7th January 2010 -  2pm to 8pm

Dunstable Leisure Centre, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD

Saturday 9th January 2010 - 10am to 4pm

Wilkinson Church Hall, Station Rd, Toddington, Bedfordshire, LU5 6BN

To Comment on the Proposals

For a period of 12 weeks until 2^nd March 2010 anyone wishing to support, comment on or object to the proposals can write or email the Highways Agency, quoting reference HA/065/009/000387.

Depending on the nature and number of objections received, a Public Inquiry may be held before an Independent Inspector.  Any comments received will be made available to the Inspector, who may decide to make them public.  Should any alternative routes be proposed by objectors, they would be publicised in the local press so that anyone affected would have the opportunity to support, comment on or object to them.

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

What happens next?

Depending on the nature and number of objections received, a Public Inquiry may be held before an Independent Inspector. Any comments received will be made available to the Inspector, who may decide to make them public. If an Inquiry is to be held all those who have responded will be notified of the date and venue at least 6 weeks beforehand