Highways Agency

• Introduction
• What are the Proposals?
• Preferred Solution - All Movement Junction - Option 1A
• Alternative Solution - All Movement Junction - Option 1B
• Your Views and What Happens Next?

M1 Jct 19

Public Exhibition

Introduction

In 1998 the Government published 'A New Deal for T Trunk runk Roads in England. England.' It identified M1 Junction 19 as a key junction on the highway network that was experiencing considerable traffic problems. In December 2000 Government Office for East Midlands[GOEM] and the Highways Agency [HA] appointed consultant Halcrow Group to carry out a study of the present problems and possible future issues affecting the junction. The objective was to develop practical solutions to tackle the problems.

The comprehensive 'Road Based Study' is nearing completion. The final report being produced will consider the present and future traffic demands at the junction, and recommend proposals for improving the junction. Before finalising the study and report, we want to seek the views of the public through a Public Consultation exercise. This brochure outlines the improvement proposals and summarises their key features and the likely effects, and contains a questionnaire.

The proposals will be shown in greater detail at Public Exhibitions held close to M1 Junction 19, at Rugby and then in the village of Swinford. The purpose of the exhibition is to inform the public, local residents and landowners who may be affected, and to provide them with an opportunity to express their views on the proposals.

Need for the Scheme

M1 Junction 19 forms an important interchange between three major trunk roads - M1, M6 and A14. More than 100,000 vehicles a day use this Junction. It currently suffers from serious congestion, delays and safety problems and these will get worse in the future.

In particular, there has been significant growth of East-West traffic since the opening in the early 1990s of the A14 which is a part of the Trans European Network (TEN). The current non-standard junction design is inappropriate for a route of this importance that carries over 40,000 vehicles per day with a high proportion of heavy goods vehicles. Furthermore, the junction itself, due to its cramped layout, is a barrier to local vehicular and pedestrian movement in the Catthorpe - Swinford area.

Congestion regularly causes long tailbacks on to M6, M1 & A14 and results in accidents. Future growth of road traffic will mean increased delays at the junction leading to traffic diverting to other routes, in turn causing problems at other locations.