Highways Agency

• Route management strategy summary

Route management strategy summary

The A1 London to Peterborough Route Management Strategy is a plan for the management and development of the A1 between the Rowley Lane junction (at Borehamwood) and Junction 17 on the A1(M), the Fletton Parkway junction for Peterborough. This section of the A1 is some 106.5km (66.5miles) long and includes the following main sections:

• All-purpose section from Rowley Lane to the A1(M) Junction 1 (the M25 junction at South Mimms)
• The motorway section from J1 to J10 (Stotfold)
• The all-purpose section from Stotfold to Alconbury
• The motorway section from Alconbury to Peterborough (J14 to J17)

This Route Management Strategy was undertaken between November 2000 and February 2002 by the Highways Agency's consultants Halcrow Group Ltd. A public consultation on the draft Route Management Strategy and Plan was held between September and December 2001 and this current Strategy and 10-year Plan reflect comments received from the consultation.

The 10-year Plan includes reference to recently completed schemes (which have addressed some issues raised early in the RMS development) and to both current and (future) programmed schemes. These comprise the following schemes:

Recently Completed Schemes

• F1 Langford and Tempsford grade-separated junctions.
• F2 Carriageway resurfacing between Buckden and Alconbury.
• F3 New lighting between Buckden and the C340 Brampton slip roads.
• F4 Improved road markings and intelligent road studs between Brampton Hut and Alconbury.

Current Work

• C1 Study of short-term safety and congestion improvements at Junction 1.
• C2 Small Schemes Accessibility Study to assess the need for pedestrian, cyclist and equestrian facilities.
• C3 Preparation of Biodiversity Action Plans.
• C4 Preparation of Landscape Management Plans.
• C5 Reduced speed limit from Biggleswade to Beeston.

Programmed Schemes

• P1 Safety and congestion improvements at Junctions 1, 3, 4 & 9.
• P2 Package of Variable Information Signs, CCTV cameras and Incident Detection Systems between Junctions 1 & 10.
• P3 Carriageway resurfacing between Junctions 1 & 2, Langford and Biggleswade and the Eaton Socon Bypass.
• P4 Installation of traffic signals at the Brampton Hut Junction.

This Plan also contains the following Actions for implementation in order to manage and improve the route over the next ten years:

High Priority Actions

• H1 Improvements to local access, including possible service roads, junction closures or improvements and central reserve gap closures.
• H2 Assess speed reduction measures (short-term action pending implementation of other measures).
• H3 Grade-separation of the Biggleswade South roundabout (Includes closure of the Watkiss gap).
• H4 Provide hazard signing.
• H5 Provide signing to railway stations along route.
• H6 Package of climbing lanes between Junctions 6 & 8.
• H7 Carry out noise and street lighting impact studies at Biggleswade.
• H8 Review options for easing congestion between Junctions 3 & 4.

Medium Priority Actions

• M1 Review possible improvements at Junction 6, 7 & 8.
• M2 Review A428 Junction.
• M3 Realign carriageway at Tempsford Bridge (if other measures not implemented).
• M4 Review signs, markings and street lighting along route.
• M5 Review provision of lay-bys and implement recommendations.
• M6 Review drainage outfalls and implement improvements.
• M7 Grade-separation of the Biggleswade North roundabout.

Low Priority Actions

• L1 Review provision of lighting between Junctions 1 & 2 and Junctions 8 & 9.
• L2 Future review of modifications to the layout of Junctions 3 & 4.
• L3 Review Junction 9 including Baldock and Letchworth access.
• L4 Improve design of Little Paxton North Junction.
• L5 Review widening between Junctions 1 & 3.
• L6 Review High Occupancy Vehicle or Bus Lanes between Junctions 6 & 9.
• L7 Review road signs/markings at the Brampton Hut Junction.
• L8 Review of need for road lighting between Brampton Hut and Alconbury.
• L9 Traffic management improvements in the Hatfield Tunnel and between Junctions 6 & 9.
• L10 Monitor incidence and extent of water spray between Junctions 4 & 5 and 14 & 17.

Figure 1.0 shows the location of these schemes and proposed Actions along the route

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• Figure 1.0 (115KB Zipped PDF).

Table 1.0 shows the current anticipated timing for implementation of the proposed Actions

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• Table 1.0 (85KB PDF).

The Route Management Strategy and Plan will be subject to regular review to ensure that it remains compatible with funding allocations, changes in Local Plan requirements or compatible with recommendations from Multi-modal Studies which will subsequently report and whose recommendations will be likely to impact on the A1.

The Highways Agency Operations Division will undertake this future development and monitoring of the Plan.