What is happening?

We are proposing to improve Junction 19 of the M1 motorway and related sections of the M6 motorway and A14 trunk road within the counties of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

A public consultation was held between June and September 2009 seeking the views of the public on three junction options and three local road network options. The public response showed that their main concerns were road safety and congestion.  There was overwhelming support for an improvement scheme, with the Red Junction the most favoured. Of the three local road network options, the Orange Local Road Network was the most favoured.

A further eleven junction layouts were suggested by the public. These have been considered and assessed, and all were found to be less beneficial than the new preferred route.

The Minister of State for Transport has considered the views of those who responded to the consultation and our recommendations. The Minister of State has decided that the improvement scheme is to be implemented and that the preferred route is the Red Junction and Orange Local Road Network. This decision supercedes the preferred route announcement of 2003.

Please note: Work to replace Catthorpe Viaduct was completed in March 2012. This is a separate maintenance project and was not the commencement of the M1 Junction 19 Improvement scheme.

When and where is this happening?

The junction between the M1, M6 and A14 is important for north/south and east/west traffic movements across the UK. The M6/A14 route is also part of the Ireland UK Benelux Trans-European network.

The draft Orders and Environmental Statement were published on Thursday 25th February 2010. The objection period for the draft Orders closed on the 21st May 2010. The statutory process was postponed on the 17th June 2010 following the Government’s Spending Review. The letter announcing the decision to postpone the Public Inquiry can be found on the publications page.

In the November 2011 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that the M1 Junction 19 Improvement scheme will be prepared for start of construction before 2015.

Following this, the 2012 Budget announcement confirmed the start of work for this scheme to be in financial year 2013/14. We expect this this scheme to commence construction between January and March 2014, subject to the outcome of statutory processes.

For more information please visit our Current Delivery Programme page.

The Statutory process has re-commenced with the publishing of a  Notice of Intention to  Hold a Public Inquiry and Pre Inquiries Meeting  on 25th October 2012. A copy of the notice is available from the Publications page.

The Pre Inquiry meeting was held on 15th January 2013. A copy of the Public Notice is  available on  the Publications Page.

The Public Inquiry commenced on the 5th March 2013 and concluded on the 15th March 2013. The Public Notice was published on 10th January 2013. A copy of the Public Notice is  available on  the Publications Page.

The Public Inquiry was held at:

Holiday Inn Rugby Northampton M1 Junction 18
Crick
Northamptonshire
NN6 7XR

The Highways Agency Statement of Case can be viewed on  the Public Inquiry website at: http://​www​.persona​.uk​.com/​M​1​J​1​9​/​i​n​d​e​x​.​htm

The  Environmental Statement, original Non-Technical Summary and the changes to the Non-Technical Summary document  can be viewed at  http://​m1j19improvements​.skanska​.co​.uk/

An Alternative Route Notice was  published on 24 January 2013. See Publication Page.

A further Alternative Route Notice was published on 7 February 2013. See Publications Page.

PLEASE NOTE - On Monday 11 March 2013 the Public Inquiry was held at:

Ibis Rugby East Hotel,
Dirft East
Parklands Crick
Northamptonshire
NN6 7EX

The Public Inquiry was held at the Holiday Inn Rugby Northampton, Crick on Tuesday 12 March.

The Inquiry Programme and documents can be viewed at The Public Inquiry website http://​www​.persona​.uk​.com/​M​1​J​1​9​/​i​n​d​e​x​.​htm

Why is this happening and what will it cost?

Over 157,000 vehicles pass through this junction daily and this is expected to increase to over 225,000 by 2029. The existing junction 19 on the M1 gives rise to the following problems:

• congestion, delays and long queues
• accidents
• conflicts between local and longer distance traffic
• barriers to pedestrian, cyclist and horse rider movements

Without improvement, these problems will get worse.

The estimated cost of this scheme is in the range of £185m to £273m.

How will the scheme be carried out?

This project has not received approval to commence to construction; we will provide more information about how the scheme will be carried out as it becomes available.

What are the benefits?

The objectives of the junction improvement are to:

• relieve congestion at the junction and improve journey reliability
• improve road safety
• separate local traffic from long distance traffic
• improve conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders
•  keep adverse environmental impacts to a minimum
• provide good value for money

How do I find out more information ?

More information will be posted on this project page as it becomes available. You can subscribe to be alerted when updates are made.

If you have any queries about this project you should contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_​info@​highways.​gsi.​gov.​uk or calling 0300 123 5000.

Business Case

Leaflet

Legal

Plan

Report

The Red Junction and Orange Local Road Network (LRN) gained the most support from the public consultation. It has the lowest environmental impact, requires the least land, provides the greatest traffic benefits and represents good value for money. The estimated cost is in the range of £185m to £273m.

View a plan of the Red Junction and Orange LRN option

Red Junction

The Red Junction would be constructed on three levels and would be similar in height to the existing junction. It would not include a roundabout but would provide the following direct links:

• A14 to M1 northbound
• M1 southbound to A14
• M6 to A14 in both directions
• M6 to M1 southbound
• M1 northbound to M6

Movements between the A14 and M1 south of the junction would not be provided. Existing movements between the M6 and the M1 north of the junction would not be allowed.

The Red Junction would remove direct access to the motorway network from the local roads, improving safety and reducing congestion by separating local and long distance traffic. The M1 would remain on its current alignment.

Orange LRN

The Orange LRN would improve travel between the villages by including:

• A new link between Rugby Road and Shawell Lane north of the M6
• A local route under the junction between Swinford and Catthorpe, and
• Improvements to Shawell Lane between Catthorpe Road and the M6

A minor change has been made to the Orange Local Road Network that was presented during the summer 2008 public consultation. The local road between Catthorpe and Swinford has been realigned up to 130 metres to the west as it passes underneath the M6. This change will have no impact on the scheme in terms of landtake or proximity to properties but does mean that the project can be delivered quicker. The design will be developed further as the scheme progresses.

Rejected Options

The four other improvement options presented at the public consultation have been subsequently rejected.

Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary

An Environmental Statement and Non-Technical Summary have been published under Section 105A of the Highways Act 1980. These describe the main effects the project is likely to have on the environment together with the measures proposed to reduce or eliminate adverse effect on the environment.

The Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement and the Explanatory Statement can be found along with a link to the Environmental Statement on the Publications Page.

Draft Orders

The following draft Scheme and Orders were published on Thursday 25th February 2010. The objection period for the draft Orders closed on the 21st May 2010.

• The M1 Motorway (Junction 19 Improvement) (M1 Motorway Connecting Roads) Scheme 20
• The M1 Motorway (Junction 19 Improvement) (M6 Motorway and Connecting Roads) Scheme 20
• The M1 Motorway (Junction 19 Improvement) (A14 Trunk Road) Order 20
• The M1 Motorway (Junction 19 Improvement) Side Roads Order 20
• The M1 Motorway (Junction 19 Improvement) Compulsory Purchase Order (MP No. ) 20
• Copies of each draft Scheme and Order and their associated plans, along with the Environmental Statement, were on deposit between Thursday 25th February 2010 and Friday 21st May 2010 at the following locations:
• Highways Agency, 5 Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL
• Harborough District Council, Council Offices, Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AG
• Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4FP
• Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA
• Lutterworth Library, George Street, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4ED
• Northamptonshire Central Library, Abington Street, Northampton, NN1 2BA
• Rugby Library and Information Centre, Little Elborow Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 3BZ 

A public consultation was held between June and September 2009 seeking the views of the public on three junction options and three local road network options.

The report on the Public Consultation presents the results of the public consultation and concludes that the Red Junction and Orange Local Road Network is the preferred option of those that participated.

The way in which the public consultation was carried out is summarised, together with feedback from attendees on the quality of the exhibitions held.

The methodology used in the analysis of the response is detailed, which includes assessment of the response by location and the method of deriving an order of preference for options from the rankings provided by respondents.

Details of eleven alternative improvement proposals suggested by participants in the consultation are included, as is the method by which they were assessed and the findings of the assessment. All of the alternatives were rejected following this assessment.

You can view the main report on the Public Consultation, excluding the appendices, under Publications.

Copies can also be purchased from the Highways Agency by contacting the M1 Junction 19 Improvement Team, Highways Agency The Cube 199 Wharfside Street Birmingham B1 1RN (the charges cover the cost of printing and materials only):

• Report on Public Consultation - £57.00
• Scheme Assessment Report - £37.00
• CD containing both reports - £6.00