Highways Agency advertises £430m M1 widening package

The Highways Agency is inviting contractors to pitch for a £430m early contractor involvement scheme to widen the M1 between junctions 10 and 13 and to construct the A5-M1 Link, also known as the Dunstable Northern Bypass.

The M1 part of the contract comprises widening 25km of the M1 to dual four-lane motorway, along with junction improvements at Junctions 11, 12 and 13. There are 55 structures, 20 overbridges, 17 underbridges and 18 culverts along this stretch of motorway.

The A5-M1 link road will connect the M1 from the new Junction 11a to the A5 north of Dunstable at its junction with the A505. The 4.5km link will run through predominantly green field sites. Both schemes are located in Bedfordshire.

Design work is expected to start in mid-2005 with construction on both schemes scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2008. The work is expected to last for 36 months.