A1(M)
A1(M) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | South Mimms (TQ223998) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Washington (NZ279569) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 122 miles (196.3 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Number(s): | A1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old route now: | A167(M), A194(M) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Durham • Hertfordshire • Huntingdonshire • Middlesex • Northamptonshire • Nottinghamshire • Yorkshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The A1(M) is formed by sections of the A1 route that have been upgraded to motorway. The sections are not continuous, so the A1(M) number is allocated to several sections of motorway. It is unlikely that the separate parts will all be joined up in the foreseeable future, though all the sections in Yorkshire are being joined, to form a motorway connecting Gateshead with London, via the M1.
Two sections of A1(M), bypassing Doncaster and Stevenage, were among the earliest motorways in the country, while the newest section is from Leeming to Barton via Scotch Corner, completed in 2018.
The A1(M) has continuous junction numbers, with space left for the unconstructed sections.
Route
South Mimms - Baldock (junction 1-10)
see main article A1(M)/South Mimms - Baldock
Alconbury-Peterborough (junctions 14-17)
see main article A1(M)/Alconbury - Peterborough
Doncaster Bypass (junctions 34-38)
see main article A1(M)/Blyth - Adwick le Street
Darrington - Birtley (junctions 40-65)
see main article A1(M)/Darrington - Birtley
Dishforth to Leeming is very rural section of the motorway that features only two interchanges, the first (J50) with the A61 at Baldersby and the second (J51) for the A684 bypass of Leeming. The entire scheme was completed in June 2012, and the A684 Leeming and Bedale bypass was completed in 2016.
History
Originally built as a series of bypasses for busy towns and areas on the A1 route. In the early 90s it was planned to upgrade the whole route south of Darlington to motorway within the then government's Roads For Prosperity programme, though this has since been curtailed to exclude the section south of Doncaster (and the section between the M62 and Doncaster is at best a long term aim). The Alconbury - Peterborough and Boroughbridge sections were built during this time. Since then, the route north of the M62 has been upgraded in stages to A1(M), but no further work has progressed south of Doncaster in terms of motorway building. There has been a separate programme to remove the roundabouts on the A1 between Peterborough and Blyth, which suggests it is unlikely that this section of A1 will be upgraded further in the foreseeable future.
Scotland has had plans to upgrade the A1 east of Edinburgh to motorway, but the city's urban motorway plans collapsed and the bits further out were built as Special Road, but not motorway. Newcastle upon Tyne had the A1(M) running through the centre of the city (now A167(M)), but then moved the A1 to the Tyne Tunnel when that was built (making the A194(M) part of the A1(M), then finally in the 1990s the A1 was moved to the Western bypass (reverting the A194(M) back to its original number).
Expressway Proposals
In December 2017, it was proposed that several of the remaining sections of the A1 in England could be upgraded to an expressway as part of the proposals to introduce a new type of road network. The proposal includes different expressway types with an aspiration that the highest quality expressways will be given motorway designation and an Ax(M) number. (Source: Highways England Strategic Road Network Initial Report)
Videos
Hatfield Tunnel - Concept to Reality
Watch the Hatfield Tunnel being built in this fascinating documentary produced jointly by the University of Herts, formerly Hatfield Polytechnic and Hertfordshire County Council.
Links
Roads.org.uk
Pathetic Motorways
National Highways