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Beechtrees and Breakspears Interchanges

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Beechtrees & Breakspears Interchanges
Location Map ( geo)
M1 at J7 - Geograph - 4734462.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (7)
Location
between Hemel Hempstead and St Albans
County
Hertfordshire
Highway Authority
National Highways • Hertfordshire
Junction Type
Trumpet and Fork linked by C/D roads
Roads Joined
M1, A414
1958, before the motorways were built
The original design of the junctions
The current design of the interchange, with collector-distributor roads and reversal of the trumpet loop

Junctions 7 (Beechtrees) and 8 (Breakspears) on the M1, recently merged into one junction during recent widening works, which added collector-distributor roads between the junctions. Originally the junctions were with the M10 and A4147, but now both junctions are with the A414.


History

The interchanges were built originally in 1959 as part of the original section of the M1. It was designed by Hertfordshire County Council using bridge designs licensed from Sir Owen Williams and Partners for the section of the original M1 designed by them from junctions 10 to 18.

Junction 7 was the fork interchange where the three lane southbound M1 divided into two 2-lane motorways, one being the M10 to Park Street roundabout, and the other being the M1 to the original southern terminus at Aldenham. There is no access from the northbound M10 (now A414)to the southbound M1 and vice versa.

Junction 8 was a trumpet interchange providing all movements between the M1 and the A4147 (now A414). A police/maintenance compound was located on the link road between the motorway and the Breakspear roundabout, hence the link road was not under motorway restrictions.

In the early 1980s M1 junctions 5 to 8 was widened in both directions to dual 3 lanes (5 to the site of Junction 6A (M25) and dual 4 lanes from junction 6A to 8. This necessitated the realignment of the M1 through junction 7, and the construction of a new bridge to carry the northbound M10 over the M1. The original bridge over the M1 was demolished, and the abutments buried within the embankment. Differential settlement over the abutments meant that even after completion of this scheme, it was possible to detect the position of the original bridge when driving over it.

As part of the M1 junction 6A to 10 scheme, substantially completed in 2008, the two junctions were combined into a single complex and the M10 and A414 were linked together by the construction of Collector-distributor roads. At the same time, the loop of the junction 8 trumpet was reversed to the north side of the link road and enlarged to improve the geometry of the junction.

On 1st May 2009 the M10 was de-specialised (lost its motorway status) and was re-classified as A414.


Routes

Route To Notes

M1

The NORTH, Luton & Airport

M1

London

A414

Hemel Hempstead

A414

St Albans, Hatfield

M10

St Albans, Hatfield (A414)

A4147

Hemel Hempstead

Strip Maps




Beechtrees and Breakspears Interchanges
Related Pictures
View gallery (7)
Bridge 20 - Beechtree flyover junction carrying northbound carriageway from Park Street over Watford leg.jpgBridge 18 - Breakspears Junction Overbridge from east carriageway. Heap of 'cat's eyes' in foreground.jpgM10. - Coppermine - 6039.jpgM10 to M1 to A414! - Coppermine - 6035.jpgM1 at J7 - Geograph - 4734462.jpg
Other nearby junctions
Hemel Hempstead
St Albans
Junctions on the M1
Marble Arch • Hampstead • 1 Staples Corner • 2 Fiveways • Scratchwood • 4 Brockley • Bushey • 5 Berrygrove • 6 Waterdale • 6A Chiswell • 7 Beechtrees • 8 Breakspears • 9 Friars Wash • 10 Pepperstock; (10A Kidney Wood) • 11 Junction 11 • 11A Chalton • 12 Toddington • 13 Ridgemont • 14 Broughton • 15 Collingtree • 15A Rothersthorpe • 16 Kislingbury • 17 Kilsby • 18 Crick • 19 Catthorpe • 20 Misterton • 21 Whetstone • 21A Kirby Muxloe • 22 Markfield • 23 Shepshed • Long Whatton • 23A Finger Farm • 24 Kegworth • 24A Warren Lane • 25 Sandiacre • M42 • 26 Nuthall • 27 Junction 27 • 28 Pinxton • 29 Heath • 29A Duckmanton • 30 Barlborough • 31 Aston • 32 Thurcroft • 33 Catcliffe • 34 Tinsley • 35 Thorpe Hesley • 35A Tankersley • 36 Birdwell • 37 Dodworth • 38 Haigh • 39 Durkar • 40 Flushdyke • Kirkhamgate • 41 Carrgate • 42 Lofthouse • 43 Belle Isle • 44 Rothwell Haigh • 45 East Leeds Link • 46 Austhorpe • 47 Parlington • 48 Hook Moor
Former Leeds city section: 43 Stourton • 44 Belle Isle • 45 Tunstall • 46 Hunslet • 47 Holbeck
Junctions on the A414
Two Waters • Plough Roundabout • Breakspears • Beechtrees • Park Street Roundabout • London Colney Roundabout • Colney Heath Longabout • University Roundabout (Roehyde) • Oldings Corner • London Road Roundabout • Foxholes Roundabout • Rush Green • Hailey • Amwell Roundabout • Eastwick Lodge • Burnt Mill Roundabout • Clock Tower Roundabout • Hastingwood • The Talbot • The Four Wantz • Widford Roundabout • Webbs Farm • Sandon • Oak Corner • Wyke Hill Roundabout

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