M11
M11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: | Woodford, Essex (TQ412902) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Girton, Cambridgeshire (TL411621) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 51 miles (82.1 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | M25, A10, A11, A14, A120, A406, A414, A1303, (A428), A505 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For the original Lea Valley Proposal, see A11(M).
For the similarly numbered motorway in Ireland, see M11 (Republic of Ireland).
The M11 is a motorway serving three distinct needs. It acts as a principle commuter artery into London, from towns such as Harlow. It provides a strategic link for long distance traffic from the Channel Ports to the Midlands. Finally, it provides bypasses for towns villages along the old A11 route as far as Stump Cross and as well as access to Stansted Airport.
Route
Despite starting a long way inside the Greater London boundary, is a predominantly rural motorway, typically with very long distances between interchanges. From its start at at Junction 4, the Woodford Interchange with the North Circular Road, it initially follows the twists and turns of the Roding Valley, out into rural Essex, bypassing the old A11 route through Epping Forest on a more easterly alignment. The D3M road passes the unbuilt services at Chigwell en route. Speaking of services, until Birchanger Green services were built, signs stating that there were No Services on Motorway were present at entrance points on each junction.
After Loughton, the motorway heads uphill out of the Thames Valley and towards a large interchange with the M25 at Theydon Bois, affording the motorist the first chance to exit the motorway (as Loughton Interchange has north facing sliproads only). On a clear day, the view heading southbound from the hill affords the motorist a spectacular view of London.
The road then travels through the large fields of the southern Essex countryside, with purposeful intent travelling north, past Harlow and on to Bishop's Stortford, where traffic for Stansted Airport and the A120 expressway to Braintree departs to the east.
After Birchanger Green Roundabout, the road character changes completely - a lane has dropped so the road is now D2M instead. The landscape here has also changed, with the motorway cutting through fairly sizeable chalky hills. Mature trees line the route. Occasionally, large embankments afford views of the countryside beyond. This section of motorway is also the longest between junctions on the British network; travellers heading for Stansted from Birchanger services beware, it would be perfectly feasible to miss a flight if they were to take the wrong exit.
The next interchange is Stump Cross. Here, the A11 resumes (having been downgraded south of here with the opening of the M11) and heads on its original course towards Norwich as a D2. This creates the somewhat confusing situation (for those unfamiliar with road numbering) of Cambridge being bypassed to the west by the M11, and to the east by the high quality dual carriageway A11.
The traffic between Stump Cross and Duxford Interchange is typically lighter, but north of here there are several closely spaced junctions which add to main line longer distance traffic with other motorists seeking to bypass Cambridge as well as commuter traffic junction hopping because of measures put in place within the city to encourage and prioritise non motorised use. The motorway here is still D2M until it eventually has the A14 merge into it at Girton Interchange, at which point the motorway comes to an end, but the main line continues as an expressway in the direction of the north and midlands.
Junctions
Girton Interchange
Girton Interchange is a major junction between the M11, A14, A428 and A1307, north-west of Cambridge. It was rebuilt as part of the Ellington-Fen Ditton A14 upgrade.
Stump Cross Interchange
Stump Cross forms Junction 9A of the M11, at the end of a short motorway spur. Originally the spur ended at a roundabout, but in the 1990s as part of the A11 dualling works between here and the nearby Newmarket Bypass (now part of the A14, then A45) introduced the current dumbbell roundabout arrangement. The B1383 to the south forms the original A11, which was renumbered following completion of the motorway.
Services
Birchanger Green services
Birchanger Green is a single-site MSA located at junction 8, and is operated by Welcome Break.
Chigwell services
Chigwell is an uncompleted MSA located between junctions 4 and 5, and the site is currently used for a Works Unit and Police centre.
Traffic Data
From http://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/
Link | 2002 AADF | 2006 AADF | 2010 AADF | 2014 AADF |
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A406 West | 30132 | 31124 | 32973 | 33797 |
A406 South | 40339 | 42392 | 40763 | 42581 |
J4-5 | 76353 | 72885 | 84731 | 94484 |
J5-6 | 61719 | 64732 | 70143 | 78406 |
J6-7 | 83999 | 93575 | 94772 | 103964 |
J7-8 | 67398 | 89602 | 82344 | 86872 |
J8-9 | 58230 | 65891 | 62653 | 73867 |
J9-A11 | 22006 | 23404 | 25164 | 23779 |
J9-10 | 33433 | 35744 | 36600 | 39934 |
J10-11 | 45737 | 48271 | 46541 | 49864 |
J11-12 | 55975 | 72892 | 67364 | 63807 |
J12-13 | 66684 | 72907 | 79305 | 80202 |
J13-14 | 53152 | 56168 | 53009 | 60301 |
J14-A14 | 44995 | 40291 | 42229 | 43790 |
Opening Dates
Links
legislation.gov.uk
Roads.org.uk
- Motorway Database: M11
- Ringways: Northern Radials: M11
- Bad Junctions: M11-A14-A428 (Girton)
- Futures: M11 J8 Stansted Airport Access
Roads UK
Motorway Services Online