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Whetstone Interchange

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Whetstone Interchange
Location Map ( geo)
Exit road for the M69, Junction 21, M1 - Geograph - 2853664.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (5)
County
Leicestershire
Highway Authority
National Highways
Junction Type
Roundabout Interchange
Roads Joined
M1, M69, A5460
Junctions related to the A5460
The full intended layout of the junction showing the sections that were never completed

Whetstone Interchange is junction 21 of the M1 and junction 3 of the M69.

The most striking feature of the junction is the ski jump where the M69 should have continued eastwards towards the A563. Had it been completed there would also have been a loop enabling southbound M1 traffic to bypass the roundabout to reach the M69.

History

Alternative design
Alternative design with Leicester Outer Ring Road shown

The junction opened in 1965 with just the A46(M) heading east from the roundabout. A few years later plans were made for the M69 motorway running between Leicester and Coventry. Several designs were produced for upgrading the junction to cope with the additional traffic the new motorway would bring, some of which provided all freeflow movements. All the designs made use of the existing bridges for the roundabout beneath the M1. The eventual design that was built retained the roundabout and had provision for the M69 to run above the M1 just to the north of the junction to connect with the A563 Outer Ring Road although this part of the junction has never been built.

In 2006 plans were announced to upgrade the junction by providing dedicated freeflow links between M69 and M1 north in both directions. This would have utilised the ski jump built in the 1970s for the unbuilt A563 connection. The economic problems experienced during the subsequent years resulted in the plans being put on hold and nothing has been heard since. In 2013 extra lanes were added to parts of the junction to increase capacity as part of the pinch point programme.

Routes

Route To Notes

M1

The NORTH, Nottingham

M1

The SOUTH, London, N'hampton

M69

Birmingham (M6), Coventry

A5460

Fosse Park, Leicester Ring Road (A563)

A46(M)

Leicester (A46)





Whetstone Interchange
Related Pictures
View gallery (5)
Optimistic 1975 Esso Motorway Map 2 - Coppermine - 833.jpgM1 J21 alternative.pngM1 J21 alternative 2.pngM1 J21 full layout.pngExit road for the M69, Junction 21, M1 - Geograph - 2853664.jpg
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 M69
M6 (2) Ansty  • 1 Stretton Baskerville  • 2 Hinckley  • 3 Whetstone

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