£200m road schemes to deliver economic boost in Bedfordshire

Construction of two road building schemes worth £200 million is gathering pace with the linked projects passing their one-year milestone this spring.

The 2.8 mile, £162million A5-M1 Link scheme is being delivered by Highways England, while the £38million, 1.8 mile Woodside Link project is being completed by Central Bedfordshire Council.

The schemes, which are set to be completed in spring 2017, are set to unlock economic growth by connecting new businesses and up to 7,000 new homes.

Delivering the schemes will unlock up to 40 hectares of land for businesses and provide the infrastructure for 7,000 homes to be built to the north of Houghton Regis. They will also provide better access to the M1 and reduce congestion in Dunstable.

Constructions milestones achieved so far on the A5-M1 link include starting work on the layout for the new M1 junction 11A, with new roundabouts and bridges, as well as the rebuilding of the B579 Luton Road East and West to align it with junction 11A. Work on the link road itself has progressed well too, with drainage, fencing and some of the foundations and surfacing completed so far. And work on the new A5 roundabout has started too.

Woodside Link milestones so far include the completion of major earthworks, the construction of two bridges, the installation of drainage and a retaining wall, and the cutting of ‘road boxes’ prior to surfacing.

Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: “We are determined to deliver better journeys and the infrastructure that will allow the economy to grow in Bedfordshire.

“We are investing £15 billion nationally to improve our roads, and this project is an important part of that. It is pleasing to see the progress that has been made with the A5-M1 and Woodside link schemes which will lay the ground for new businesses to thrive and homes to be built for hard-working people.”