M1 closes for speed camera testing

The M1 will be closed during the early hours of three Sundays this month to allow Hertfordshire Police to carry out calibration testing of the speed enforcement cameras on the Controlled Motorway section between junctions 6a and 10.

The cameras will enforce variable mandatory speed limits which will bring greater benefits to drivers on this busy section of the M1 - helping to reduce congestion and make drivers' journeys safer and more reliable by smoothing traffic flows.

The closures are:
* Northbound and southbound between Junction 6 and 8 from 3am to 7.30am on Sunday June 5.
* Southbound between Junctions 9 and 8 from 4am to 7.30am on Sunday, June 12.
* Northbound between Junction 8 and 9 from 4am to 7.30am on Sunday 19 June.

Highways Agency Project Sponsor, Steve Davy, said: "The Highways Agency and Hertfordshire Constabulary looked at a number of options to carry out calibration testing on the cameras, and a full closure of the carriageway offers the safest and quickest method of doing this.

"We will be monitoring traffic levels before we close the carriageways and we will re-open them as soon as work is completed, even if it is earlier than planned."

The controlled motorway system between junctions 6a and 10 (from the M25 through to Luton) enables the Highways Agency to manage traffic during peak congestion periods, or following an incident, by varying the speed limits to smooth out traffic flows and reduce the risk of collisions.

Controlled motorways use sensors in the road surface to detect the speed, volume and flow of traffic. The system calculates the best speed to keep traffic moving, reducing the level of 'stop-start' traffic that leads to congestion.