St Albans motorists heading for Luton Airport and into Luton town centre via Junction 10a of the M1 will need to factor in extra journey time during major roadworks over the next 18 months.
Restrictions will be in place because of the start of a long-awaited £30 million scheme.
Unfortunately for motorists, that means the speed limit will be slashed to 30mph for 70 long weeks.
Chris Hall, PR manager at Luton borough council, which owns the airport, warned local drivers to plan for overnight road closures in the area, starting shortly.
• From overnight Tuesday March 4-9, the M1 spur road and A1081 New Airport Way will be closed eastbound (towards the airport) between M1 J10 and Capability Green. Between 8pm and 4am traffic will not be able to leave the M1 at Junction 10 and will instead be diverted into Luton town centre and on to the airport via J11 (A505, A5065 and A505). But traffic will still be able to join the M1 at J10.
• The following week, overnight from Monday March 10-12, the M1 spur road and A1081 New Airport Way will be closed westbound (towards the M1) between Capability Green and M1 J10. Between 8pm and 6am traffic will not be able to join the M1 at J10 and will again be diverted via J11 (A505, A5065, and A505). Traffic will still be able to leave the M1 at J10.
Chris said motorists should also be aware of a 30mph speed limit, narrow and contraflow lanes throughout the area starting from March 4 and continuing during the 70-week programme.
The council’s £30 million scheme will tackle queues and congestion suffered by motorists at the junction.
It includes removing the roundabout and widening the M1 spur and New Airport Way to three lanes in each direction between J10 and Capability Green.
Colin Chick, the council’s corporate director of regeneration, has apologised for the delays.
He said: “Our priority is to keep two lanes open in each direction whenever possible at peak times.
“But a scheme of this size cannot be delivered without some inconvenience. Continuing traffic restrictions will be necessary throughout the programme.”
For more information on diversion routes see www.luton.roadworks.org or www.luton.gov.uk/m1j10a
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here