M1 - A421 - A507
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Ordnance Survey map - Alternative aerial view
Where is it?
M1 junction 13, unlucky for some. The southern of two M1 junctions for Milton Keynes and Bedford.
It was nominated by Chris Williams and Paul Robson, among countless others.
What's wrong with it?
In simple terms, the main junction providing access between Milton Keynes and Bedford (collective population of around 200,000) and London and the south east looks like this. It's a diamond interchange that's had a small roundabout glued on one side. It's so ridiculously inappropriate for the amount of traffic using it that visitors to Milton Keynes must find themselves looking further up the M1 in disbelief, thinking this must be a local exit serving a few villages or something. I'm at a loss to come up with words to describe this; it's just truly absurd.
Why is it wrong?
To be fair, the reason for this junction's sorry state is because the chain of events leading to today's situation is in an unusual order. Milton Keynes is a new town, housing around 270,000 people, which was only built in the late 1960's. This junction and the M1 itself, however, have been here since 1959. The motorway's planners couldn't have envisaged anything much turning off here - let alone 230,000 people using it whenever they headed south - particularly when even Bedford traffic was expected to use the A6 and junction 12 further south.
What none of this answers satisfactorily is why neither the designers of Milton Keynes, with its countless miles of dual carriageway, nor any politician since, has done anything at all to improve access between the new town and the M1. It is this fact that makes the whole thing so utterly shambolic.
What would be better?
How about a dualled A421 leading to free-flow links with the southbound M1? The good news is that the Highways Agency now (at last) have plans to do something, though it's taken the possibility of a new dual carriageway from the Bedford Bypass to here to make them think about it. What's planned? Two more roundabouts and a new flyover to the north to bypass the junction for through traffic. Genius.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go cry into a pillow.
Right to Reply
E-mail me with your comments.
Kodzo Selormey writes:
There are no redeeming features about this junction. It is always congested, particularly on the A421 from Milton Keynes.
The worst thing about this junction is that it was improved about 5 years ago, with no thought about putting some simple measures like traffic lights controlling the roundabout so that traffic does not tail back on the roundabout causing more congestion.
The simple solution would be create a J13A and to dual the A421 between the new junction and Milton Keynes. Thus bypassing this bad junction.
Paul Berry adds:
The main junction for MK is M1 J14, not J13, though I suspect a lot of people turn off here for destinations in the south of the town.
That aside, the junction is of course a relic from the original M1, but does need to be remodelled as a standard roundabout interchange to improve flow.
Len Tyler is livid:
Defence? There is none! Guilty as charged - but it gets worse! In order to exit Milton Keynes to the south, the dualled A421 already squeezes into a single carriageway to M1 J13 causing semi-permanent tailbacks. Now, not only is our govt planning to widen the M1 to eight lanes from the M25 to this creaking junction, it also plans to complete the A507 A1/M1 Link by terminating the Ridgmont Bypass at this very same junction - as well as the Dual-Carriageway A421 A1/M1 Link as well! Whereas it is screamingly obvious that it needs to look to Junction 6 on the M20 with it's parallel running lanes for inspiration for the future layout of M1 J13, what is planned? Nothing more than throwing a couple of roundabouts at it! Oh, nearly forgot, it popped Amazon.com's gigantic distribution warehouse on a new business park - guess where? Move over and make room on that pillow!
Phil Shirley finds a fault:
I live in Bedford and this junction is a nightmare at busy times for those who are expecting a 'normal' motorway junction layout.
As if to admit as much, where the A421 northbound runs parallel with the M1 there is a simple sign saying 'M1' with an arrow pointing ahead, but there are no turnings on or off the A421 between J13 and the next roundabout in Milton Keynes.
So they only purpose this sign can serve is to help people who have managed to miss the M1 at the M1 junction they have just come from. What an admission of guilt!
Peter Ballantyne is a regular user:
Most of the problem stems from the fact that from the MK end of the A421 it is the resposibility of Buckinghamshire, and about halfway along this section it becomes the responsibilty of Bedfordshire. The terrible state of repair on the Beds section is an example of the lack of joined up thinking. Milton Keynes is a success story and will not go away - so it's time for local authorities, government and the county authorities to stop blaming each other and do something. Meanwhile Northampton, whose population is smaller, is served by three junctions, all with dual carriageway access. Why, because there is only one county authority and one town authority working together. We need joined up thinking on this problem. With growth planned in both Bedford and MK it will only get worse. The new A421 Bedford plan (much as it is needed) without other changes will just make the problem worse.
Derek Evans has, uncannily, suggested the exact same reason:
If I remember correctly, the problem regarding the roundabout and the A421 connecting road is one of two counties. Milton Keynes Development Corporation was prepared to pay for dualling the road up to the county boundary, but Bedfordshire was not prepared to pay for their section. This increased the load on the parallel A421 and the roundabout and M1 junction. Bedfordshire as usual could not plan for the future and still cannot.
Pete Jones steers clear:
I live in Milton Keynes close to the centre. I refuse to use the A421 to access M1 southbound at J13 as the whole junction is a shambles! Pity really as the MK grid road system itself is a pleasure to drive on, no jams or hold ups.
How the area copes with MK Bowl events with 70,000+ attendances is a mystery to me!
I always use J14 when I am going south on the M1 to Luton.
Paul Harris is dreaming:
Possibly the worst junction I have come across, always a problem, always a bottleneck. Yes, we know Milton Keynes' main junction is 14, but that is not big enough to cope with the traffic either.
The A421 has become a link between the A1 and A43 (M40) and the problem stems from the fact that it's a heavily used route for lorries.
Pleased to hear plans for the dualing from the A6 to the M1, rebuild Junction 13, make it free flowing, and hopefully we won't have to wait much longer for it!
Sadly the plans are not to make it free-flowing but to add a few new roundabouts. Sorry. -Ed.
Tony Baker remembers the good old days: (Apr 08)
J13 was fine in the 1960s when it was in the middle of nowhere, Milton Keynes didn't exist and the Amazon warehouse was a brickworks! Incidentally the brickworks smelled of burning rubber, and there were always vehicles parked on the hard shoulder of the M1, wondering what was burning.
With thanks to Chris King and James for information on this page.
