M1 - M6 - A14
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Ordnance Survey map Alternative aerial view
Where is it?
M1 junction 19. An indescribably important junction where the main route north from London, the M1, splits to the M1 and M6 for routes to the north east and north west, and on to Scotland. The A14 also ends here, a vital east-west link which exchanges lots of traffic with the M1 and M6 - it's almost a direct eastward extension of the M6.
What's wrong with it?
Well, just look at it, it's a joke! The M1 and M6 have had a simple fork here since the 1970's; when the A14 arrived in the 1990's, the junction wasn't so much adapted as worked around. The local Catthorpe - Swinford road that passed quietly under the junction was appropriated and now takes all the A14's traffic under the M1. The two tiny little roundabouts are no way to end a motorway-standard road, and the short drive up an unclassified road to reach the M6 is shameful.
Why is it wrong?
The A14 is a road built recently and on the cheap. It is mostly cobbled together from other roads, with just a few new built bits and a couple of junctions modified. The money was probably not available to do anything more with this junction, especially considering the cost and chaos of diverting the course of the M6 or M1. However, the cost is increased now that an even bigger junction must be remodelled - yes, this one will be rebuilt some time soon.
What would be better?
Anything but this. Except perhaps a signalised roundabout with priority bus lane. The plans proposed generally involve making it an all-access junction, with some links free-flowing and a roundabout underneath to do everything else, which is a pretty sound plan. The only worry is if the Catthorpe - Swinford road is removed from the junction, where does non-motorway traffic (which has a legal right to use the A14) go from here?
Right to reply
Hate this junction? Or do you think it hasn't had a fair trial? Make yourself heard! Post a comment.
These are the most recent comments on this junction. You can see all comments if you prefer.
Eddie Lewis is stuck in traffic:
Revisited this junction today for the first time in a while. Still the same old story with traffic backed up onto the M6, weaving in at the last minute (how are people expected to see those "Get in Lane" signs on the hard shoulder with 50-odd lorries in the way?) and seeing the sign which says A14 is right, so get in the right hand lane only to see it merge into the left hand one a few yards further on. And coming A14-M6, the give way markings which oblige you to yield to tractors trundling out of Catthorpe are so faded that they're virtually invisible.
One thought - someone has mentioned the M69 makes the M6-M1N a rare movement; may I add that the M40 now does the same for the M6-M1S, at least as far as London-bound traffic is concerned. So maybe A14 traffic should get the two lanes and the merging movement, and M1 the roundabout?
Sounds like a recipe for complete and total chaos to me... Traffic between M1 south and M6 still outnumbers that for the A14. -Ed.
MackH could see it coming:
When it was first built, it was clear that this junction was going to be a disaster. It is an exercise in failing to plan correctly and to provide less than the minimum.
Boris has a novel idea:
On a good day (well, probably night) you could in effect travel from the extremities of Ecosse at speeds of up to 70mph, all the way to the southernmost furthest flung seaports along the Channel (or Wales.) However, where else within the galaxy could one locate the bulk of all ex/import traffic heading to or from the nations busiest container teminals, stationary, at one of the busiest crossroads in Europe?
Solution - seeing as most drivers crawl through the 30 or so yards between the M6 and A14, or are exiting either side of the M1, I suggest we take a leaf out of the Blackpool Corporation's book. If you have ever experienced the illuminations from your vehicle, you'll have noticed at either end of the promenade, a team of collectors, with giant plastic hands. The object being to retrieve any contributions made toward the upkeep of the lights. If every lorry driver bunged in a zloty or two, we might get a flyover by 2050, or some nice neons to while the time away.
Rubi Red writes:
I really hate this junction. I've always said an accident is just waiting to happen here and today there's been a 12 car pile up on the southbound M6 at Junction 1. I do this road quite a bit and the number of times cars and lorries that swerve into the A14 filter lane at the last minute is unbelievable. They changed the junction last year and made it 100 times worse, as if it wasn't bad enough!
Ducter is irate:
Often thought of renaming this junction 'Hades', I cannot believe the short-sighted view of government and engineers alike for thinking what they built would actually accommodate expected traffic movement. A split level three way junction was minimum - and please return the M1 south to three lanes approaching the junction, it only confuses Belgian lorry drivers and Allegro day trippers!
See all 21 comments about this junction »
With thanks to Jason G, Declan and Eddie Talbot for information on this page.
