M1 widening through Luton scrapped – traffic to use hard shoulder instead
The Government has scrapped the proposals to widen large parts of the motorway network to four or more lanes – including long sections of the M6, the M1, the M62 and the M25. This includes the section that runs through Luton – M1 junctions 10 to 13.
Instead they will be using the hard shoulder running system:
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Hard shoulders are opened to traffic at busy times
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Maximum speed limits of 60mph
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Traffic flows monitored by closed-circuit television
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Speed limits reduced further when necessary
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Emergency refuge areas set up every 800 yards
This system was tested on the M42 near Birmingham last year.
Scrapping the widening will save the Government between £5m to £7m according to experts.
M1 requires at least 2 additional lane each side to compensate the traffic near Luton exists. In stead of that scrapping the widening project is strange. On top of that they approved lower the speed limit – this is again unwelcome step. Those who approved this should visit this area and understand the pain of thousands of people with this decision.