M1 Motorway Project Set to Add Thousands of Extra Journeys
A proposed road project on the M1 motorway in Derbyshire could add thousands of extra journeys to the busy route, according to reports. National Highways, the transport authority responsible for maintaining motorways and major A roads in the UK, is currently exploring ways to improve safety and travel times at Junction 28 of the M1 in South Normanton.
The plans, which are still in the early stages, aim to develop solutions to benefit all road users at the junction. This comes as transport-focused group Midlands Connect has predicted that there could be over 80,000 additional journeys a week at the junction by 2035. The organisation, which is made up of local authorities, businesses, and representatives of Government bodies, has called for the project to be included in the Government’s upcoming Road Investment Strategies.
According to Midlands Connect, data shows that there could be 81,830 extra trips a week using junction 28 of the M1 in 2035 due to the potential increase in the number of homes and jobs in the area. The organisation believes that "rat-running" through nearby towns and villages would be reduced if repairs were carried out. Councillor Rob Reaney, deputy leader of Derbyshire County Council, told the BBC that the junction was at "maximum capacity". "This problem isn’t going away, and it’s clear that extra investment is needed now to keep pace with the level of economic development in the area in the future," he said.
National Highways has received a £4.8 billion interim settlement from the Department for Transport for 2025/26, and is awaiting the results of a Government spending review for a longer-term strategy. The transport authority’s head of planning and development, Kamaljit Khokhar, said that the body was "always looking" at ways to improve journeys. "Working closely with Midlands Connect, we continue to support a strategic approach to long-term investment as we seek to develop solutions to benefit all road users," he added.
The M1 motorway is one of the busiest in the UK, with thousands of vehicles using it daily. The proposed improvements to Junction 28 could help increase road capacities, adding thousands more journeys to the route. Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet said upgrades to the junction were "essential" and added she would "continue to press" the Government to make the improvements.
The funding decision will be crucial for determining whether the M1 junction 28 improvements can proceed as part of future Road Investment Strategies. A date for the decision has yet to be announced by National Highways or the Department for Transport. Midlands Connect has highlighted the significant pressure expected on the junction as development continues in the surrounding region.
As reported by GB News, the proposed project aims to alleviate congestion and improve travel times on the M1 motorway. With thousands of extra journeys expected to be added to the route, the proposed improvements to Junction 28 are crucial for maintaining road safety and reducing congestion.
The transport group Midlands Connect has urged for the project to be prioritised, as part of the Governments’ Road Investment Strategies. In related news, National Highways continues its broader programme of motorway improvements, including ongoing work to add emergency areas to all-lane running sections.
Between January 2024 and January 2025, the organisation has been retrofitting additional emergency areas on the M1 between Junctions 30 and 31, with work progressing towards completion in March 2025.
National Highways and Midlands Connect are working closely together, in order to develop a strategic approach for long-term investment, for improving road safety and travel times for all road users on the M1.
Improvements to J28 of the M1 could help increase road capacities adding thousands more journeys, as reported by GB News.
According to GB News, experts have warned that the M1 could be overrun in some sections, including Derbyshire.
The M1 motorway plays a crucial role in the UK’s transport infrastructure and thousands of vehicles rely on it daily, to travel across the country.
