A5 M1 link road
The A5 M1 link road is being constructed as a by-pass for the congested town of Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire. Apparently this was talked about 40 or 50 years ago! Naturally this new road is all geared up for the benefit of the motorist but indirectly this will benefit us cyclists in the area through diverting traffic away from the town and the surrounding roads.
I understand the work is progressing well and as the winter months were relatively mild, the schedule has not been affected by adverse weather and the civil engineers are slightly ahead of their plan. Therefore the road, with all of it’s bridges, roundabouts and so on, are on track for opening in 2017.
At the recent Luton & Dunstable Cycling Forum someone described this road as being a “road to nowhere” as far as the cyclist is concerned. Perversely this ties in with a suggestion I made about organising a car-free ride along the new road just before it is opened.
The signs given out at the Luton & Dunstable Cycle Forum was that some kind of organised could be a goer. This sounds great but I can’t remember the conclusion or exactly what was said.
I quite often drive passed the new road, either on the A5 or the A5120 and it looks quite enticing. Rightness it appears most of the tarmac is done and connecting roundabouts are being built, complete with lampposts and landscaping the surrounding area. Still quite a lot of work to do but it appears the heavy duty stuff has been completed with new cuttings, bridges and so on.
While the likes of the wonderful huge city centre Skyrides have largely been and gone, I wonder if an organised local, guided or social Skyride could fit the bill? That could be a very special and unique opportunity to ride this new road.
Actually, I am tempted to have a run along the new road, early one morning before there is any work taking place, perhaps early on a Saturday morning. That reminds me of when I used to go running on the Gloucester northern bypass as it was being constructed in the early 1980s. Good to do, slightly illicit or furtive. Certainly tempting.
So if I do hear anything, I will post it on my blog. Likewise, leave a comment if you know anything.
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