Major road improvements

Bedfordshire occupies a central location in England adjacent to four other counties and two unitary authorities. It has a relatively small area with approximately 60% of the population living in urban areas. The 2001 census gives the population as 387,000 and this is forecast to grow to around 460,000 by 2021 representing a substantial and sustained growth and challenging times for transport infrastructure.

Our Local Transport Plan (LTP) sets out our policies and programme to address this growth and the following details provide some background and progress on the more major schemes that are or have previously been promoted. Previous schemes that have safeguarded routes are included as these may not appear in our LTP but will be disclosed in a local search when buying a house.  Further information is available from the Local Transport Plans| team or the Highways Help Desk|.

Please note:

1. Lists are not all inclusive, other organisations, authorities or agencies may also be promoting projects.
2. The Highways Agency (new window) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport (new window), and is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.

Schemes recently constructed

• Great Barford Bypass (new window) opened Thursday 24th August 2006 (HA scheme)
• Elstow Park & Ride opened 1st November 2005

Schemes under construction

• A507 Ridgmont Bypass
• Luton East Circular (new window) M1j10a to Luton London Airport. A jointly funded scheme with Luton Borough Council (new window) as lead authority.
• A4146 Stoke Hammond and Linslade Western Bypass  Buckinghamshire County Council lead authority.
• M1 widening (junction 6a to 10) (new window) Highways Agency Scheme
• The Wixams development - A6 realignment and widening
• Bedford Western Bypass. A jointly funded scheme with developers and English Partnerships (new window) 

Schemes in design

• A421 improvements (M1 Junction 13 to Bedford - HA) (new window)
• A421 improvements (M1 Junction 13 – Milton Keynes) A jointly funded scheme with Milton Keynes as lead authority.
• A jointly funded guided busway scheme called the 'Luton to Dunstable Busway' (new window) (previously called Translink) operating between Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Luton and London Luton Airport (new window) with Luton Borough Council (new window) as lead authority.
  • Associated bus priority works in Dunstable town centre as part of the Luton to Dunstable Busway
• Park & Ride
  • Biddenham Park & Ride
  • Clapham Park & Ride
  • Cardington Cross Park & Ride
• M1 widening (junction 10 to 13) (new window)
• Luton Northern Bypass (new window) A jointly funded scheme with Luton Borough Council and the Government Office for the East of England
• A5/M1 Link Road – Dunstable Northern Bypass (HA)
• A1 Sandy/Beeston Bypass (HA)

 Schemes / studies being promoted

• Traffic study on Bedford town centre   for final published results, please click here Bedford Town Centre Transport Study (PDF)
• Traffic Study on Biggleswade
• Woodside Connection in Dunstable 
• A5120 Flitwick/Westoning Bypass

 Schemes with safeguarded routes but not in the LTP

• Highway Development Plan – Bedford
  • Prebend Area Relief Scheme
  • St Johns Area Relief Scheme