Woodside Connection - Dunstable

Following the withdrawal by the Highways Agency of its TR111 (safeguarding route order) for the Dunstable Eastern Bypass, Bedfordshire County Council is undertaking a feasibility study into ways of providing improved access to the Woodside industrial area of Dunstable avoiding the need for heavy goods vehicles to travel along the A5 High Street / A505 Church Street, through the congested town centre, or along the A505 Luton Road from junction 11 of the M1.

The objective is to review the feasibility of providing a road, known as the Woodside Connection, or such other solutions as may be proposed, specifically designed to improve access to the Woodside industrial area of Dunstable, whilst taking account of other ongoing proposals to improve the strategic transport network in the vicinity of South Bedfordshire.

Schemes currently under development include:-

• A5 Dunstable Queue Relocation Scheme (in place)
• M1 Widening between Junctions 6A and Junction 10 (on site)
• M1 Widening between Junction 10 and Junction 13 (Preferred Route announced – working towards Order publication in March/April 2007)
• A5 to M1 Link Road (the Dunstable Northern Bypass - Preferred Route announcement due in February/March 2007).
• The Luton – Dunstable Translink Guided Busway scheme

 Other likely schemes (mentioned in the current Bedfordshire and Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis LTP’s) include:

• Luton Northern Bypass (feasibility study complete)
• De-trunking of the A5 from J9 of M1 through Dunstable Town Centre to the A5-M1 Link road junction with A5

   

Background

The study is looking at options to improve access to the Woodside industrial areas centred around Boscombe Road / Porz Avenue. The aim is to assist regeneration and redevelopment opportunities to the north and east of the town as well as improving traffic congestion and environmental conditions in the town centre.

A scheme for the Woodside Connection has been included in both the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Transport Plans for 2006 - 2011, which were submitted in March 2006.

Road options being considered include alignments linking any of the three potential junctions on the A5 – M1 Link Road (A5, A5120 and M1) to the Woodside Industrial Area of Dunstable and may also include variants.

A Steering Group has been set up comprising Bedfordshire County Council, South Bedfordshire District Council and the Highways Agency to monitor and approve the study. An initial report on routes options was produced April / May 2007, further work to develop these options for public consultation / exhibition in Summer 2008 in underway.