Flitwick Westoning bypass

Flitwick and Westoning have been identified previously as communities where we would seek to provide bypasses, based on the role of the A5120 passing through the area. Some feasibility work on route options was completed several years ago, associated with the early development of options for widening the M1 Motorway. This evaluation concluded that feasible route options did exist, but none were progressed further. Subsequent reviews of transport in the area concluded that no view on the justification of any bypass could be made until the Government’s strategic review of policy (the London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study) had been completed.

Now that this strategic review is complete and widening of the M1 Motorway is being advanced, the context for any local bypass is clearer. With the intention of retaining the M1 Junction 12 connection to the A5120 included in the January 2006 M1 Preferred Route announcement, it is time to re-evaluate the case for a bypass. Accordingly, during the LTP2 period (2006/7 - 2010/11)further feasibility work will be commissioned to examine the case for a bypass of either or both settlements. This will take account of both the up to date position in relation to development proposals in and around the area as well as the local and strategic context for transport.