Leaving, with luck about 4.30, heading to The North (i.e beyond where the two roads become the same).
Not done this for a year, any reason to use one rather than the other? A1 would be my choice.
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Just come down the A1 from Newark. Looked clear of stuff that would cause jams. I am an A1 man every time, cant stand the M1 and its always chocka.
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...beyond where the two roads become the same...
Not sure what you mean by that, but if you are going north of Leeds, then M1/M18/A1(M) is my suggestion.
Usually less traffic, but just as important, it's about eight miles shorter than staying on the M1.
Further north, there's a long 50mph average speed limited stretch of the A1 towards Leeming.
That's difficult to avoid, but is rarely jammed, even on a Friday night.
Edit: Even better, as Zero says, A1 then M18/A1(M).
Last edited by: Iffy on Fri 9 Sep 11 at 12:12
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M1 would be mine. The A1 suffers a lot from having only two lanes, so you're at the mercy of lorry drivers who want to hold hands. The M1 is still horrible but should get you there sooner.
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Don't know if you will get this in time, however the A1 North bound from Scotch Corner was closed last night.
Diversion recommended from the A19 at Dishforth
Unclear why, and I don't know if it still is - just a heads up.
Last edited by: Redviper on Fri 9 Sep 11 at 12:16
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A1 all the way.
At the time you're going, there's every chance someone will have had a bump in the interminable roadworks between junctions 10-13 of the M1, which could easily lead to over an hour of crawling/stationary traffic if you're lucky. Then you'll get the queues around East Midlands Airport with all the British Superbike traffic heading to Donington just to add to the joy.
Yes the two-lane bits of A1 will be slower, but just relax, tootle along between 60-70mph and enjoy the scenery. Don't forget there are no more roundabouts after Buckden any more. A lot more places to stop for a break too.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Fri 9 Sep 11 at 12:27
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Seconded, or thirded, or whatever.
Some years back I went with a mate up to Leeds on a Friday afternoon. I said I'd take the A1 and he trotted out all the "two lanes, stuffed with roundabouts" arguments.
I put my foot down and insisted. As I was driving that was pretty much it.
Anyhow, we arrived in the early evening and settled down in the Hotel bar. After a few hours some more of the London lads turned up.
"Which way did you come?", I asked.
"Up the M1.", was the response.
A bit of conversation to establish that they'd set off around the same time as us and I asked; "How was the journey?".
""
"Ah, we came...OW!", as I was firmly kicked in the ankle under the table.
"Shut up, we don't want everyone using the A1 or it'll be stuffed too.....", said a quiet voice in my left ear......
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M1 wind up your speed with no cameras then it filters onto the M1/A1 keep left for A1 as other is Leeds city centre.
If your in no rush and like cameras and old folk tootling about the A1 maybe for you.
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According to trafficengland.com
A1 north of Scotch Corner - is clear, there is however a accident on the A19 northbound which has closed the carriageway between Junctions of A61 and A684
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Also, the A10's shut at Ware. (Just in case you were starting from Enfield way).
These are the decisions us professional drivers face every day...
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It's Friday afternoon, the lemmings will be out en masse, so dispel immediately any ideas of a pleasant journey leaving when they do.
Meself if i could i'd leave the departure till about 8/9pm if possible, but no later if you decide on the M1, they shut most of the roadworks section jcts 10 to 13 down to a single lane about 10/11pm.
Whatever time i'd use the A1 everytime, M1 will have problems in the roadworks when someone breaks down and the lemmings travelling 15ft apart at maximum velocity will pile up, it's the same every time.
They've been resurfacing A1 just above A14 this week, very minor diversions after 10pm, but only caused me about 2 minutes of delay at the most (minor extra distance,2m most, no traffic jams), they might have finished by now, but the M1 certainly won't be.
M1 is much better now in the 4 lane section between jcts 25 and 28, it leaves 2 empty inside lanes to travel in now, but traffic still comes to a grinding halt where the A38 joins as the road reduces to 3 lanes...who'd have thought:-)
Assuming you leave at the planned time, A1 will have bottleneck at Welwyn jct where it goes into 2 lanes, keep in the left as you drop down the hill it's quicker anyway, if it's a horrendous queue slip off and follow your nose and rejoin a mile later beside the burnt out hotel.
Similar at Black Cat roundabout, that will be a bad one, slip off at Tempsford follow the old road up through Little Barford and then along the A428 for half a mile and rejoin the A1N.
Barring the always present possibility of accident hold ups the A1 should be OK apart from these points.
Lorry drivers....there won't be many on the road , so WdB will have to find someone else to blame for all the traffic.
I won't be either i don't work Fridays anymore.....thank goodness.
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Might be a bit quieter this weekend as the schools are back and the Unis don't start filling up until next weekend.
Starting from London I'd still go A1 (or M11/A1). Nicer drive and the Hemel to MK roadworks go on for ever!!
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From the City/East/South/even South West I'd go M11 too. But not if using A14 at evening rush hour.
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>> I'd go M11 too
Avoid the M11 this afternoon - there was a bump up at St Ives at lunchtime and the queue's back down the 14 onto the 11. Long, long delays there, even mentioned on the matrix signs on the M1 up here at J28.
There was a minor shunt at Knebworth (A1 j7) earlier but the A1 is still the least worst option.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Fri 9 Sep 11 at 15:33
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This afternoon, London to the North, A1/M1? - Zero
