Traffic · live

Roadworks and lane closures

M1

2 closures9 booked

2 closures in force on the M1 right now. National Highways has 9 closures booked in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place. Its slowest recurring hour is Wed 17:00, averaging 14 mph.

Photo: Lewis Clarke, Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized

Closed right now

Closure data updated 01:38 today

M1 southbound Jct 36 exit slip road closure

M1 J36 southbound exit and 13 more sections

21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · Slip road closed, Construction work · 3 separate phases

M1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriageway closure

M1 southbound within J8 and 19 more sections

21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · Road fully closed, Construction work

Booked for today and tonight

Next 24 hours, UK time
8pm12am4am8am12pm4pm8pm12am4amM1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 lane 1…3 lanes closedM1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 lane 1, 2 and 3 closure (298/3 - 299/1): 3 lanes closed, 8pm to 6am (UK time)8pm to 6amM1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriage…Road fully closedM1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriageway closure: Road fully closed, 9pm to 5am (UK time)9pm to 5amM1 Jct 25 exit slip road lane closure…1 lane of the slip road closedM1 Jct 25 exit slip road lane closure southbound: 1 lane of the slip road closed, 8pm to 6am (UK time)8pm to 6amLane 1 closure northbound1 lane closedLane 1 closure northbound: 1 lane closed, 8pm to 6am (UK time)8pm to 6amM1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 Lane 2…3 lanes closedM1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 Lane 2 3 and 4 closure (298/3 299/1) (C): 3 lanes closed, 8pm to 6am (UK time)8pm to 6amM1 southbound Approach to Jct 9 lane …1 lane closedM1 southbound Approach to Jct 9 lane 1 closure (MP 46/5 to 45/7): 1 lane closed, 9pm to 5am (UK time)9pm to 5amM1 southbound Jct 37 to Jct 36 carria…Road fully closedM1 southbound Jct 37 to Jct 36 carriageway closure: Road fully closed, 9pm to 6am (UK time)9pm to 6amM1 southbound Jct 36 exit slip road c…Slip road closedM1 southbound Jct 36 exit slip road closure: Slip road closed, 9pm to 6am (UK time)9pm to 6amM1 southbound Jct 37 entry slip road …Slip road closedM1 southbound Jct 37 entry slip road closure: Slip road closed, 9pm to 6am (UK time)9pm to 6amNow (3:33am)
UK time. Dark bar: the road is fully closed, so expect a diversion. Lighter bar: lanes or a slip road closed, the road stays open.

M1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 lane 1, 2 and 3 closure (298/3 - 299/1)

Due now

M1 northbound within J41

What
3 lanes closed
Why
Maintenance work
When
8pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place

M1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriageway closure

Due now

M1 southbound within J9

What
Road fully closed
Why
Construction work
When
9pm yesterday to 5am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place

M1 Jct 25 exit slip road lane closure southbound

Booked

M1 southbound between J26 and J25

What
1 lane of the slip road closed
Why
Maintenance work
When
8pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

Lane 1 closure northbound

Booked

M1 northbound within J23

What
1 lane closed
Why
Maintenance work
When
8pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

M1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 Lane 2 3 and 4 closure (298/3 299/1) (C)

Booked

M1 northbound within J41

What
3 lanes closed
Why
Maintenance work
When
8pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

M1 southbound Approach to Jct 9 lane 1 closure (MP 46/5 to 45/7)

Booked

M1 southbound between J10 and J9

What
1 lane closed
Why
Construction work
When
9pm tonight to 5am tomorrow (UK time)

M1 southbound Jct 37 to Jct 36 carriageway closure

Booked

M1 southbound between J38 and J37

What
Road fully closed
Why
Construction work
When
9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

M1 southbound Jct 36 exit slip road closure

Booked

M1 J36 southbound exit

What
Slip road closed
Why
Construction work
When
9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

M1 southbound Jct 37 entry slip road closure

Booked

M1 southbound between J37 and J36

What
Slip road closed
Why
Construction work
When
9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)

These are closures National Highways has scheduled, mostly overnight. Plans can change on the night, and a closure only shows above as in force once our last check has seen it set up, so one that has passed its start time may already be in place.

Long-running roadworks on the M1

Lasting a week or more, soonest to end first

M1 northbound Jct 44 hardshoulder closure (305/2 - 306/1)

scheduled

M1 northbound between J44 and J45

Due to end
2 Nov 2026
Started
3 Oct 2026
What
1 lane closed, Repair work

End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move. Long-running roadworks on every road.

When the M1 is slowest

1 May 2026 to 15 June 2026
Wed 17:0014mph

79% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,277 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Thu 17:0014mph

79% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,258 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Tue 17:0020mph

71% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,257 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Thu 16:0022mph

67% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,243 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Fri 17:0024mph

64% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,113 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Tue 16:0025mph

62% slower than normal on this stretch · northbound · about 3,207 vehicles an hour

Measured about 1.0 km from junction 6A, Chiswell, in St Albans

Each hour is compared with that sensor’s own free-flow speed rather than the speed limit, because some sensors sit on bends and slip roads that never reach 70 mph. Quiet hours carrying under 600 vehicles are left out, so overnight roadworks are not mistaken for congestion.

Which direction is worse

Averaged along the whole road
NorthboundWorst at Thu 17:0044 mph
SouthboundWorst at Tue 08:0051 mph

Rush hour is rarely symmetrical. The commute in and the commute out peak at different times, and rarely as badly as each other. These speeds are averaged across every sensor facing that way, so they read higher than the worst-point figures above: most of the road is moving even when one junction is not.

Every hour of the week

Darker means slower
Average speed on the M1 for each hour of the week, shaded by how far below normal it runs.
Day0012345067891011121314151617181920212223
MonMon 00:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalMon 01:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalMon 02:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalMon 03:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalMon 04:00, 59 mph, 2% below normalMon 05:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalMon 06:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalMon 07:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalMon 08:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalMon 09:00, 56 mph, 9% below normalMon 10:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalMon 11:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalMon 12:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalMon 13:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalMon 14:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalMon 15:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalMon 16:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalMon 17:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalMon 18:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalMon 19:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalMon 20:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalMon 21:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalMon 22:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalMon 23:00, 58 mph, 4% below normal
TueTue 00:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalTue 01:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalTue 02:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalTue 03:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalTue 04:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalTue 05:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalTue 06:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalTue 07:00, 54 mph, 12% below normalTue 08:00, 53 mph, 12% below normalTue 09:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalTue 10:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalTue 11:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalTue 12:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalTue 13:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalTue 14:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalTue 15:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalTue 16:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalTue 17:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalTue 18:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalTue 19:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalTue 20:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalTue 21:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalTue 22:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalTue 23:00, 55 mph, 9% below normal
WedWed 00:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalWed 01:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalWed 02:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalWed 03:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalWed 04:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalWed 05:00, 59 mph, 2% below normalWed 06:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalWed 07:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalWed 08:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalWed 09:00, 56 mph, 9% below normalWed 10:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalWed 11:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalWed 12:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalWed 13:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalWed 14:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalWed 15:00, 56 mph, 9% below normalWed 16:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalWed 17:00, 54 mph, 11% below normalWed 18:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalWed 19:00, 59 mph, 2% below normalWed 20:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalWed 21:00, 57 mph, 5% below normalWed 22:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalWed 23:00, 56 mph, 7% below normal
ThuThu 00:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalThu 01:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalThu 02:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalThu 03:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalThu 04:00, 57 mph, 5% below normalThu 05:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalThu 06:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalThu 07:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalThu 08:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalThu 09:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalThu 10:00, 56 mph, 7% below normalThu 11:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalThu 12:00, 56 mph, 9% below normalThu 13:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalThu 14:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalThu 15:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalThu 16:00, 54 mph, 11% below normalThu 17:00, 53 mph, 12% below normalThu 18:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalThu 19:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalThu 20:00, 58 mph, 3% below normalThu 21:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalThu 22:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalThu 23:00, 56 mph, 8% below normal
FriFri 00:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalFri 01:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalFri 02:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalFri 03:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalFri 04:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalFri 05:00, 59 mph, 2% below normalFri 06:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalFri 07:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalFri 08:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalFri 09:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalFri 10:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalFri 11:00, 56 mph, 8% below normalFri 12:00, 56 mph, 9% below normalFri 13:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalFri 14:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalFri 15:00, 55 mph, 10% below normalFri 16:00, 54 mph, 10% below normalFri 17:00, 55 mph, 9% below normalFri 18:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalFri 19:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalFri 20:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalFri 21:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalFri 22:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalFri 23:00, 58 mph, 5% below normal
SatSat 00:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalSat 01:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalSat 02:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalSat 03:00, 57 mph, 5% below normalSat 04:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalSat 05:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSat 06:00, 61 mph, 0% below normalSat 07:00, 61 mph, 0% below normalSat 08:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSat 09:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSat 10:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSat 11:00, 57 mph, 7% below normalSat 12:00, 57 mph, 6% below normalSat 13:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSat 14:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalSat 15:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalSat 16:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSat 17:00, 59 mph, 4% below normalSat 18:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalSat 19:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSat 20:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSat 21:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSat 22:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalSat 23:00, 60 mph, 2% below normal
SunSun 00:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 01:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 02:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 03:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 04:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalSun 05:00, 61 mph, -1% below normalSun 06:00, 62 mph, -2% below normalSun 07:00, 62 mph, -2% below normalSun 08:00, 61 mph, -1% below normalSun 09:00, 61 mph, 0% below normalSun 10:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalSun 11:00, 59 mph, 4% below normalSun 12:00, 58 mph, 4% below normalSun 13:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSun 14:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSun 15:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSun 16:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSun 17:00, 58 mph, 5% below normalSun 18:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 19:00, 59 mph, 3% below normalSun 20:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSun 21:00, 60 mph, 1% below normalSun 22:00, 60 mph, 2% below normalSun 23:00, 59 mph, 2% below normal
FasterSlower

When is the best time to drive the M1?

Roads that meet the M1

Their roadworks and closures

Questions about the M1

Is the M1 closed right now?

2 closures were in force at our last check of the National Highways feed (1:38am today, UK time): M1 southbound Jct 36 exit slip road closure; and M1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriageway closure. This covers planned roadworks and lane closures, not accidents.

Is the M1 closed tonight?

National Highways has 9 closures booked on the M1 in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place: M1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 lane 1, 2 and 3 closure (298/3 - 299/1); M1 southbound Jct 9 to Jct 8 carriageway closure; and M1 Jct 25 exit slip road lane closure southbound, plus 6 more. Plans can change on the night.

When will the roadworks on the M1 finish?

One long-running scheme is listed: M1 northbound Jct 44 hardshoulder closure (305/2 - 306/1), due to end 2 Nov 2026. End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move.