M1 motorists face two months of overnight and weekend closures in Northamptonshire

Motorists are being warned to watch out for closures on stretches of the M1 in Northamptonshire for the next two months.

Highways England engineers are due to start work on Monday on two major repair schemes between junctions 18 and 20.

The project means sections of the M1 will be closed for two weekends and overnight from 10pm on various dates until the end of July.

Traffic at the Crick interchange, which is used for various supermarket distribution centres and the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, will be particularly affected.

Work will replace an existing waterproof system on the bridge at Shawell Walcote and resurface around two miles of the northbound and southbound carriageways.

Highways England Project Manager Steve Longden said: “We appreciate people’s patience while we carry out this important maintenance work which will improve the quality of journeys for drivers and ensure that the Shawell Walcote bridge is protected for the future.

“We understand that roadworks can be disruptive but are doing all we can to carry out these two schemes together to ensure minimum inconvenience for road users and local communities.”

Diversions, agreed with the local authority, will be clearly signed. Closures are planned as follows:

Weekday nights, June 1-23 — Southbound 20-19.

Three nights, June 24-26 — M1 Northbound junctions 18-20.

Weekday nights, June 30 - July 17 — Northbound junctions 19-20.

Weekend, Friday June 5 until 6am Monday June 8 — southbound carriageway closed.

Weekend, Friday July 10 until 6am on Monday July 13 — Northbound carriageway will be closed from