A421 Dualling Upgrade Into Milton Keynes Complete

A421 dualling upgrade into Milton Keynes complete

In partnership with Milton Keynes Council and the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) we pleased to announce that works are complete on our project to upgrade a key section of the A421 road into a dual carriageway, which means that drivers can now enjoy a faster and easier route around Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. The 3km of the road has been upgraded to better link Junction 13 of the M1 motorway in Central Bedfordshire with Milton Keynes. The stretch runs from the roundabouts by the junction up to the new Eagles Rest housing development and the Altitude Magna Park logistics and distribution site in Milton Keynes. The A421 forms a key section of the strategic east-west travel corridor and helps underpin the future of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Enhancing east-west connectivity is a key component of the enabling infrastructure which will help to create opportunities for the wider area to become the UK’s innovation region, delivering growth in science and technology. As well as easing congestion, the upgraded A421 will help improve access to planned developments in Central Bedfordshire, such as the 5,000 homes proposed in new villages in the Marston Vale area (in our Local Plan), as well as 40 hectares of employment land. Previously there were no safe routes for pedestrians beside the A421, so we built a new cycleway which stretches along the length of the newly dualled A421 and a footbridge over it. The new cycleway is part of a future larger cycle network. The new footbridge, which includes a bridleway, will greatly improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, who will benefit from being able to use our improved public rights of way.

As the majority of this section falls into Central Bedfordshire, we led on the project and have been working with Milton Keynes Council. The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) contributed £23.5million from the Local Growth Fund towards this £29.5million project which was authorised by the Department for Transport (DfT), and both councils each contributed around £3million.