There are fears that it will cost the local economy millions of pounds if no solution is found
More funding is needed to resolve congestion problems at a notorious M1 junction according to Derbyshire County Council. The authority has joined forces with Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet as part of efforts to improve traffic flow at J28 near South Normanton.
The Midlands Connect transport body – which helps to develop transport projects – recently crowned Labour MP Ms Fleet as its ‘Parliamentary Champion’ for the junction near Alfreton, to promote a relevant upgrade scheme in Parliament and to make the issue a priority for the new Government.
Conservative-led Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, Cllr Carolyn Renwick, said: “We would entirely agree that a solution to the congestion and safety issues at Junction 28 needs to be found, along with the funding to deliver it. The junction is a major pinch-point on both the M1 motorway and the A38 in Derbyshire and causes huge issues for businesses and local residents alike.
“Without investment, it will limit opportunities for delivering new housing and jobs in the area and continue to cost the economy millions of pounds every year. Derbyshire County Council has been working hard for more than two years to try to secure improvement and investment on this junction alongside Midlands Connect and the former [Conservative] MP for Bolsover Mark Fletcher, and we are extremely keen to see this progress.
“We are pleased that National Highways are supportive of an improvement at Junction 28, and a considerable amount of work and effort has already been put into this matter. I will continue to press for this until a solution is secured and funding is allocated by the Government to deliver a solution.” Junction 28 is regarded as an important logistical location in the East Midlands sitting between Birmingham and Manchester and it is where the M1 links to Sutton and Mansfield via the A38.
It also provides links to Sheffield and Nottingham for South Normanton, Pinxton, Alfreton, Kirkby and Sutton-in-Ashfield residents and serves as a route to the Peak District National Park. Ms Fleet said: “Anyone who lives near Junction 28 knows just how congested it gets, how much that impacts local roads and how frustrating it is being stuck in traffic in this area.
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