Drivers have been warned to expect delays this afternoon near a major UK airport after a collision caused a motorway to close its junctions and operate at a low speed.
The M1 in Bedfordshire is currently closed northbound between J12 near Flitwick and J13 near Milton Keynes due to a collision, with drivers urged to avoid the area.
Emergency services are on the scene with Bedfordshire police leading the response at this stage, with National Highways on hand to help with traffic management.
There are currently roughly 50 minutes of delays against expected traffic, with drivers now advised to follow the diverted route.
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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
|The M1 is currently operating with 30 minutes of delays
The route advises road users to follow the Hollow Diamond diversion symbol on road signs, which takes them off the M1.
Drivers should use the J12 exit slip road and go onto the A5120 northeast to Westoning, from here they should continue on the A5120, through Westoning, to the A5120/Steppingley Road roundabout.
At the A5120/Steppingley Road roundabout, drivers need to take the second exit onto Steppingley Road.
Continue on Steppingley Road past Flitwick Railway Station and merge onto Fordfield Road.
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
|The M1 is closed between J12 and J13
Drivers should continue on Fordfield Road to the A507/Fordfield Road Crossroads. At the crossroads, keep right onto the A507 Ridgemont by-pass.
From here, drivers need to continue straight over Station Road and Salford Road roundabouts and merge onto the A421 Bedford Road. Continue on the A421 Bedford Road and re-join the M1 at Junction 13.
The delays are roughly 15 miles away from London Luton Airport and come at a crucial time, as experts explained that roughly two million journeys will take place today.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: "Normally the weekend bears the brunt of getaway traffic, but this year we’re expecting ‘midweek mayhem’ as schools finish for summer.
"Our figures indicate these trips will now be spread across several days, with millions more weekday journeys planned. To avoid the worst of the traffic, travel outside peak times and steer well clear of morning and evening rush hours."
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NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
|Drivers have been urged to follow the diversion in place by National Highways
National Highways shared: "If this closure impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."
Normal traffic conditions are expected to return between 3:30pm and 3:45pm later today, with traffic currently moving at 9mph.
The RAC shared: "The stretch between junctions 21 and 22 has also seen recent accidents, resulting in lane closures, while the area between junctions 12 and 13 - in the Bedford region - has been considered an accident hotspot.
"If you’re planning to travel on this motorway, it’s worth looking up the latest M1 traffic updates to avoid congestion, roadworks and accidents. The M1 is one of the busiest motorways in the UK, and includes junctions that experience a build-up of traffic."
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
|The junction has closed near London Luton Airport
The M1 starts in North London and ends just outside Leeds. It connects to several other motorways, including M25, M45, M6, M69, M18, M62, M621 and A1M.
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police told GB News: "We were called just before 1.45pm to a report of a collision between a motorcycle and a car near to Toddington Services on the northbound carriageway of the M1 between Junctions 12 and 13.
"Emergency services are in attendance and the motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. The northbound carriageway is currently closed.
"Anyone with information can report to police online quoting reference 238 of 22 July."