It was designated by theMinistry of Transport in 1921, and for much of its route it followed various branches of the historicGreat North Road, the main deviation being betweenBoroughbridge andDarlington. The course of the A1 has changed where towns or villages have beenbypassed, and where new alignments have taken a slightly different route. Between theNorth Circular Road in London and Morpeth in Northumberland, the road is adual carriageway, several sections of which have been upgraded tomotorway standard and designatedA1(M). Between theM25 (near London) and theA720 (near Edinburgh) the road is part of the unsignedEurorouteE15 fromInverness toAlgeciras.
The A1 is the latest in a series of routes north from London toYork and beyond. It was designated in 1921 by theMinistry of Transport under theGreat Britain road numbering scheme.[5] The earliest documented northern routes are theroads created by the Romans during the period from AD 43 to AD 410, which consisted of severalitinera (plural ofiter) recorded in theAntonine Itinerary.[6] A combination of these were used by theAnglo-Saxons as the route from London to York, and together became known asErmine Street.[7] Ermine Street later became known as the Old North Road.[8] Part of this route in London is followed by the currentA10.[9] By the 12th century, because of flooding and damage by traffic, an alternative route out of London was found throughMuswell Hill, and became part of theGreat North Road.[8][9] A turnpike road, New North Road and Canonbury Road (A1200 road), was constructed in 1812 linking the start of the Old North Road aroundShoreditch with the Great North Road at Highbury Corner.[10] While the route of the A1 outside London mainly follows the Great North Road route used bymail coaches between London and Edinburgh, within London the coaching route is only followed through Islington.[11]
A proposal to upgrade the whole of the A1 to motorway status was investigated by the government in 1989[15] but was dropped in 1995, along with many other schemes, in response toroad protests against other road schemes (including theNewbury Bypass and theM3 extension throughTwyford Down).[16]
The Angel Inn atWetherby is a coaching inn on the former A1, bypassed since the 1950s.
The inns on the road, many of which still survive, were staging posts on the coach routes, providing accommodation, stabling for the horses and replacement mounts.[11] Few of the survivingcoaching inns can be seen while driving on the A1, because the modern route now bypasses the towns with the inns.
The road entersHertfordshire just beforePotters Bar, near the junction with the M25 at the South Mimms Services. The route here becomes the A1(M) and subsequently passes throughHatfield,Welwyn,Stevenage,Baldock. But it once again becomes a dual carriageway from Baldock Junction 10 throughBiggleswade, Sandy, several small villages to Buckden then on to Alconbury Junction 14. Junctions 11, 12 and 13 are still to be planned/built. Several groups along this non motorway stretch are actively campaigning for an upgrade to modern standards.
Scotch Corner, in North Yorkshire, marks the point where before the M6 was built, the traffic forGlasgow and the west of Scotland diverged from that for Edinburgh.[citation needed] As well as a hotel there have been a variety of sites for the transport café, now subsumed as a motorway services.
There are five roundabouts north of the Sterling corner junction: Biggleswade south, Biggleswade north, Sandy A603, Black Cat A428/A4211, lastly Buckden, after which there are no more roundabouts for 276 mi (444 km) until the Berwick A1167. TheBlack Cat roundabout is due to be removed in 2025.
Most of the English section of the A1 is a series of alternating sections of primary route,dual carriageway and motorway. FromNewcastle upon Tyne toEdinburgh it is a trunk road with alternating sections of dual and single carriageway. The table below summarises the road as motorway and non-motorway sections.[17] Most of the non-motorway sections do not have junction numbers, with the exception of the Newcastle Western Bypass which continues the junction numbering of the A1(M).
A single carriageway section of the A1 skirting the Scottish coastline just across the border from Northumberland.
A 13-mile (21 km) section of the road inNorth Yorkshire, fromWalshford toDishforth, was upgraded to motorway standard in 1995.[18] Neolithic remains and a Roman fort were discovered.
A 13-mile (21 km) section of the road from Alconbury to Peterborough was upgraded to motorway standard at a cost of £128 million (£284 million as of 2025),[19] which opened in 1998[20] requiring moving the memorial to Napoleonic prisoners buried atNorman Cross.[21]
A number of sections between Newcastle and Edinburgh were dualled between 1999 and 2004, including a 1.9-mile (3 km) section from Spott Wood to Oswald Dean in 1999, 1.2-mile (2 km) sections from Bowerhouse to Spott Road and from Howburn to Houndwood in 2002–2003 and the 8.5-mile (13.7 km) "A1 Expressway", fromHaddington andDunbar in 2004. The total cost of these works was £50 million.[22]
Plans to dual thesingle carriageway section of road north of Newcastle upon Tyne were shelved in 2006 as they were not considered a regional priority by central government. The intention was to dual the road betweenMorpeth andFelton and betweenAdderstone andBelford.[23]
In 1999 a section of A1(M) between Bramham and Hook Moor opened to traffic along with the extension of the M1 fromLeeds.[citation needed] Under aDBFO contract,[24] sections from Wetherby to Walshford and Darrington to Hook Moor were opened in 2005 and 2006.
Between September 2006 and October 2009 six roundabouts on the A1 and the A1(M) to Alconbury were replaced with grade-separated junctions. These provide a fully grade-separated route between the Buckden roundabout (just north of St Neots and approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of theBlack Cat roundabout) and just north ofMorpeth.[25] This project cost £96 million.[26]
Upgrading the 6.2 miles (10 km) of road to dual three-lane motorway standard between the Bramham/A64 junction to north of Wetherby to meet the section of motorway at a cost of £70 million began in 2006, including a road alongside for non-motorway traffic. The scheme'spublic inquiry began on 18 October 2006 and the project was designed by James Poyner. Work began in May 2007, the motorway section opened in July 2009 and remaining work on side roads was still ongoing in late August and was expected to be completed by the end of 2009.[27]
Upgrading of the existing dual carriageway to dual three-lane motorway standard, with a local road alongside for non-motorway traffic, betweenDishforth (A1(M)/A168 junction) andLeeming Bar, began in March 2009 and opened to traffic on or about the scheduled date of 31 March 2012.[28]
It had originally been proposed that the road would be upgraded to motorway fromDishforth toBarton (betweenScotch Corner andDarlington), which was the start of current northernmost section of A1(M). In 2010 the section betweenLeeming andBarton was cancelled as part of government spending cuts[29] but it was reinstated in December 2012.[30] Work began on 3 April 2014 and was expected to be completed by Spring 2017, but only reached completion in March 2018 due in part to significant Roman-era archaeological finds along the route of the motorway. Completion has provided a continuous motorway-standard road betweenDarrington (south of M62 junction) andWashington, and given the North East and North Yorkshire full motorway access toLondon (via theM1 at Darrington and Hook Moor).
Councils in the north east have called for the section from Hook Moor in Yorkshire (where the M1 link road joins the A1(M)) to Washington to be renumbered as the M1. They maintain that this would raise the profile of the north-east and be good for business.[31]
In his Autumn Statement on 5 December 2012, theChancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Government would upgrade a section of road from two to three lanes in each direction within the highway boundary[32] atLobley Hill (between Coal House and theMetro Centre[32]),Gateshead at a cost of £64 million[33] and create parallel link roads between the Lobley Hill and Gateshead Quay junctions.[32] The same Road investment strategy announcement said that the remaining section of road betweenBirtley and Coal House will also be widened to three lanes each way, alongside the replacement of the Allerdene Bridge.[32] A modified scheme commenced in August 2014 and was open to traffic in June 2016. The road is now three lanes each way with lane 3 narrower than lanes 1 and 2 so that all existing bridges remained as originally built.[34]
The A1 around Durham, Gateshead and Newcastle has seen a number of incarnations, following routes through, to the east and to the west of both Gateshead and Newcastle. SeeA1 (Newcastle upon Tyne) for more information.
The A14Ellington toFen Ditton scheme, also known as the Huntingdon Bypass required a redesigned interchange atBrampton. As a result the A1 was widened to a D3 standard from the current end of the A1(M) to the slip roads connecting directly onto theA14. South of the new Interchange the A1 was realigned but kept as a 2 lane dual carriageway. This scheme was meant to result in the A1 becoming the A1(M) along the upgraded sections, however the legal proceedings for this did not take place, and instead features a large amount of restrictions, similar to a motorway. This scheme was opened in December 2019.
The new junction is now complete on the A1 south of Grantham, Highways England constructed 4 new slip roads to connect the A1 Trunk Road to the new Grantham Southern Relief Road (A52) being constructed by Lincolnshire County Council. This will create a southern entry to Grantham and also to the site known as the 'King 31 Development'.[35] The Grade Separated Junction on the A1 was opened to traffic in December 2022.[36] The on-going phase three is the Southern Quadrant Link Road (SQLR), which will complete the relief road and is expected to be completed in 2025.[37][38]
A1 Scotswood to North Brunton Upgrade
The A1 road, a key route in Great Britain, has seen several major developments in recent years. Notably, the A1 Scotswood to North Brunton upgrade, completed in November 2022, represents a significant enhancement of the route. This project, valued at approximately £110 million, added an additional lane in each direction between junctions 74 and 79, covering a distance of five miles. It was expected to boost economic activity in the North East by improving access to services, businesses, and housing. The upgrade also had a positive environmental impact, reducing carbon emissions by over 8,000 tonnes, thanks to methods such as reusing materials and employing sustainable drainage systems.[39]
The A1 between Junctions 65 (Birtley) & 67 (Coal House) on the Newcastle Bypass is currently being widened to a D4 cross section from the existing D2 cross section, this includes replacing the existing bridge over the East Coast Main Line.[40][41] Works started in December 2021 and are due to be completed in 2025. Currently, the A1 Birtley to Coal House widening project is still ongoing. In recent developments, a contraflow system was installed on the A1 between junctions 65 (Birtley) and 66 (Eighton Lodge) in May 2024. This shift to a contraflow will help improve safety and reduce congestion while widening bridges and constructing new lanes.[42][41]
Additionally, the project has seen the successful opening of the new Allerdene bridge for northbound traffic in September 2023.[43] The North Dene footbridge, designed to enhance pedestrian and cyclist journeys, is also expected to open later in 2024.[44] These improvements aim to increase capacity and support the regional economy by making travel safer and more efficient.
In December 2014 a scheme was announced to dual the A428 from the A1/A421 Black Cat roundabout to Cambourne. This would include significant works to the A1/A421 Black Cat roundabout. The existing traffic signal controlled roundabout would be replaced with a grade-separated junction.[45] The new Grade Separated Junction would allow the A1 and A421 traffic to pass over each other, with a middle level roundabout connecting them together including links to local roads. Many direct accesses on the A1 would be stopped up and diverted onto new local access roads. The scheme started construction in late 2023,[4] the works currently underway along the A1. When completed this will remove one of the last 5 roundabouts on the A1 from Sterling corner to the Berwick bypass.[46] The replacement of the Black Cat Roundabout as part of the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements project is currently ongoing. The £1 billion infrastructure scheme aims to significantly improve traffic flow and connectivity across the region. The project will upgrade the Black Cat roundabout into a modern, free-flowing junction, with work set to continue until 2027. As of 2024, National Highways has made substantial progress, including the installation of key infrastructure such as bridges and slip roads. Recent developments include the completion of major bridge installations, with several closures planned to accommodate large-scale construction activities, such as the installation of steel beams for the Roxton Road bridge.[47][48]
The A1 continues to undergo significant improvement as part of the broader effort to modernise the UK’s transport infrastructure. National Highways, responsible for overseeing roadworks on motorways and major A roads, has outlined plans for continued investment in the A1 to support both local traffic and freight transport. These upgrades are expected to alleviate congestion, improve safety, and support the economy by enhancing the accessibility of key business and service hubs across the North East.[49]
These projects are part of an ongoing effort to expand the A1 from its current dual carriageway sections into full motorway status in certain areas, a development that is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents.[49]
In the "Road investment strategy" announced to Parliament by theDepartment for Transport andSecretary of State for Transport on 1 December 2014, planning will begin to upgrade the road in South Yorkshire to raise the last non-motorway section from Red House toDarrington to motorway standard.[32] Once completed, it will provide a continuous motorway-standard road betweenBlyth, Nottinghamshire andWashington, Tyne and Wear and will provide the North East and Yorkshire with full motorway access to London via theM1,M62 andM18. It will also improve safety along this route, as well as creating a new corridor to the North East, and reducing congestion on the M1 aroundSheffield andLeeds. This is the only missing link of motorway on the strategicM1/M18/A1(M) route London to Washington.
The announcement then said that the road fromMorpeth toEllingham would be upgraded to dual carriageway.[32] The selection of the preferred route was scheduled for the year 2017, with construction due to begin in 2019.[50] In response to questions regarding transport in the north, Highways England stated that a new dual carriageway section between Morpeth and Felton and also that of Alnwick to Ellingham would start in 2021 with full opening in 2023.[51] However in June 2022 UK government ministerGrant Shapps delayed a decision about a Development Consent Order signing off on National Highways' plans until December 2022.[52]
Measures were also announced to enhance the performance and safety of the A1 north ofEllingham to include three sections of climbing lanes, five junctions with improved right turn refuges, and better crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.[32] Start of construction is scheduled for 2018.[50]
It was then also announced that planning would begin to upgrade the Newark northern bypass to dual carriageway, and theA46 junction with the A1 will be replaced to support nearby housing growth and improve links from the A1 toNewark andLincoln.[53] The DCO is due to be submitted in early 2024, with construction likely to start in 2026 if approved.[7]
It was also announced that the Doncaster By-pass, which is the oldest stretch of two-lane motorway still in service, would be upgraded to dual three lanes. This will relieve local congestion and provide the capacity needed to make the A1 an alternative (and better) strategic route to the north east.[32]
In 2003 a proposal for a bypass ofSandy andBeeston,Bedfordshire, was put forward as a green-lighted scheme as part of a government multi-modal study, with a cost of £67 million.[54] However, the Highways Agency was unwilling to confirm the information as the study was preliminary and intended for future publication.[55] In 2008 the proposal was submitted for consideration in the pre-2013/14 Regional Funding Advice 2 Programme of theEast of England Development Agency.[56]
A1(M) technology enhancements and upgrades; A1 East of England feasibility study
It was also announced in 2014 that new technology would be implemented to bring the road to motorway standards, including detection loops, CCTV cameras and variable message signs to provide better information for drivers and active traffic management acrossTyne and Wear,[32] while Junction 6 (Welwyn North) to Junction 8 (Hitchin) would be upgraded to smart motorway, including widening of a two-lane section to dual three lanes and hard shoulder running.[45] This plan to upgrade to smart motorway has now been cancelled.[57]
A strategic study will examine how to improve the safety and performance of the A1 betweenPeterborough and theM25, including whether to upgrade the old dual carriageway section to motorway standard.[45]
The M25 to Stotfold section is 23 miles (37 km), and was constructed between 1962 and 1986. The main destinations are Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, and Letchworth. It opened in five stages: junctions 1 to 2 in 1979; 2 to 4 in 1986; 4 to 6 in 1973; 6 to 8 in 1962; and 8 to 10 in 1967.
The Doncaster By-pass opened in 1961 and is one of the oldest sections of motorway in Britain.[58] It is 15 miles (24 km) long, and runs fromBlyth toCarcroft.
The Darrington to Gateshead section was constructed between 1965 and 2018. It is 93 miles (150 km), and opened in sections:
Junctions 56 to 59 in 1965
Junctions 59 to 63 in 1969
Junctions 63 to 65 in 1970
Walshford to 49 in 1995
Junctions 43 to 44 in 1999
When this section opened it ended at a temporary terminus south of theM1. There was a final exit into Micklefield Village for non-motorway traffic onto what is now the access road. During the first week of June 2009, Junctions 44 and 45 were renumbered 43 and 44. At the same time the A1/A659 Grange Moor junction became A1(M) Junction 45.[59] As a result many atlases show incorrect junction numbering for this stretch of motorway.
Junction 46 to temporary junction atWalshford opened in 2005[60]
Junction 40 to south of 43 opened in 2005 & 2006
The northern section of the upgrade, bypassingFairburn village opened in April 2005 with a temporary connection with the A1 between Fairburn andBrotherton. The southern section, with a free-flow interchange with theM62 motorway opened on 13 January 2006.
Junctions 49 to 51 opened as of 31 March 2012. Work began in March 2009 to upgrade the Dishforth to Leeming section to dual three-lane motorway standard with existing connections being replaced by two new junctions.[62] This work was completed on 31 March 2012.
^"Column: 1180". Hansard. 20 December 1995. Retrieved20 January 2008.
^The table was drawn up by reading values from the AA Route Planner for the journey Bank of England, London to Waverley Station, Edinburgh via Wittering. Adjustments were made for sections of the route that were not part of the A1."Route planner". AA.Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved15 January 2011.
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Media related toA1 road (Great Britain) at Wikimedia Commons
