M1 tomorrow

[Stevenj214]

I'm heading from M1 jct 15 to M1 jct 1 tomorrow. Google maps says 1hr 14min. I'm not familiar with London traffic; will leaving at 9am get me there for 11am?

[manic47]

It should do - all it needs is one breakdown in the miles of roadworks from J13 to J10 to scupper your plans though.

Today it took me 90 minutes from J15 to J12 - leaving at 8:30

[Flanders.]

Just to let you know, its been shut 4 times in 6 days just in Bedforshire. Good luck .

[maxrider]

We went to Twickenham last year for a match that kicked off at 3pm.
Left from junction 21 at 8am just to be on the safe side.
Got there just over 1/2 hour from the end of the match!
Never again will I drive into London it's far too unpredictable, train every time.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Can you not do either the a1 or m40 south and then across as the m1 has roadworks and can be a huge pain between busy hrs. Avoid the m25 though as well as there are road widening works at bottom of m1 and they cause huge traffic jams in the morning.

If you are going to use that route i would give yourself 2hrs.

[K87]

Easiest way to avoid the roadworks would be head south on the A508 at J15 until it joins the A5, then stay on the A5 South and rejoin at J9. Mate got stuck for about 2 hours this morning around J16-17 I think.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

K87 said:

Easiest way to avoid the roadworks would be head south on the A508 at J15 until it joins the A5, then stay on the A5 South and rejoin at J9. Mate got stuck for about 2 hours this morning around J16-17 I think.

Don't use this route any more as used to get badly held up. May be better now who knows.

[joebongo]

M1 southbound is always buggered somewhere. I avoid it even in the evenings these days. A1 is much more preferable.

[reggie82]

It will be bad around the roadworks probably. Possibly busy as you approach the M25 but doubt it will be too bad at the time you'll get there. Once you're past the M25 it will probably be pretty clear.

Sorry for all the "probably's", but it's hard to say.

[Stevenj214]

Thanks for all the advice. I don't know roads into London very well (read: at all) so I think I'll add another 30mins onto my time and head down the M1.

[reggie82]

Where in London do you need to get to once you've reached junction 1 mate?

[Stevenj214]

reggie82 said:

Where in London do you need to get to once you've reached junction 1 mate?

Pretty much just there, NW9 postcode.

[pilchardthecat]

Haven't you left yet? Cutting it a bit fine ain't you?

Make a flask of tea and set off now!

[jas xjr]

I might be preaching to the converted , but a word of advice re roadworks on the motorway.
Do not use the contraflow. If someone breaks down in front of you , you are fecked. At least where you have two lanes there is a means of escape. I saw this happen on the m1 a few days ago

[Stevenj214]

In a cafe next door with 30 mins to spare!