Sandy to MK commute

[LivewareProblem]

Bit of an odd one, was wondering if anyone goes from Bedford/Sandy to MK using the A421 in the mornings?

I've been commuting to London on the train for the last 3 years but have a new opportunity in Milton Keynes and just wanted to see what the drive and traffic is like.

[markiii]

in my experience

once your on it, its fine, bla\ck cat roundabout is the challenge

[Zippee]

Black cat is a pain, biggest issue at present is the works once you're into MK where they're updating the road layout by the big distribution centres. Traffic can back right up to the M1 there even at weekends, at rush hour I expect this is a ballache.
Coming home, it can sometimes take 40 minutes to get to the black cat. My wife who works in Bedford comes home via Roxton/Barford rather than down the by pass because of this.

[feef]

From Sandy, would you not be better going via Willington and joining the A421 at Bedford so avoiding the A1 and BlackCat altogether?

[alex_gray255]

Sandy roundabout is a big pain - avoid it by going through Willington

Going into MK is a right pain at the moment due to work on the 1st roundabout, plus going through
it drives you roundabout blind and can be quick dangerous if you do not remain alert.

I've seen quite a few accidents happen at them as people seem to forget how roundabouts work.

[andrew]

mk is growing at a rate of knots, but will only ever have three major roads through it

all six entry/exit points ( including the a421 east/j13 ) are bad and only going one way...

[itcaptainslow]

I wouldn't go near the Black Cat for that route-I'd do A603-A421 (new dual carriageway), come off at the M1 J13 junction and cut through Salford/skirt Cranfield, which brings you out by Kingston in east MK. Should be do-able in about an hour depending on where in MK you're going.

[blank]

itcaptainslow said:

I wouldn't go near the Black Cat for that route-I'd do A603-A421 (new dual carriageway), come off at the M1 J13 junction and cut through Salford/skirt Cranfield, which brings you out by Kingston in east MK. Should be do-able in about an hour depending on where in MK you're going.

This is a good detour from the roadworks.

Which area of MK is it and what time would you be aiming for? There are a few options for avoiding the Kingston roadworks.

[eliot]

go onto google maps on a pc, enter 'traffic' which will show live traffic status - you can then dropdown to select and see the historical traffic speed for any day of the week and time.
I use this technique when planning a trip somewhere in rush-hour.

[matt7208]

there is a good little cut through that means you avoid queuing from the traffic from the A421; take the junction just before the roundabout at the end and turn right. Small road through a Salford and comes out down by Broughton:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/52.0322745,-0.60...

[LivewareProblem]

Thanks all,

It'll be from that industrial area near Caldecotte (Tilbrook?)

[Mits]

The traffic around J13/Kingston is only an issue depening on what time you hit it.
I leave at 5.45am and am back from London around 5.30pm, completely clear and I think they stop working around 5pm.

After the roadworks take the 2nd exit after Woburn Sands towards the Vauxhall garage, then left at the roundabout towards Caldecotte.