M1 remains part closed as Government plans ‘review’
The Government is planning a review into what industrial activities can take place close to motorways as most lanes on the M1 re-open three days after it was damaged in a scrap yard fire.
A fire on Friday saw the motorway completely shut between junctions 1 and 4 near London over the weekend, as thousands travelled into the capital for the FA Cup semi-finals.
But on Monday afternoon, four lanes had re-opened after the weekend’s travel chaos. Two lanes northbound, and two lanes southbound, are now open.
We are sorry for the continued disruption and will continue to work as hard as we can to re-open lanes as soon as it is safe. Highways Agency
The Highways Agency had earlier said it would re-open the motorway fully “as soon as it is safe to do so”.
In the meantime, it advised travellers to seek other routes “and expect significant delays”.
“We are sorry for the continued disruption and will continue to work as hard as we can to re-open lanes as soon as it is safe to do so. Further updates will be provided as and when available,” the transport body said.
Get the latest from the Highways Agency
Fire
The fire, in a scrapyard beneath the elevated seven-mile stretch of motorway, damaged sections of the road badly. A bridge is now being supported by steel pillars after the fire cause the concrete in the bridge to explode.
The Government has promised to look carefully into what activities can take place close to motorways to prevent this kind of accident happening again.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC: “Once we’ve seen the scale of impact that a fire can have in a scrap yard under a motorway, I think everybody would agree it is inappropriate to have scrap yards under elevated motorways and we will have to take action to ensure that inappropriate uses are eliminated under motorways.”