A contract worth £2.4m will see improvements take place in Bedfordshire providing smoother and safer journeys for drivers.

Improvements on the A421, M1 and A5 have moved a step closer with the appointment of a contractor for the scheme. Interserve Construction Ltd contractors for Highways England will be carrying out a package of works on the A421, the M1 at junction 13 and the A5 through Milton Keynes and Dunstable.

The work will involve road surface repairs, resurfacing, replacing and installing new signs, replacing road markings, upgrading lighting cables and installing new LED lighting heads.

The £2.4m contract is part of Highways England’s commitment in the region to improve safety and increase the capacity of roads to help ease congestion and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.

Aran Nugent, Service Delivery Team Leader at Highways England, said:

“The appointment of the contractors is a vital part of the delivery of improvements to some of our major roads in Bedfordshire. This scheme will make journeys better for local people by improving safety for the thousands of drivers that use these roads each day.

“We expect the work to start in the winter and be completed early next year. We will work with the contractors on how the works will affect people, but I’d like to assure drivers, where possible, disruption will be kept to a minimum and to bear with us while the works take place as there will be a small amount of pain for a large amount of gain.”