M1 junction in Derbyshire set to be redesigned as drivers face 1,100 hours of delays costing over £4.5m per year

The stats come from research by transport body Midlands Connect which found commuters snarled up in traffic is costing the economy £419.72 an hour in rush hour, every day.

National Highways has put forward three possible redesigns for the junction, which is a main arterial route into a huge chunk of the East Midlands.

Bolsover MP Mark Fletcher, met MP Richard Holden, Minister for Roads and Local Transport, at Junction 28 to discuss plans.

Mr Fletcher, who has been campaigning for improvements to the junction since his election in 2019, said: “The Roads Minister’s visit today demonstrates my campaign has put the problems with the current junction firmly on the Department for Transport’s radar. It was a pleasure to welcome Richard to the Pinxton Interchange to discuss the options that have been put forward.”

Mr Fletcher held a Westminster Hall Debate, where he put forward the case for funding to the Roads Minister, he has further raised the issue with Midlands Connect and held a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon MP Mark Harper.

He added: “These schemes range in cost, complexity, the long-term cost-benefit and how future-proof the designs will be. I would like to see the most comprehensive design possible being implemented at this junction as it will ensure congestion is eliminated, provide the best support for local businesses and reduce long-term noise and air pollution for local residents I look forward to future meetings with National Highways and officials in the Department for Transport following further consultation on these designs.”

Minister Richard Holden welcomed the proposals. He said: ‘We all want to see some progress made here at Junction 28. We're going to have to see in terms of budgets and what can be achieved, but this is very much on our agenda.”

Mr Fletcher’s campaign is being supported by MPs Nigel Mills and Lee Anderson and has the backing of Bolsover District Council, Derbyshire County Council, the local enterprise partnership, D2N2, and Midlands Connect, as well major businesses in the area, including Co-op, Alliance Healthcare and the East Midlands Designer Outlet centre.