A1 - A421

Name
Black Cat Roundabout

Where is it?

On the Bedfordshire section of A1, notorious as an ancient section of A1 full of roundabouts and right-turns, where the A421 trunk route from Bedford joins in.

What's wrong with it?

This whole section of A1 is at best unacceptable, and at worst downright dangerous. The Black Cat Roundabout is certainly a contender for the most dangerous junction on it. Considering this stretch of all-purpose A1 is between two sections of A1(M), the place where it meets another trunk route (and one which is a grade separated dual carriageway just a few miles further on) is not the place for a cramped roundabout. The Black Cat is a regular on traffic reports for overturned lorries and general congestion as the sheer volume of traffic finds it hard to get through.

Why is it wrong?

This section of the A1 was upgraded quite a while before the sections around it — it was dualled when the rest of the road was still single carriageway, by slapping another two lane carriageway next to the existing one. Back in the 1950s it must have been a dream, but now, stuck between two sections of fast A1(M), it's abysmal and traffic using it isn't used to travel on such a low-grade overused road. This junction simply hasn't been updated and is long overdue for an overhaul.

What would be better?

The A421 upgrade works could have included a new junction. It wouldn't be achieving the impossible to build a new roundabout with the A1 flying over the top — basic and very much a plain-vanilla option but it would be perfectly adequate here. Sadly all that happened was that the existing roundabout was made larger. Alternatively, since there's no other roads involved, how about a free-flowing trumpet, costing not much more in land, less in overbridges, and returning more in capacity?

Routes

Right to reply

Glenn Aylett 4 September 2021

This section of the A1 is dangerous and old fashioned. Rather like the mercifully replaced sections in North Yorkshire, it used the cheap alternative of building a new carriageway next to the old one, good and cost effective 60 years ago, but not now, where drivers have to watch for vehicles like tractors pulling out from farm tracks and at grade junctions. I would recommend this whole stretch of road between two motorways is replaced and Black Cat replaced by a grade seperated junction.

I thought it WAS being replaced with a grade seperated junction and a connection from the A421 to the A428?

Jonathan Wilson 1 April 2022

Is there ANY instance anywhere in the UK where adding traffic lights to a roundabout has made things better?

Sanyknowes Roundabout (M2, Jct. 4) in NI, where the A8 meets the M2.

Traffic lights here really helped an awful congestion black spot.

Anonymous 22 July 2022

At least there making the A428 between black cat roundabout and Caxton gibbet roundabout which as well makes the A1 free-flow through the black cat roundabout as well as the A421 and A428. here's a website to look at the plans : https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/a428-black-cat-to-caxton-gibbe… do prefer though for the A1 to be free-flow between Baldock and Alconbury.

Anonymous 22 July 2022

I think that all the roundabouts on the A1 between Baldock and Alconbury should be removed.

Simon Curtis 23 August 2022

Well back in 2006 I made my first comment on here and after the two 'upgrades' they are now building a new junction. Rather than move it slightly East to straighten the A1 and remove the double bends at Tempsford/Roxton the short sighted Highway Authority have decided to build it directly on top of the original position. Building to the East would have meant that the majority of the junction and new dual carriageway to Caxton Gibbet could have been built with minimal disruption to the present roundabout. I have already suggested to Highways that they put a temporary connection from the Eastbound A421 to the Northbound A1 across behind the current Total garage/ Travelodge which will allow the traffic to flow easily on to the Northbound A1. Something that was glaringly obvious when the last incarnation happened. The usual intransigence of the Highways Authority means they will not listen or entertain any suggestions. Yet another missed opportunity.
Much like the new A1/A14 massive junction. No direct access to the Westbound A14. Now it is three roundabouts where there used to be one. The Highways reaponse "not enough land for an additional slip road" a simple aerial view would show where they made a glating error. There will only be four roundabouts on the A1 feom London to the Scottish borders. Three in Bedfordshire Two in Biggleswade, One in Sandy and One in Cambridgeshire at Buckden. The Buckden one would be easy to remove. Stop the traffic entering from Buckden village onto the roundabout they an access from the other end secondly put a link road from the Godmanchester road to the Northern part of Buckden thirdly put a link road from the Perry road behind the properties on the West to the Godmanchester slip road. All the minor roads that access the A1 North of the Buckden roundabout can then be stopped. That leaves only the three in Bedfordshire. Only the Sandy one would need a bypass for Beeston/Girtford the Biggleswade ones could be removed with minimal planning.

70alltheway 5 October 2022

I have driven around that roundabout 300 times a year for the last 8 years. The queues are still not as bad as precovid times. If everyone queued properly it would really help. I suspect that realignment would have incurred cost of a new bridge and extensive drainage works for the foundations. I’ll believe the free flow of the new design when I see it. Hopefully we won’t have the same 4 years of hell the new a14 junction gave us.

I suppose your "4 years of hell" means the period of re-construction. Let's just say if the people are benefited in the long run that is at worst necessary evil.

On the other hand, if you want to say "since traffic level is not going to recover anytime soon let's just leave it and spend money on more important stuff" then you can just say it.

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