The Government has scrapped the proposals to widen large parts of the motorway network to four or more lanes - including long sections of the M6, the M1, the M62 and the M25. This includes the section that runs through South Beds - M1 junctions 10 to 13.
Instead they will be using the hard shoulder running system:
* Hard shoulders are opened to traffic at busy times
* Maximum speed limits of 60mph
* Traffic flows monitored by closed-circuit television
* Speed limits reduced further when necessary
* Emergency refuge areas set up every 800 yards
This system was tested on the M42 near Birmingham last year.
Scrapping the widening will save the Government between £5m to £7m according to experts.
