One of UK's busiest roads used by over 40,000 a day to close within hours

One of the UK’s busiest roads used by more than 40,000 drivers every day is set to be closed again within hours due to maintenance work. The A1 has already been hit with a series of closures over the past couple of days with disruption on Friday and Saturday evenings.

However, the pain isn’t over yet for road users with more closures planned for today (Sunday) and into next week - including on chunks of motorway. According to National Highways, the busy A1(M) will be hit with a closure between Junction 15 and Junction 14 from 8pm this evening. The road will not reopen until tomorrow morning at 6am, potentially affecting early risers heading to work.

National Highways said: "A1(M) both directions Jct 14 to Jct 15 - lane closure (Northbound lane 45) and carriageway closure A1(M) Southbound for structural maintenance."

However, repair work will continue into next week with further closures set to hit motorists on Monday. Among the most significant is near the busy Black Cat Roundabout in Bedford.

The route between Biggleswade and Sr Neots will be hit with carriageway closures and lane closure with diversion routes in place.

The road will be shut between 9pm on Sunday and 5am on Tuesday, ensuring the road is back open for the main rush hour traffic.

However, the A1 will also be hit with Northbound closures between Newark and Apleyhead on Monday evening, with the route reopening on Tuesday morning.

Monday evening will also see disruption to the A1 Northbound at Junction 65 and between Junctions 3 and 4.

The A1 Southbound will also be closed between the Barrowby entry and exit slip junction and between Junction 80 and Junction 74.

National Highways said the route would be shut overnight as a result of "major project maintenance works".

Further A1 Southbound disruption is scheduled between Junctions 15 and 14 as well as at Junction 38.

Many of these closures will also run into Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening in what could turn into a nightmare for commuters and locals.

The A1 is the longest-numbered road in the UK, stretching for 410 miles between London and Edinburgh. The route also passes through major towns and cities such as Peterborough, Doncaster and Leeds.

Statistics show that around 40,000 vehicles use the road every day, making it one of the busiest and most important in the country.