Drivers Face Hours of Delays as A1 Closure Causes Weekend Gridlock

Drivers have been caught in hours-long delays this weekend following the closure of the A1 northbound between Black Cat roundabout and Wyboston, with frustration spilling onto social media as tailbacks built up throughout Saturday.

The closure, which began at 9pm on Friday (5 July) and is scheduled to remain in place until 5am on Monday, is part of ongoing A428 upgrade works and water main connections being carried out by Anglian Water.

However, traffic light issues near the diversion route caused major disruption, with some motorists claiming to have been stuck for up to five hours. Hundreds took to social media to express anger and confusion over the delays, demanding answers as the traffic backlog stretched for miles.

Bedfordshire Police confirmed they were aware of the incident and said officers were on scene to help manage the situation.

In response, National Highways issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, apologising for the disruption:

“We would like to apologise for the delays experienced on the A421 eastbound today. We understand the frustration and inconvenience this caused to those affected, and we are reviewing the circumstances to help ensure this situation is not repeated.”

They added that, due to the nature of the works, the closure cannot be lifted early, and it will remain in place until 5am on Monday 7 July.

To ease the pressure, National Highways confirmed they are closing the eastbound entry slips at Cardington and Renhold interchanges to reduce the volume of traffic joining the A421.

Updated travel advice includes:

• Drivers heading for the A1 are advised to use the A603 towards Sandy, where access to the A1 in both directions is available.
• A1 northbound traffic should continue to follow the official diversion, exiting at Tempsford, following St Neots Road through Little Barford, then joining the A428 westbound through St Neots, and rejoining the A1 at Wyboston.

Motorists are urged to allow extra time, follow signed diversions, and check live travel updates before setting out.