Drivers are advised to plan ahead if they are using the M1 in Bedfordshire after a truck hits a bridge Bedford News

Drivers are advised to plan ahead if they are using the M1 in Bedfordshire this weekend after a bridge was hit by a heavy truck this morning.

Three southbound carriageway lanes of the M1 between Junctions 13 (Brogborough) and 12 (Toddington) are currently closed, resulting in delays of almost 60 minutes. However, lane three is currently being reopened, with lane 2 scheduled to reopen at 6 p.m.

Lane 1 will remain closed and a 50 mph speed restriction will be in place while a concrete safety barrier will be installed tomorrow by Highways England.

Critical safety repairs are needed due to a collision shortly after 3 a.m. this morning (Friday) in which a large amount of diesel was spilled on the roadway. About 200m of the security barrier was also damaged and needs to be repaired.

Highways England will reinstate the closure of lanes one, two and three on the southbound carriageway between J13 and J12 at 9pm this evening to secure the underpass for pedestrians. The closures of lanes 2 and 3 are expected to be lifted by midnight.

The concrete safety barrier will remain in place and Track 1 will be closed for the next three months while Highways England complete repairs to the damaged bridge parapet. However, the speed limit will be restored to 70 mph during this period.