A1(M) Junctions 47 to 56: Harrogate to Scotch Corner
This stretch crosses North Yorkshire, from the A59 for Harrogate and York to Barton, north of Scotch Corner. It was the last part of the northern A1(M) to become motorway. Reports for this stretch are shown below.
Search all the latest A1(M) traffic news →
Latest accident or incident on the A1(M)
The most recent accident or incident on the A1(M) that we are aware of.
Latest active roadworks on the A1(M)
Roadworks live on the A1(M) right now.
A1m northbound Jct 36 entry slip road closure
03:2626 Sept 2026reported 6 min ago
- Location
- A1(M) J36 northbound access
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Carriageway closed
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 20:00 Fri 25 Sept 2026 → 06:00 Sat 26 Sept 2026
Latest planned roadworks on the A1(M)
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the A1(M).
A1M Jct 63 to Jct 62 Southbound Lane 1 Closure (2)
03:2626 Sept 2026reported 6 min ago
- Location
- A1(M) southbound between J63 and J62
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Road improvement or upgrading
- Schedule
- 20:00 Fri 25 Sept 2026 → 06:00 Sat 26 Sept 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 15 more planned roadworks - search all A1(M) traffic news →
Search all the latest A1(M) traffic news →
Updated 03:32 Sat 26 Sept 2026
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.
The junctions on this stretch
- Junction 47 — the A59 for Harrogate, Knaresborough, York and Leeds/Bradford.
- Junction 48 — the A6055 for Boroughbridge, the B6265 for Ripon and the A168 for Dishforth.
- Junction 49 — the A168 for Thirsk and the A19 for Teesside.
- Junction 50 — the A61 for Ripon and Thirsk.
- Junction 51 — the A684 for Northallerton and Leyburn, and Bedale. This is Leeming Bar; the hamlet of Londonderry is beside the road here.
- Junction 52 — the A6055 and A6136 for Catterick, and Catterick Garrison, the largest British Army garrison.
- Junction 53, Scotch Corner — the A66 west for Penrith and Brough, the A6108 for Richmond, and Scotch Corner services.
- Junction 56 — the B6275 for Piercebridge and Barton.
The Leeming to Barton upgrade
For decades this was ordinary A1. The motorway advanced north in stages: Walshford to Junction 49 in 1995, Junctions 49 to 50 in October 2011, Junctions 50 to 51 on 31/03/2012 and finally Junctions 51 to 56, Leeming to Barton, completed in March 2018. That last piece made the A1 continuous motorway from Darrington to Washington.
How busy is this stretch?
| Stretch | All vehicles | Lorries | Share lorries |
|---|---|---|---|
| J46 to J47 | 81,909 | 16,500 | 20.1% |
| J47 to J48 | 85,818 | 14,660 | 17.1% |
| J48 to J49 | 82,350 | 14,257 | 17.3% |
| J49 to J50 | 59,112 | 9,717 | 16.4% |
| J50 to J51 | 54,826 | 9,572 | 17.5% |
| J51 to J52 | 68,276 | 9,673 | 14.2% |
| J52 to J53 | 61,570 | 9,179 | 14.9% |
| J53 to J56 | 69,459 | 7,578 | 10.9% |
The biggest change is around Junction 49. Near Dishforth, beyond the spur towards the A168, the count falls to 50,755 as traffic for Thirsk and Teesside takes the A168 and A19. Between Junctions 49 and 50 a second count point records 52,567. Counts through Junctions 51, 52 and 53 themselves are 49,077, 53,900 and 55,476.
Scotch Corner and the A66
Scotch Corner is where the A66 leaves for Penrith and the M6 across the Pennines. For A66 reports, see Traffic News England.
Previous: Junctions 40 to 46. Next: Junctions 57 to 65.
Traffic count figures on this page are from the Department for Transport road traffic statistics, 2025.