M1 Junction 17: Kilsby (M45, A5)
Junction 17 is where the M45 leaves the M1 for Dunchurch and Coventry. It is motorway-to-motorway only, with no exit to local roads. Watford Gap Services is about a mile and a half south-east, between Junctions 16 and 17. The village of Watford, which gave the services its name, and Ashby St Ledgers are close by. Daventry is almost five miles south.
Nobody lives at this junction, but hauliers and anyone heading for the M45 towards Coventry pass through it. Check this page and the live map if that is your route.
Check this junction now: live M1 speed flow map · latest M1 traffic news · M1 serious incidents · M1 accidents
M1 Junction 17 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks
Live traffic news at M1 Junction 17
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 16 and Junction 18 that we are aware of.
Lane 1,2 closure southbound
21:50 (9:50pm)21 Oct 2026reported 11 min ago
- Location
- M1 southbound between J17 and J16
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 20:00 (8pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Thu 22 Oct 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 2 more near Junction 17 - see all the M1 traffic news →
This is the news for Junction 17 only, not the whole M1. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M1 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.
Updated 22:02 (10:02pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026
Live Traffic Speeds at M1 Junction 17
The speed strip below shows the M1 around this junction, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.
Untick all three to see just the speeds. We show the important overhead signs and the mandatory speed limits (red ring); see every overhead sign.
Go to our live M1 traffic speed flow map ›
NOTE: The speed flow, overhead sign messages or other information shown on our live traffic speed flow map is updated every few minutes. We cross check the data and aim to provide warnings if there could be a delay or an inaccurate speed reading. There can be occasions, beyond our control, and despite our best efforts where the speed flow could be inaccurate. We cannot therefore guarantee the speed you can expect on any stretch of the motorway is always accurately shown. However we hope you will find our live traffic speed flow map a useful tool in trying to plan your journey. Safe driving.
All the latest M1 traffic news →Live M1 traffic speed flow map →
M1 J17 in Our Records
The one incident we recorded at J17 in the last 13 days was a collision. In both directions, traffic has been running faster than its typical speed, even at the slowest times of day.
Average speed by hour of day at J17
Northbound
Southbound
Incidents per week at J17
The latest 1 here
- Mon 19 Oct, 09:46 (9:46am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M1 southbound between junctions J18 and J17
✓ Cleared after about 164 minutes (2.73 hours)
Built from our own records of National Highways’ live data for the M1 either side of J17: speeds from 13 days of five-minute readings, incidents from the last 13 days (we started recording incidents on 09/10/2026). Each incident is counted once. Updated every five minutes.
- Junction M1 J17, Kilsby
- Roads at this junction M45, A5
- Nearest town Daventry, 4.7 miles south
- Junction before J16, about 8.4 miles in a straight line
- Junction after J18, Crick Interchange, about 1.9 miles in a straight line
Around M1 Junction 17: Kilsby: Towns and Places on the Map
| Place | What it is | From the junction |
|---|---|---|
| Watford Gap Services | Motorway services | About 1.5 miles south-east |
| Long Buckby | Railway station | About 3 miles south-east |
| Rainsbrook Valley Railway | Attraction | About 5 miles west |
