M1 Junction 44: Rothwell Haigh (A639)
Junction 44 at Rothwell Haigh links the M1 to the A639 for Rothwell and south Leeds. Stourton, Rothwell and Belle Isle are right beside it. Rothwell Country Park is about a mile east. Middleton Railway, one of the oldest working railways in the world, is about two miles west.
Rothwell and Stourton residents, and drivers making deliveries across south Leeds, join the M1 here.
Check this junction now: live M1 speed flow map · latest M1 traffic news · M1 serious incidents · M1 accidents
M1 Junction 44 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks
Live traffic news at M1 Junction 44
Incidents and roadworks between Junction 43 and Junction 45 that we are aware of.
M1 northbound Jct 44 to Jct 46 Lane 2 and 3 closure (303/2 311/4)
21:50 (9:50pm)21 Oct 2026reported 11 min ago
- Location
- M1 northbound between J43 and J44
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Tree and vegetation cutting work
- Schedule
- 20:00 (8pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Thu 22 Oct 2026
This is the news for Junction 44 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 44
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 J44 in Our Records
The one incident we recorded at J44 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 J44
Northbound
Southbound
Incidents per week at J44
The latest 1 here
- Thu 15 Oct, 16:15 (4:15pm) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M1 southbound between junctions J44 and J42
✓ Cleared after about 53 minutes
Built from our own records of National Highways’ live data for the M1 either side of J44: 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 J44, Rothwell Haigh
- Roads at this junction A639
- Nearest town Rothwell, 1.1 miles south-east
- Junction before J42, Lofthouse, about 2.3 miles in a straight line
- Junction after J45, East Leeds Link Interchange, about 1.2 miles in a straight line
Around M1 Junction 44: Rothwell Haigh: Towns and Places on the Map

| Place | What it is | From the junction |
|---|---|---|
| Rothwell Country Park | Park or nature reserve | About 1 mile east |
| St Georges Retail Park | Shopping | About 2 miles south-west |
| Park Halt | Railway station | About 2 miles west |
| Middleton Railway Museum | Attraction | About 2 miles west |
| Go Ape - Treetop Adventure | Attraction | About 2.5 miles north-east |
| Trentham Park | Park or nature reserve | About 2.5 miles west |
| New Dock Hall | Venue | About 2.5 miles north-west |
| Team Talk Conference Venue | Venue | About 3 miles north-west |