M1 Junction 6: Waterdale (A405)

Map of M1 Junction 6: Waterdale — M1 Junction 6: Waterdale. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Junction 6 at Waterdale links the M1 to the A405 for Garston and Bricket Wood. Bricket Wood station is about a mile east and Garston station about a mile and a half south. Woodside Stadium is about a mile south-west. Kings Langley is about three miles west, and St Albans Abbey station around three miles north-east.

Garston and Bricket Wood residents, delivery drivers working north Watford, and visitors heading for the studio tour at Leavesden come this way. This page shows what is happening at the junction and what is around it.

Check this junction now: live M1 speed flow map · latest M1 traffic news · M1 serious incidents · M1 accidents

M1 Junction 6 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks

Live traffic news at M1 Junction 6

Incidents and roadworks between Junction 5 and Junction 7 that we are aware of.

M1 northbound Approach to Jct 6 lane 3 and 2 closure

PlannedRoadworksNorthbound

Time now: Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 21:57 (9:57pm)

21:50 (9:50pm)21 Oct 2026reported 6 min ago

Location: M1 northbound between J5 and J6
Direction: Northbound
Lanes closed: Lane closures
Reason: Roadworks
Schedule: 22:00 (10pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 05:00 (5am) Thu 22 Oct 2026

Forecast - not confirmed

🚧HA scheduled: 22:00 (10pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 05:00 (5am) Thu 22 Oct 2026 starts in about 2 minutes · lasts ~7h 00m

+ 1 more near Junction 6 - see all the M1 traffic news →

This is the news for Junction 6 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 21:57 (9:57pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026

Live Traffic Speeds at M1 Junction 6

The speed strip below shows the M1 around this junction, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.

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60 mph +50–5930–4915–29under 15

closedM62connecting motorwayA6A road👈M1our site: tap for its map

services, on the side you can reach them

crashincidentqueueroadworksspeed limitspeed shown on the signsstop-startoverhead sign

reported by drivers, which can’t always be relied onconfirmed by National Highways

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Go to our live M1 traffic speed flow map ›

In an emergency call 999. To report a problem on a motorway, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 (24 hours).

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 J6 in Our Records

Incidents here, last 13 days33 collisions, 0 breakdowns or obstructions

Typical time to clear44 minutesthe middle value of 3 cleared

Slowest daytime hour northbound17:00–18:00average 38 mph (typical 53 mph)

Slowest daytime hour southbound08:00–09:00average 49 mph (typical 52 mph)

All 3 incidents we recorded at J6 in the last 13 days were collisions. Northbound, the slowest daytime hour is 17:00, about 15 mph below the typical speed. Southbound, traffic usually keeps close to its typical speed through the day; the slowest hour is 08:00.

Average speed by hour of day at J6

our average, last 13 daysNational Highways’ typical speed

Northbound

Southbound

Incidents per week at J6

collisionsbreakdowns and obstructions* part week: we started recording during it

The latest 3 here

Sat 17 Oct, 12:12 (12:12pm) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M1 southbound between junctions J8 and J6
✓ Cleared after about 64 minutes (1.07 hours)
Mon 12 Oct, 14:40 (2:40pm) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M1 southbound between junctions J8 and J6
✓ Cleared after about 9 minutes
Sun 11 Oct, 20:40 (8:40pm) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M1 northbound between junctions J6 and J8
✓ Cleared after about 44 minutes

Built from our own records of National Highways’ live data for the M1 either side of J6: 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 J6, Waterdale
Roads at this junction A405
Nearest town Kings Langley, 3.0 miles west
Junction before J5, Berrygrove, about 2.3 miles in a straight line
Junction after J6A, Chiswell, about 1.5 miles in a straight line

Around M1 Junction 6: Waterdale: Towns and Places on the Map

Map of the area within about 5 miles of M1 Junction 6: Waterdale, showing the towns, villages, roads and places to visit — The area within about 5 miles of M1 Junction 6. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Places on the Map Near M1 Junction 6
Place	What it is	From the junction
Woodside Stadium	Venue	About 1 mile south-west
Bricket Wood	Railway station	About 1 mile east
Garston	Railway station	About 1.5 miles south
Munden House	Historic house or castle	About 1.5 miles south-east
Watford North	Railway station	About 2 miles south
St Albans Abbey	Railway station	About 3 miles north-east
The Hypocaust	Attraction	About 3 miles north
Apsley	Railway station	About 4 miles north-west