[1] Construction of a new section of A1(M) between Leeming and Barton was completed on 29 March 2018, a year later than the anticipated opening in 2017 due to extensive archaeological excavations.

From Newcastle upon Tyne to Edinburgh it is a trunk road with alternating sections of dual and single carriageway.

It is designed to a noticeably high standard, 8 miles (13 km) of it being four lanes from junction 14 at Alconbury to junction 16 at Norman Cross in each direction whilst the remainder has three lanes in each direction.

Data from driver location signs are used to provide distance and carriageway identifier information.

[5] Proposals were made by a previous government to upgrade the Skellow to Darrington section of the A1 to motorway, meaning the entire stretch of A1 from Blyth in Nottinghamshire to Washington in Tyne and Wear would be motorway-standard road.