Highways Agency Holiday Getaway Information Update

THE Highways Agency lifts half of all roadwork schemes on motorways and major a roads for Summer Bank Holiday getaway

Half of all roadworks on England's motorways and major A roads will be lifted or completed ahead of the August Bank Holiday, the Highways Agency has announced.

Drivers are being urged to prepare for the holiday getaway by planning their journeys and checking their vehicles before taking to the road, and making sure they have enough fuel for their journey.

In the first six months of 2007 the Highways Agency dealt with 4,678 recorded incidents nationally where people had run out of fuel on the motorway - a quarter of them in the North West, more than any other region in the country.

Derek Turner, the Highways Agency's Director of Traffic Operations said:- "Removing roadworks for the Bank Holiday is just one of the ways that the Highways Agency helps drivers to make more reliable journeys over the holiday weekend.

We also provide information for drivers about traffic conditions on the motorways and major A roads from our website, telephone information service and our new traffic radio service.

We are also asking drivers to help themselves to a safer journey by carrying out checks on their vehicles and making sure they are topped up with fuel.

Our Traffic Officers help many drivers who have broken down simply because they have run out of fuel during their journey. A quick check and top up could save you having to stop on the motorway hard shoulder, which is a very dangerous place for anyone. Remember that an unexpected delay to your journey uses up more fuel, particularly with air conditioning running in hot weather."

Drivers and passengers are also being advised to make sure they have plenty of water and refreshments with them on their journey in case it takes longer than planned.

Holiday routes are traditionally busy all over the weekend so drivers are advised to plan their route and check for delays before they set off and while they are on the move. The Friday afternoon before the holiday is often the busiest on most routes. The Highways Agency says that if drivers can try to avoid the peak journey times everyone would benefit.

Journey planning information including the latest road conditions is available through the Highways Agency website, the new Traffic Radio service on DAB digital radio and the internet, at information points at motorway service areas and through travel news bulletins.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers will be patrolling all motorways across England over the Bank Holiday weekend, clearing incidents as quickly as possible by working closely with our contractors and the police to keep as many lanes as possible open for drivers.

Roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 6am on Friday 24 August 2007 and not put back before midnight on Bank Holiday Monday. A total of 39 roadworks have been lifted or completed. For safety reasons, roadworks at 39 locations will remain, although the Agency has taken measures to minimise disruption to drivers at these locations where possible.

Details of the roadworks remaining, lifted and completed are as follows:-

SOUTH EAST

M2 Jct 5 - 6... Nearest town, Faversham Bridge strengthening. Lane 2 closures in both directions and narrow lanes. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

A2 Darenth... Nearest town Dartford Widening and bridge construction. Open excavations, narrow lanes, speed limit reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delay expected.

M25 Jct 2... Nearest town Dartford Widening and bridge construction. Open excavations, narrow lanes, speed limit reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delay expected.

A27, west of Southerham roundabout... Nearest town Lewes Widening with roundabout improvements, approximately 400m east of Beddingham roundabout. Narrow lanes, no right turns, open excavations. Speed 40mph for safety.

A3 Hindhead to Liphook Jct. Nearest town Hindhead, Construction of new bypass. Single lane closures, contraflow and layby closures. Speed reduced to 40/50 mph; open excavations. Slight delays expected.

A3 Hindhead - Lea Coach Road to Boundless Road. Nearest town Hindhead. Construction of new bypass. Single lane closure north and southbound, narrow lanes and possible contraflow. 40mph speed limit for safety. Slight delays expected.

A27/A3(M) to M27 - Nearest town Portsmouth, Installation of new information signs. Narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Improvement - Gravesend, Widening works. Open excavations, speed limit reduced to 50mph for safety. Narrow lanes and contraflow. Slight delay expected.

EAST

M25 Junction 28/A12 Brook Street, Improvement scheme. Lane one closure on A12 eastbound entry slip road and lane two lane closure on westbound exit slip. Narrow lanes on all slip roads and A12 eastbound carriageway. Slight delays expected.

M4 Jct 12. Nearest town, Reading. Communications upgrade. Narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

M25 Jct 25. Holmesdale Tunnel, Tunnel improvements, lane closure Jct 25 eastbound entry slip road and westbound exit slip road, narrow lanes. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

M1 Jct 6a to 10 project. Nearest town Luton, Major widening works from Jct 6a to Jct 10. Narrow lanes and contraflow. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Moderate delays expected.

M1 Brockley Bridge, Jct 4. Nearest town Harrow, Bridge improvements. 50mph speed limit for safety. Narrow lanes. Slight delays expected.

A14 Orwell Bridge. Nearest town Ipswich, Bearing replacement works. Narrow lanes westbound. 50mph speed limit for safety.

EAST MIDLANDS

A1 Blyth - A1(M) Jct 34 to A614. Junction improvement. Contraflow and speed reduced to 50/40mph for safety. Slight to moderate delays expected.

A1 Apleyhead Junction Nearest town Retford Junction improvement. Narrow lanes on southbound carriageway of roundabout. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety.

A1 Markham Moor, Nearest town Tuxford, Junction improvement. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety.

A45 Wilby Way Roundabout Nearest town Wellingborough Junction improvement. Narrow lanes and 40mph speed limit on westbound carriageway.

WEST MIDLANDS

A38 Trent Valley Railway Bridge. Nearest town Lichfield Railway bridge construction by Network Rail; narrow lanes and contraflow; speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Moderate delays expected.

A46 Northway Lane and Forsheda Junction, Nearest town Ashchurch Junction improvements. 30mph speed restriction for safety.

A4123 Hill Road to Lower City Road, Nearest town Tividale Bridge repairs works. Full closure overnight. Moderate delays expected.

A5/M69 Island, Nearest town Hinckley Island improvements, including drainage, widening, signaling and barrier works. 30mph speed limit on roundabout and 50mph on M69.

SOUTH WEST/DEVON & CORNWALL

A38 Dobwalls, new bypass, Nearest town Liskeard, Lane closures and contraflow at approaches to Dobwalls. A 30mph speed limit will be in force throughout the works. Moderate delays expected.

A419 Blunsdon - Turnpike roundabout to Castle Eaton, Near Swindon, Construction of new bypass. Narrow lanes and speed limit of 40mph for safety. Moderate delays expected.

NORTH WEST

A590 High and Low Newton, Construction of new bypass. Temporary diversion as existing carriageway has been dug up as part of phased construction for new bypass. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

M62/M57 Huyton. Nearest town Liverpool Junction improvement. Narrow lanes eastbound M62 and southbound M57. One lane closed eastbound on M62. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

A5117/A550 M56 to Deeside Park Jct. Nearest town Chester, Junction improvement bridgeworks require narrow lanes. 40mph speed, limit will be in place for safety. Slight delays expected.

M6 Jct 44 to A74 Guards Mill, Nearest town Carlisle. Widening works needing narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit for safety; slight delays.

NORTH EAST

A66 6km West of A1 Scotch corner, Nearest town Richmond, Widening scheme requiring contraflow and speed reduced to 40mph. Slight delays expected.

A66 10.5km west of A1 Scotch Corner Nearest town Barnard Castle Widening scheme requiring contraflow and 40mph restriction for safety. Slight delays expected.

A66 Temple Sowerby Nearest town Temple Sowerby, Construction of new bypass. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Slight delays expected.

A66 Surtees Bridge (A66 between A1130 and A135) Nearest town Stockton-on-Tees Bridge replacement and widening. Lane closures on eastbound exit slip road and westbound entry slip roads at A1045 interchange. Contraflow with narrow lanes. Speed reduced to 30mph for safety.

A66 Long Newton. Nearest town Stockton on Tees Junction improvements. 50mph speed limit for safety.

A1 Seven Mile House Bridge. Nearest city Newcastle Construction of new bridge. Narrow lanes; speed reduced to 50mph for safety.

A1 Scotch Corner Interchange. Nearest town Darlington Bridge works. HGVs not permitted in lane 2 and hardshoulder closed. Narrow lanes; 40mph speed limit for safety.

A1 Swalwell. Nearest town Gateshead, Bridge works. Narrow lanes; 50mph speed limit for safety.

A1 Jct 46 to Wetherby Grange Nearest town Wetherby Widening works. 50mph speed limit for safety.

A69 Haydon Bridge, New bypass construction. 40mph speed limit for safety.

YORKSHIRE & HUMBER

M1 Jct 31 to Jct 32. Nearest town Rotherham Major widening project with narrow lanes on both carriageways. Speed
reduced to 50mph for safety. Moderate to Severe delays expected.

ROADWORKS LIFTED - BETWEEN 6AM ON FRIDAY 24 AUGUST AND MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY 27 AUGUST 2007; Total lifted: 29 roadwork schemes (61.56 miles)

EAST

A5 Jct with the A421, Milton Keynes, Bridgeworks. Lane closures lifted.

EAST MIDLANDS

A14 - J1 to M1, Catthorpe, Resurfacing. Lane closures lifted.

M1 - Jct 15 - 15A, Northampton, Bridge improvements. Lane closures lifted.

M1 - Jct 16 - 17, Northampton, Bridge improvements. Lane closures lifted.

M45 Jct 1 to Dunchurch, Rugby Upgrade of vehicle safety fence. Lane closure lifted.

A46 Newark to Winderpool, Newark, Lighting improvements. All roadworks suspended.

A46 Winthorpe, Drainage works. All roadworks suspended.

A453 Jct with the A52, Clifton, Lighting maintenance. All roadworks suspended.

A52, Clifton, Mast painting. All roadworks suspended.

A38/A50, Toyota entry slip, Derby Resurfacing works. All roadworks suspended.

M1 Jct 19, Rugby, Resurfacing works on southbound exit to A14. All roadworks suspended.

M1 Jct 21/20, north and southbound Leicester Carriageway repairs. All roadworks suspended.

M1 Jct 20/21, north and southbound Leicester Carriageway repairs. All roadworks suspended.

WEST MIDLANDS

M6 Jct 4, to M1 Jct 19 Rugby/Coventry Safety fence works. All roadworks suspended.

A45/A4071 Blue Boar Flyover, Rugby Bridge strengthening and upgrade. All roadworks suspended.

M5 Jct 4A, Catshill Resurfacing works. All roadworks suspended.

M5 Jct 4, Lydiate Ash Resurfacing works. All roadworks suspended.

M5 Jct 7, Worcester, Junction safety audit. All works suspended.

A5/B4116, Holly Lane roundabout, Atherstone Junction improvement. All roadworks suspended.

A38/A5121, Claymills, Burton on Trent, Resurfacing on north and southbound slip roads. All roadworks suspended.

A38/A5121, Branston, Burton on Trent Resurfacing on northbound entry and exit slips. All roadworks suspended.

M6 Jct 3, Coventry, Resurfacing works on northbound entry slip. All works suspended.

A46/A428 Coventry, Resurfacing works on approach to TGI Friday Island. All roadworks suspended.

A46/B4082 Coventry, Resurfacing works on approach to Wallsgrave island. All roadworks suspended.

SOUTH WEST

M4 J15 to J18 Bath & Swindon Communications improvements. All works suspended.

NORTH EAST

A19 Killingworth Interchange Newcastle Carriageway repairs. All roadworks suspended.

A66 White Vale to Cumbrian border Barnard Castle White lining. All works suspended.

NORTH WEST

M6 Shap Fell Penrith, County Cumbria Resurfacing on southbound junctions 39 - 38. All works suspended.

M6 Mayburgh Penrith, County Cumbria Bridge refurbishment between junctions 39 - 40. All works suspended.

ROADWORKS COMPLETED BEFORE THE SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY BREAK

Total completed:- 10 roadwork schemes (16.6 miles)

EAST MIDLANDS

A52 Bardills Roundabout Nottingham, Junction improvement scheme. All work completed.

A38 Alfreton Road Bridge Alfreton, Painting of structures. All work completed.

A52 Henson Lane to Brickyard Lane, Radcliffe on Trent Resurfacing work completed.

A52 Spondon, Derby, Footbridge maintenance completed.

A38 Somercotes to Mickleover Interchange, Derby, Sign works completed.

WEST MIDLANDS

M6 Jct 9 - 8 and M5 Spur Road, Walsall, Substructure repair works completed.

M6 Jct 9 southbound entry slip, Walsall, Substructure repair works completed.

A49 Berrington Hall, Leominster, Resurfacing, kerbing and drainage works completed.

SOUTH WEST

M4 Jct 15 - 16, Swindon, Removal and replacement of pedestrian overbridge. All work completed.

NORTH EAST

A184 Whitemare Pool, Gateshead, Construction of bus shelter. All work completed.