Highways Agency lifts roadworks to ease Bank Holiday
| Published: 19th August 2008 09:56 |
Highways Agency lifts roadworks to ease Bank Holiday getaway for North West drivers
To help North West drivers make smoother and more reliable journeys over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Highways Agency has completed or suspended almost two-thirds of all major roadworks on England's motorways and major A roads.
As part of the Highways Agency's commitment to ease congestion and help drivers make their journeys more safely and reliably, a total of 18 sets of roadworks will be completed and a further 49 will be suspended between 6am on Friday 22 August and midnight on Monday 25 August. In addition, work on schemes at 33 sites will not start until after the bank holiday, but roadworks at 38 locations will remain in place for the safety of drivers and their passengers.
Drivers are also reminded that the M1 between J32 and J35 will be fully closed at midnight on Saturday 23 August and is expected to remain closed for most of Sunday 24 August, during work to demolish the redundant Tinsley cooling towers. A clearly signed diversion route will be in place.
Derek Turner, Highways Agency Network Operations Director said:
"There will be a lot of people taking advantage of the late August Bank Holiday so we expect the roads to the main holiday centre, ports and airports will be busy. The Highways Agency is doing everything it can to help drivers with their journeys - we have removed as many roadworks as possible and we also provide a number of information services that will help drivers.
"I urge drivers to plan their journeys using the travel information available on our website, the Agency's Traffic Radio and telephone information services - as well as by listening to local radio traffic bulletins. Drivers should also check their vehicle's tyres, oil, water and fuel before setting out and allow extra time to plan for breaks and complete their journey safely."
The Highways Agency is also advising people to plan their journey in advance in order to avoid the worst of the summer queues. Before setting off, drivers can help prepare for their journey by tuning into the Highways Agency's Traffic Radio, available on DAB digital radio and at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk, or by visiting our website at http://www.highways.gov.uk or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.
For those heading towards the South West, the Highways Agency has produced a leaflet advising drivers of the busiest times and places in the region including:
- A303 westbound at Stonehenge between 1pm and 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays;
- M5 southbound between junctions 15 and 21 on Fridays between 11am and 7pm and Saturdays between 7am and 3pm;
- M5 near Exeter between junctions 29 and 30 on Saturdays between 8am and 3pm
Produced in association with South West Tourism, the leaflet is available from http://www.highways.gov.uk/documents/Summer_Getaway_2008_Web.pdf or by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.
Highways Agency Traffic Officers will continue to patrol the motorways 24-hours a day throughout the weekend to deal with incidents and clear them as quickly as possible. They will be supported by our contractors' Incident Support Units and operators in our seven regional control centres who will be monitoring the network to help keep traffic moving.
The Highways Agency, working with the Shiny Side Up partnership, is placing more than 600 bike safety awareness signs at safety hot-spots on trunk roads in preparation for the August Bank Holiday weekend, the last big biking weekend of the summer. The temporary warning signs warn bikers of safety risks such as known accident hot-spots, bends with poor visibility, locations where vehicles may be turning into or out of side roads, and locations where speeds will be slower.
To help our motorway users, over 8,000 large blue signs have been installed next to the hard shoulder of many of our motorways. They are positioned every 500 metres along the roadside to show drivers which motorway they are on, the direction they are travelling in and how far they are from the start of the motorway. If drivers can tell the Highways Agency, emergency services, or a recovery company what information is on the sign, they will be able to find and help them or deal with any incident being reported much more quickly.
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State Traffic
2. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
3. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call
4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)
Safety at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of roadworkers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
* Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety.
* Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching.
* Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
* Be alert for works' traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
* Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front.
* Observe all signs - they are there to help you.
Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by Neil Sterio, HA Traffic Operations (North West).
ROADWORKS REMAINING: FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE FOLLOWING ROADWORKS WILL REMAIN; Total remaining: 38 roadwork schemes (118.2 miles)
NORTH WEST (a full, national list is available at http://www.highways.gov.uk)
A595 Parton to Lillyhall
Between A597 and A596.
Widening of carriageway. Narrow lanes and temporary traffic signals in place. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety.
M60 Junction 5 Anticlockwise / A5103 Princess Park Way
Near Manchester
Bridge strengthening works. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety.
M56 Junction 15
Near Chester
Junction improvements. Incomplete works. One lane closed eastbound. 40mph speed limit for safety. Slight delays expected.
A5117 between the junctions of the A550 and M56 Junction 15 - Deeside scheme
Near Chester
Junction improvement. Incomplete construction. Narrow lanes and temporary traffic signals will be in place. 40mph speed limit will be in place for safety. Slight delays expected.
M62 Junction 6
Near Whiston
Junction improvement. Open excavations, no safety fence and incomplete works. Narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
M57 Junction 1
Near Whiston
Junction improvements (M62 J6 scheme above). Open excavations and no safety fence. Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
A74 Guards Mill - M6 Junction 44
Near Carlisle
Widening works. Open excavations, temporary markings and barrier. Narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit for safety. Contraflow on both carriageways. Slight delays expected.
M56 Junction 7 eastbound
Near Altrincham
Junction improvement. Open excavations. Cones / varioguard on hardshoulder. Slight delays expected.
A69 Haydon Bridge
Near Hexham
Construction of new bypass. Temporary carriageway surface in place. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
ROADWORKS LIFTED - BETWEEN 6AM ON FRIDAY 22 AUGUST AND MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY 25 AUGUST 2008; Total lifted: 49 roadwork schemes (114.12 miles)
NORTH WEST
M6 Junction 36 - 42
(various locations)
Sign renewal
A66
Appleby
Sign renewal
ROADWORKS COMPLETED BEFORE THE BANK HOLIDAY BREAK; Total completed: 18 roadwork schemes (45.17 miles)
NORTH WEST
A66 Threlkeld Junction
Keswick
Carriageway renewal
M6 Junction 36
Kendal
Bridge works
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