Traffic Arrangements for British Grand Prix
| Published: 5th June 2008 11:07 |
Traffic access arrangements for the 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Northamptonshire have been announced.
The arrangements for the Grand Prix on the 4, 5 and 6 July will be similar to the last four years to help race goers to get in and out of the event as smoothly as possible, at the same time keeping cross-country traffic separate from race traffic.
Drivers who use the A43 and local residents are being given advance notice of the changes and diversion routes to help them make choices before and during their journeys and make alternative arrangements if necessary. Non-race traffic is advised to avoid roads in the area if possible.
Planning for the event has been carried out by the Inter Agency Group made up of the Highways Agency, Silverstone Circuits Ltd, Northamptonshire Police, Thames Valley Police, Northamptonshire County Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Government Office for the East Midlands.
On 4, 5 and 6 July the A43 will be closed to through traffic between Brackley and Towcester. The road will be closed from 4.30am until 9pm each day and non-race traffic is advised to avoid the area if possible.
Road users heading for the Grand Prix will be directed along one-way systems, with additional lanes which will be reversed as traffic leaves the event.
Grand Prix traffic will take the following routes:
From the M1, Grand Prix traffic will be directed onto the A43 southbound from junction 15A. Drivers using the A5 will join the A43 at Towcester.
- South of Towcester public cars will leave the A43 to follow the A413 into the circuit at Winterhills for the external car parking.
- Official vehicles and coaches will continue onto the A43 to the Dadford Road interchange to enter either the circuit main entrance or the adjacent coach park.
Drivers approaching via the M40 will leave the motorway at Junction 10 and continue along the A43 towards Brackley.
- Public cars will use a split route to Dadford Road that will access the circuit’s west car parks.
- Coaches and official vehicles will be directed to the circuit main entrance and coach park.
Diversions will be set up for drivers not heading to the Grand Prix and these will be well signed
- Southbound traffic will be diverted to Junction 15 of the M1, along the A508 to Milton Keynes, the A422 to Buckingham and A421, rejoining the A43 south of Brackley.
- Northbound traffic will leave the A43 at the A421 junction to Buckingham, the A422 to Milton Keynes and the A508 to M1 Junction 15.
- Local diversions will also be set up for light traffic.
Chair of the Inter Agency Group Jean Morgan, Chief Executive of South Northamptonshire Council, said:
“We have done everything possible to ensure that local residents and businesses are disrupted as little as possible whilst allowing spectators to get to and from the event easily. Everyone has been very cooperative and understanding. All local people recognise the importance to the economy and the prestige that comes with having such a major international sporting event on our doorstep."
Bob Gale, Highways Agency spokesman, said:
We want to help drivers make their journeys safely and reliably, so we’ve worked closely with our partners to improve traffic flow during the Grand Prix. The steps we have taken together with our partners have reduced delays and made things easier for race goers and long distance drivers too.
“The diversion routes will be well signposted but we urge anyone travelling in the area over the Grand Prix weekend to plan their journey in advance by checking the latest travel conditions before they set out as well as listening to travel news on the radio while they are on the road. We are making sure that we can provide as much helpful information as we can to enable people to make their journeys safely and reliably.” Chief Constable Peter Maddison of Northamptonshire Police, said: “The traffic plan for the British Grand Prix has been evolving in recent years and has proved a success on all fronts.
“We will continue to work hard with our partners to ensure another smooth and safe event, not only for race goers attending Silverstone but also those people who live and work close to the circuit and who face temporary disruption.
“The closure of the A43 on all three days of the meeting has been integral to the plan in delivering a successful Grand Prix, which is extremely important to the motorsport industry in Northamptonshire and which also brings a lot of visitors to the county, providing a considerable boost for local tourism.”
Community Comment:
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Would it be possible, please, for the Northamptonshire Police or SNC to produce a map showing the various diversions and altered traffic flows, which could be placed on this site (linked to this article) to make the information easier for local motorists to assimilate and memorise?
(signed) Local Motorist.
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