Press release -
Highways Agency: Highways Agency lifts roadworks and provides traffic information for the late May bank holiday
The Highways Agency will help people travelling on motorways and major A roads in England over the late May bank holiday weekend by suspending or completing more than half its roadworks and providing live traffic information to road users.
Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime are expected to be the busiest periods over the bank holiday weekend as people set out on short breaks or day trips across the country.
More than half of roadworks on roads managed by the Highways Agency will be lifted before the weekend getaway. This means that 228 miles of roadworks will be lifted or completed before the bank holiday. Live information about current traffic conditions on the motorways and major A roads is offered through a range of channels as part of the Highways Agency’s commitment to ease congestion and to help drivers make their journeys safely and reliably.
The Agency provides live traffic information via its own website, local and national radio travel bulletins and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. The Highways Agency’s application, which was launched in February, has now been downloaded by more than 230,000 people.
Mike Penning, Roads Minister, said:
“To help road users with their journeys, the Highways Agency will remove as many sets of roadworks as it is safe and practical to do so, and will continue to provide up to the minute journey planning advice though their website, electronic road signs and the media.
“Removing roadworks is just one way that the Highways Agency helps road users during bank holidays. The Traffic Officer Service will be on patrol and working in regional control centres to help traffic flow smoothly. The Agency’s website can help drivers plan their journeys, and by listening to DAB digital "Traffic Radio", local radio stations, or by calling the Agency’s information line (08457 50 40 30) they can keep up to date with road conditions.”
A total of 23 sets of roadworks are due to be completed and a further 31 are due to be suspended before 06:00 on Friday 28 May to help drivers make smoother journeys over the bank holiday. Roadworks at 32 locations will remain in place for the safety of drivers and their passengers.
Roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 06:00 on Friday 28 May and will not be put back before 00:01 on Tuesday 1 June.
The list of remaining, suspended and completed roadworks is included after notes to editors.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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.
2. The percentage of roadworks which has been lifted (51%) is based on the number of carriageway miles of roadworks, which is the most accurate way for us to capture how much of our roadworks are being lifted (222 miles remaining, 228 miles being lifted.)
3. We plan maintenance and improvement projects carefully to allow works to be completed safely, in a cost effective way while keeping disruption to road users to a minimum. We do as much work as possible overnight and when roads are less busy in order to keep more lanes open for road users at peak travel times. Drivers are advised to check their route for road works and allow extra time for their journeys where needed. We have a variety of journey planning tools that road users can use to check travel conditions on the roads we manage, and we will do all we can to keep road users informed.
4. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available:
- From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at 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".
- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic orwww.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
Before using any 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.
- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).
5. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time (Calls to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute 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 road workers 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.
Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more information.
For interviews and more information contact regional press officers or the National Press Office below:
North West: 0161 618 1625
North East & Yorkshire & Humber: 01924 243 744
West Midlands: 0121 421 8852
East: 01883 745364
East Midlands: 0115 855 2051
South East: 01883 745364
South West: 0117 316 5874
National Press Office: 0207 081 7443 including out of hours
Total remaining 32 roadwork schemes (222 carriageway miles)
South East Region
Scheme – M4 Woodland St. Mary Phase 1
Nearest Road/Town- Hungerford
Reason for non removal – Removal of contra flow not practicable
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – M4 Junction 11 Improvement
Nearest Road/Town - Reading
Reason for non removal - Open Excavations/Incomplete safety barriers
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – M4 Junction 6 to 7 Wood Lane Bridge
Nearest Road/Town - Windsor
Reason for non removal - Incomplete safety barriers
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – M3 J2-3 Hard Shoulder Strengthening
Nearest Road/Town - Bagshot
Reason for non removal - Safety Fence will have been removed
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – M27 J5 Slip Widening
Nearest Road/Town - Eastleigh
Reason for non removal - Incomplete safety fences
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – M25 Hatfield Tunnel
Nearest Road/Town - Hatfield
Reason for non removal - Unsafe and impractical as works are ongoing.
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – M25 DBFO Junction 16 to 19
Nearest Road/Town - Mapel Cross
Reason for non removal - Unsafe and impractical as works are ongoing.
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – M25 DBFO Junction 27 to 28. M11 Links
Nearest Road/Town- Harlow
Reason for non removal - Unsafe and impractical as works are ongoing.
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – A404(M) Western Railway Bridge
Nearest Road/Town - Maidenhead
Reason for non removal – Safety fencing incomplete.
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – A34 Wolvercote Viaduct Replacement
Nearest Road/Town - Botley/Wolvercote
Reason for non removal - Incomplete safety fences
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A3 Hindhead
Nearest Road/Town - Hindhead
Reason for non removal - Roadworks allow safe access to site compound which will be open over the Bank Holiday.
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Slight
Scheme – M20 Bridge Repairs
Nearest Road/Town - Maidstone
Reason for non removal – Bridge Repairs
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A21 Quarry Hill
Nearest Road/Town - Tonbridge
Reason for non removal – Unsafe and impractical
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Moderate
East Region
Scheme – M1 J10-13 Improvement
Nearest Road/Town- Luton
Reason for non removal – Works for Managed Motorway Construction
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – A421 Improvements M1 J13 to Bedford
Nearest Road/Town - Bedford
Reason for non removal - Carriageway Construction
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A14 Claydon to Copdock Major Maintenance
Nearest Road/Town - Ipswich
Reason for non removal – Incomplete safety barrier
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A47 J16 Bretton Interchange
Nearest Road/Town - Peterborough
Reason for non removal – Open excavations to sliproads
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
East Midlands
Scheme – A46 Newark to Widmerpool Improvement
Nearest Road/Town – Nottingham
Reason for non removal - Carriageway under construction
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – Raynesway S278 Junction Improvement
Nearest Road/Town – Derby
Reason for non removal – Open excavations
Speed Limit – 30mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
West Midlands
Scheme – Birmingham Box Managed Motorways M6 J8-10a
Nearest Road/Town - Walsall
Reason for non removal – Open excavations & unprotected infrastructure
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A500 Shelton New Road Bridge
Nearest Road/Town - Hanley, Stoke on Trent
Reason for non removal – Phasing of works does not allow contraflow to be removed on Shelton New Road. There is no contraflow on the A500
Speed Limit – 20mph
Delays- Nil to Slight.
Scheme – A50 Brittania Stadium
Nearest Road/Town - Stoke on Trent
Reason for non removal – Open excavation
Delays- Nil to Slight.
Scheme – A500 Etruria to Porthill
Nearest Road/Town - Hanley Stoke-on-Trent.
Reason for non removal – Speed limit to remain as during works lighting columns and safety fences do not comply with requirements for 70 mph running
Speed Limit – 40mph
Delays- Nil to Slight.
Northwest Region
Scheme – M6 Lodge Lane Bridge Improvements
Nearest Road/Town - Newton-le-Willows
Reason for non removal – No surfacing on bridge deck
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – M56 Junction 7 Westbound
Nearest Road/Town - Altrincham
Reason for non removal – Temporary barrier in place protecting excavations
Speed Limit – 70mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – M62 J21 to 22
Nearest Road/Town- Milnow
Reason for non removal – Central reservation barrier incomplete
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
North East Region
Scheme – A585 Breedy Butts Bridge works
Nearest Road/Town -Thornton
Reason for non removal – Bridge deck lifted for refurbishment
Speed Limit – 30mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – M62 Junction 25 to Junction 28 Asset Renewal
Nearest Road/Town- Huddersfield, Cleckheaton, Leeds
Reason for non removal – Temporary barrier in place
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – M62 Junction 29 to Junction 30 Hardshoulder Strengthening
Nearest Road/Town - Wakefield
Reason for non removal – Temporary barrier in place
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Nil to Slight.
Scheme – A19/A690 Rainton Bridge
Nearest Road/Town - Sunderland
Reason for non removal – Open excavations and partially constructed new carriageway
Speed Limit – 50mph
Delays- Moderate
Scheme – A184 (T) Whitemare Pool Bridge Refurbishment
Nearest Road/Town - Gateshead
Reason for non removal – Safety reasons
Speed Limit – 30mph
Delays- Nil to Slight
Scheme – A1 Dishforth to Leeming Improvement (South Scheme)
Nearest Road/Town - Dishforth/Leeming
Reason for non removal – Ongoing Major Widening Works unsafe to remove.
Speed Limit – 50mph
Roadworks Lifted before Late May Bank Holiday;
Total lifted 31 roadwork schemes (123 carriageway miles)
South East Region
Scheme- A27 Variable Message Signs
Nearest road/town- Brighton
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs
Scheme- A27 Drainage Works
Nearest road/town- Fontwell
Types of works –Drainage Surveys
Scheme- A23 Variable Message Signs
Nearest road/town- Patcham
Types of works - Installation of variable message signs
East Region
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town- Ipswich. A14 Jn 47-53
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs and CCTV
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town- Newmarket. A14 Jn 40-36
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs and CCTV
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town-Bury St Edmunds. A14 Jn 47-45
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs and CCTV
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town- Bury St Edmunds. A14 Jn 42-44
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs and CCTV
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town- Ipswich. A14 Jn 51-59
Types of works – Installation of variable message signs and CCTV
Scheme- M11 Communications Works
Nearest road/town- Stanstead
Types of works – Laying fibre Optic Cable
Scheme- A12N Bridge Improvement
Nearest road/town- Lowestoft
Types of works – Resurfacing and Painting
Scheme- A12 VMS Installation
Nearest road/town- Colchester
Types of works – Installation of Variable Message Sign
Scheme- M1 Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Cameras J6 to 9
Nearest town- Hemel Hempstead
Types of works – Electrical works
Scheme- A5 Water on Piers
Nearest road/town- Milton Keynes
Types of works – Refurbishment of Pier tops
East Midlands
Scheme- A5 Hinckley
Nearest road/town- A5/Hinckley
Types of works – Horticultural works
Scheme- A42 M1 – M42
Nearest road/town- Asheby De le Zouch
Types of works – Technology
Scheme- A5 Newton/ Catthorpe
Nearest road/town- Catthorpe
Types of works – Access works
Scheme- A14 M1 to J14
Nearest road/town- Kettering
Types of works – Communication works
West Midlands
Scheme- M40 Junction 15 Longbridge Bypass
Nearest road/town- Warwick
Types of works – New bypass
Scheme- M42 Bridge Joint Repairs
Nearest road/town- Alvechurch
Types of works – Structural works
Scheme – M6 Safety Works
Nearest road/town - Coleshill
Types of works – Safety fence works
Scheme- M54 J2
Nearest road/town- Wolverhampton
Types of works – Signalisation of junction
Northwest Region
Scheme- M65 Knuzden Brooke
Nearest road/town- Blackburn
Types of works – Surfacing/barrier
Scheme- M6 Cascade Upgrade
Nearest road/town- Kendal
Types of works – Bridge refurbishment
Scheme- M6 Signal Works
Nearest road/town- Kendal
Types of works – Fibre optic cabling
Scheme- A66 Bridge Reconstruction
Nearest road/town- Keswick
Types of works – Bridge reconstruction
Scheme- A590 Footway Renewal
Nearest road/town- Ulveston
Types of works – Footway renewal
Scheme- M6 Signal works
Nearest road/town- Kendal
Types of works – Fibre optic cabling
Scheme- M6 Signal works
Nearest road/town- Preston
Types of works – Fibre optic cabling
Scheme- M6 Fibre Optic Cabling
Nearest road/town- Preston
Types of works – Fibre optic cabling
Scheme- M6 Ambrose Holme
Nearest road/town- Carlisle
Types of works – Bridge refurbishment and parapet replacement
Scheme- A1T National Driver Information and Control System
Nearest road/town- Newcastle Upon Tyne
Types of works – Ground Investigation works.
Roadworks Completed before Late May Bank Holiday;
Total completed 23 roadwork schemes (105 carriageway miles)
South East Region
Scheme- Lee Mill to Voss Farm
Nearest road/town- Ivy Bridge
Types of works – Resurfacing
Scheme- Summerlands
Nearest road/town- Swindon
Types of works – Narrow Lanes & Speed restrictions
Scheme- M4 J8 to 9
Nearest road/town- Reading
Types of works – Hard Shoulder Strengthening
Scheme- M2 Medway Bridge
Nearest road/town- Rochester
Types of works – Bridge Safety Inspections
Scheme- A21 Pavement Investigations
Nearest road/town- Lamberhurst
Types of works – Pavement Investigations
East Region
Scheme- Motorway Incident Detection Automatic Signalling Loop cutting (M11 J6 to 7)
Nearest road/town- Harlow
Types of works – Loop Cutting
Scheme- A1 M North Lodge Bearing
Nearest road/town- Baldock
Types of works – Structure Maintenance
Scheme- A1 Surfacing Renewal
Nearest road/town- Wyboston
Types of works – Carriageway reconstruction/repair
Scheme- A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme
Nearest road/town- Brampton
Types of works – Inspection/Survey
Scheme- A1 Surfacing Renewal
Nearest road/town- St Neots
Types of works – Carriageway reconstruction/repair
East Midlands
Scheme- A5 Lutterworth
Nearest road/town- Lutterworth
Types of works – Signage Works
Scheme- A5111 Raynesway River Bridge
Nearest road/town- Derby
Types of works – Bridge Maintenance
Scheme- A45 Great Doddington to Hardingstone
Nearest road/town- Wellingbrough
Types of works – Bridge Inspections
Scheme- M1 J25 to 28 Widening
Nearest road/town- Derby/Nottingham
Types of works – Widening
West Midlands
Scheme- M5 Newton Farm
Nearest road/town- Quinton
Types of works – Carriageway Improvements
Scheme- M42 Traffic Sensors J4 to 7 Northbound
Nearest road/town- Shirley, Solihull & Coleshill
Types of works – Installation of Traffic Sensors
Scheme- M42 Traffic Sensors J4 Northbound entry Slip road
Nearest road/town- Solihull
Types of works – Installation of Traffic Sensors
Scheme- M42 Traffic Sensors J6 Southbound entry Slip road
Nearest road/town- Birmingham
Types of works – Installation of Traffic Sensors
Scheme- M6 J2 Improvements
Nearest road/town- Coventry
Types of works – Signalisation of Junction, widening of slip roads, sign and lighting provision
North West
Scheme- M6 Townend Farm (Phase 1)
Nearest road/town- Penrith
Types of works – Bridge Refurbishments
Scheme- M6 National Roads Telecomms Services provision of ducts
Nearest road/town- Kendal
Types of works – Cable duct works
Scheme- A66 (T) Sadberge Draining Renewal
Nearest road/town- Darlington
Types of works – Drainage
Scheme- A66 (T) Scotch Corner to Greta Bridge Remedial works
Nearest road/town- Richmond
Types of works – Defect repairs
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Topics
- Government
Categories
- highways
- motorways