Highways Agency (National): Roadworks lifted for Late May Bank Holiday weekend

Motorists taking day trips over the coming bank holiday weekend should have an easier journey as the Highways Agency suspends or completes 107 miles of roadworks on motorways and other major roads in England over the Late May Bank Holiday weekend. 

Around 74 carriageway miles of works will be completed this week and 33 carriageway miles will be suspended between Friday 27 and May 31, providing extra capacity for bank holiday traffic.

Roads Minister, Mike Penning, said:

"Removing these roadworks will help everyone planning to drive over the bank holiday weekend. More than 98 per cent of the strategic road network will be clear of roadworks, meaning more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions lifted.

"Highways Agency traffic officers will also be on patrol to help clear up any incidents as quickly as possible. And the Highways Agency will continue to provide information on current road conditions through its range of traffic information services to help drivers to plan their journeys."

Live traffic information is provided through the internet, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile phone applications.

The Agency is also providing live traffic information for key holiday routes via the Twitter micro-blogging website.

Road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions.

Fifty-one sets of roadworks will be completed ahead of the bank holiday traffic. A further 20 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 06:00 on Friday and will not be put back before 00:01 on Tuesday 31 May. At 25 locations, lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain in place for the safety of drivers and their passengers. (Full details below and on the Highways Agency website)


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 trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Details of the roadworks remaining, lifted and complete are at the foot of this note. You can also view them on a map by following these links...

Map of roadworks remaining - with explanation

Map of roadworks to be lifted or completed

For a selection of images for media use please visit www.flickr.com/highwaysagency

See also this page on our website: Holiday traffic information on Twitter

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.

We lift roadworks where a bank holiday coincides with a school holiday. These occasions are Easter, Late Spring (coincides with half term), Late Summer and Christmas/New Year. 

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 atwww.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 or www.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.

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 0300 123 5000 at any time (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes).

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.

Full list of roadworks

These are divided into
• Roadworks remaining for safety reasons
• Roadworks lifted for the duration of the bank holiday or completed in advance of the bank holiday

Roadworks remaining (25 sets over 122 carriageway miles)

South East

A404(M) between M4 Jct8/9 and 9b (near Maidenhead)
Replacing the existing railway bridge
Contraflow with 40mph speed limit - 2.7 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Existing bridge is partially demolished.

M4 Jct13 to Jct14 (near Newbury)
Waterproofing and beam replacement to existing bridge
50mph speed limit because of narrow lanes - 3.5 miles of roadworks - Moderate delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Reduced lane width while central crash barrier is missing.

M23 between Jct 10 and 10a (near Crawley)
Maintenance and replacement of drains
Narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit - 3 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions are needed for safety because there are open excavations close by.

A3 Thursley Jct to Boundless Lane (near Hindhead)
Construction of bypass
One lane closed in each direction and 40mph speed limit - 2.75 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: The roadworks divert traffic back onto the original road and can only be changed once the tunnel is open.

A3-South of Hazel Grove Jct (near Hindhead)
Construction of bypass
One lane closed northbound and 50mph speed limit - 0.5 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: The roadworks divert traffic back onto the original road and can only be changed once the tunnel is open.

M1 Jct 2 to Jct 4 (near Scratchwood)
Repairs following major fire underneath viaduct
50mph speed limit both ways and hard shoulder out of action southbound - 0.6 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions needed for safety while re repair and reinforce the structure that was damaged by a serious fire underneath the viaduct last month.

M25 Jct9-10 (near Cobham)
Construction of new motorway services
50mph speed limit through narrow lanes on the clockwise carriageway - 1 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Works entrance to construction site for new motorway services, so a short stretch of hard shoulder closure is needed for safety reasons..

M25 Jct 28 to 29 (near Brentwood)
M25 Widening
50mph speed limit through narrow lanes in both directions - 12.5 miles of roadworks - Moderate delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions are needed for safety because there are open excavations close by.

M25 Jct 19 to Jct 22 (near St Albans)
M25 Widening
50mph speed limit through narrow lanes in both directions - 14 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions are needed for safety because there are open excavations close by.

A20 Roundhill Viaduct (near Folkestone)
Urgent repairs to bridge expansion joints
One lane closed in each direction and 50mph speed limit at eastern end of Roundhill tunnel - 3.1 miles of roadworks - Severe delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Urgent repairs are needed to maintain safety and reduced speed limit is required because of lane closure.

East Midlands

M1 Jct 19 (near Catthorpe)
Replacement of M6 viaduct above motorway
Lane closures northbound and hard shoulder closed southbound - 50mph speed limit both ways - 2 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Some safety fencing has had to be removed and there is scaffolding supporting the bridge, so lane rrestrictions are needed for safety reasons.

M6 Jct with M1 (near Catthorpe)
Replacement of viaduct
One of the two southbound lanes closed and 50mph speed limit - 2.4 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions needed for safety reasons as there are open excavations and some safety fencing has had to be removed.

A46 Widmerpool to Farndon (near Keyworth to Newark On Trent)
Carriageway widening
Short stretch of single-lane contraflow with 40mph speed limit - 11 miles of roadworks - Moderate delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: There are open excavations close to live traffic lanes and a temporary safety barrier in place.

A52 approach to Saxondale Roundabout (works for A46 dualling) (near Radcliffe On Trent)
Carriageway widening
40mph speed limit - 1 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Speed limit needed while there is a temporary safety barrier in place.

A5 between Kilsby Roundabout and Halfway House Roundabout. (near Kilsby)
Installation of new bridge
40mph speed limit - 0.5 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Reduced speed limit while temporary safety barrier is in place. Temporary Vehicle Containment Barrier in place awaiting permanent replacement..

East

A421 at M1 Jct13 (near Milton Keynes)
Repairs to bridge parapet
One lane closed each way on bridge and 40mph speed limit - 0.1 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Lane closures needed for safety because the bridge parapet has been removed during construction and to protect a temporary water main as damage to this pipe would cut off supplies to a large area.

A14 Jct 60 (near Felixstowe)
Junction improvements 
Narrow lanes in both directions and 40mph speed limit - 2 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Removing restrictions would not increase capacity greatly and would delay scheme to improve access to Felixstowe Docks .

A12 / A14 Jct 55 (near Ipswich)
Junction improvements
Narrow lanes in both directions and 40mph speed limit - 2 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Removing restrictions would not increase capacity greatly and would delay scheme to improve access to Felixstowe Docks .

M1 Jct10-13 (near Luton)
'Managed Motorway' scheme to provide for hard shoulder running
Three lanes running in each direction, but no hard shoulder - 32 miles of roadworks - Nil to Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Extensive works means removing and replacing the restrictions for the bank holiday would cause more disruption to traffic than leaving them in place.

West Midlands

A46 adjacent to M6 Jct 2 (near Coventry)
Replacement of existing twin traffic islands with signal controlled junctions at entrance to Ansty Business Park. Works also include provision of additional running lanes, street lighting and provision of new traffic signs
40mph speed limit as reduced to sinlge lane both ways - 0.6 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: The proximity of excavations and difference in levels makes it unsafe to temporarily open more lanes.

North West

M60 Jct 19 to Jct 23 (near Chadderton )
Replacing drainage and resurfacing 
Contraflow with two narrow lanes each way and 40mph speed limit - 3.2 miles of roadworks - Slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: The location of these works means there are other timing considerations as well as the bank holiday, such as events and matches at Old Trafford.

North East

A1 Dishforth to Leeming Bar (near Dishforth)
Road widening from 2-lane dual carriageway to 3-lane motorway
Contraflow with narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit - 13 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: There is no reduction in the number of lanes available and to change the layout would be unsafe.

A184(T) Whitemare Pool Interchange (near Gateshead)
Bridge refurbishment
Contraflow with narrow lanes and 30mph speed limit - 4.6 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions needed for safety while temporary bridge supports in place.

A1 Alnwick South Interchange (A1068) (near Alnwick)
Bridge refurbishment
Contraflow with single lane in each direction and 50mph speed limit - 3 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: One carriageway has been stripped back to the bridge deck so cannot be reinstated over the holiday. .

M18 Jct4 to Jct5 (near Doncaster)
Renewing the central reservation barrier
Two narrow lanes in each direction with 50mph speed limit - 3.1 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected.
Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Restrictions needed for safety reasons while there is an excavation in the central reservation and no safety barriers in place.

Roadworks lifted or completed (51 sets completed / 74 miles and 20 lifted / 33 miles)

(These are listed in order of road number - motorways first)

M1 Jct 21A to 21 (near Leicester)
Communication works
2.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M1 Jct 28 (near Alfreton)
Communication works
1.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M1 Jct16 to 18 (near Kegworth)
Whitelining and electrical works
1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M1 Jct25 to 28 (near Notttingham / Derby to Alfreton)
Communication and horticultural works
2 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M5 Jct19 (near Portbury)
Widening slip road
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M6 Jct 14 (near Stafford)
Junction improvements
2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M6 Jct 7 slip road (near Great Barr)
Resurfacing
0.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M6 Jct1 (near Rugby)
Junction improvements undertaken at night
1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M11 Jct 11 (near Cambridge)
Construction work nearby affected slip roads
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M11 Jct 12-13 (near Cambridge)
Checking condition of road surface
2.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M11 Jct 5 entry slip and main carriageway (near Loughton)
Slip road and lane closures
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M25 Jct 2 to Jct 1b, Northbound (near Dartford)
Carriageway closure
2.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M25 Jct 26 to Jct 25, anticlockwise (near Waltham Abbey)
Lane closures and use of hard shoulder
2.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M25 Jct23 to Borehamwood Junction (near South Mimms)
Resurfacing
1.8 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M25 Jct9 (near Leatherhead)
Slip road closure for drainage works
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M25 QE2 Bridge (near Dartford)
Bridge inspection and maintenance
1.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M42 Jct 5 roundabout and slip roads (near Solihull)
Junction improvements
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

M42 Jct 9 to Jct 10 (near Tamworth)
Installation of message signs
1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1 (M) Hatfield Tunnel Jct 3 to 4 (near Hatfield)
Tunnel refurbishment
2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1 Black Cat Roundabout (near St Neots)
Streetworks
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1 Elkesley (near Retford)
Electrical works.
0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1 Sandy Roundabout to Biggleswade (near Biggleswade)
Checking condition of road surface
3.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(M) Jct 60 (near Darlington)
Fencing works
0.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Brownieside (near Alnwick)
Working on road signs
3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Causey Park to West Moor (near Alnwick)
Resurfacing
2.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Derwenthaugh Interchange (near Newcastle)
Resurfacing
0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Gateshead Western Bypass (near Gateshead)
Fencing works
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A1(T) Lobley Hill (near Gateshead)
Resurfacing
0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Scotch Corner Interchange (near Richmond)
VOSA Inspections
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Seaton Burn (near Newcastle)
Resurfacing
1.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Swalwell Interchange (near Newcastle)
Drainage works
2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Team Valley (near Gateshead)
Electrical works
1.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1(T) Warenford (near Alnwick)
Road surveying
1.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A1M Jct 7 (near Stevenage)
Streetworks
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A5 (near Muckley Corner)
Junction improvements
0.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A5 Fosters Booth (near Rothersthorpe)
Electrical works.
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A5 Friars Wash Roundabout (Watery Lane to River Hill Road) (near Flamstead)
Resurfacing
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A5 Hockliffe to Sheep Lane (near Hockliffe)
Road markings
3.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A5 Northants Bndry to Rugby Island (near Rugby)
Road surveying
0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A5 Nutts Lane Island (near Hinckley)
Road surveying
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A13/M25 Jct 30 (near Thurrock)
Resurfacing
1.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A14 Jcn 24 to 31 (near Cambridge)
Checking condition of road surface
2.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A14 Jct 36-37 (near Newmarket)
Technology works
1.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A14 Jct 37 - 36 (near Newmarket)
Technology Framework
0.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A14 Jct37 to Jct38 (near Newmarket)
Installation of message signs
3 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A14 Jct7 to 11 (near Kettering)
Communication works
1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A19(T) Moor Farm (near Newcastle)
Barrier works
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A19(T) Seaton Burn Interchange (near Newcastle)
Road surveying
0.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A19(T) Silverlink interchange (near Wallsend)
Carriageway widening
3.9 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A23 (near Between Pease Pottage and Patcham)
Electrical works
5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A23 (near Crawley)
Road markings
3.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A23 (near Hickstead)
Road markings
3.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A27 (near Shoreham-on-Sea)
Tunnel inspection
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A27 Bedhampton Interchange (near Portsmouth)
Lane closures and temporary speed restrictions 
1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A30 (near Bodmin)
Culvert relining
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A42 Jct11 to Jct 23A (M1) (near Castle Donington)
Barrier works
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A45 Barnes Meadow Interchange (near Northampton)
Junction improvements
0.7 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A45 Jct13 of A14 (near Raunds)
Technology works
1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A45 Jct15 Queen Eleanor (near Northampton)
Road surveying
2 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A45 Wooton Exit Slip Road (near Northampton)
Fence/barrier works
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A46 East Bridgford (near Newark On Trent)
Installation of signs
0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A50 Lockington (near Derby)
Electrical works.
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A52 Bardhills to Priory (near Nottingham)
Horticultural works
1.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A52 Priory and QMC Roundabouts (near Nottingham)
Work on traffic signals
1.25 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A52 Sandiacre to Nottingham Knight (near Nottingham)
Carriageway re-aligning
2 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A120 / A131 (near Braintree)
Junction improvement
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A282 Dartford West Tunnel (near Dartford)
Fire safety works
1.9 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A303 (Jct with A345) (near Amesbury)
Installation of new traffic signals, street lighting, drainage improvements, resurfacing and improved additional approach lanes
2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A303 South Petherton (near Ilminster)
Street lighting improvements
1.1 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A453 Clifton (near Nottingham)
Bridge works
0.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed ahead of bank holiday.

A590 Western End of High Newton By-pass to Staveley Jct (near Newby Bridge)
Footway improvements
0.25 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

Contacts

NDS Enquiries 
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept 
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk