Highways Agency removes
44 roadwork schemes for Spring Bank Holiday getaway on motorways and
major A roads
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News
Release (HA028-07) issued by The Government News Network on 21 May 2007
Roadworks at 44
sites on English motorways and major A roads will be lifted or
completed by 6am on Friday in time for the Spring Bank Holiday
weekend, the Highways Agency announced today.
The Highways Agency is committed to easing congestion, making
journey times more reliable and our roads safer. Removing
roadworks at this potentially busy time is just one action we are
taking to help drivers over the holiday weekend.
Derek Turner, the Agency's Director of Traffic Operations said:
"We are lifting as many roadworks as we can and giving
drivers information about road conditions through our website,
information points at motorway service areas and through travel
news broadcasts.
"We will also be clearing incidents as quickly as possible
through our traffic officers and contractors and working closely
with the police to keep as many lanes as possible open for drivers
over the holiday."
For drivers, the time they decide to travel is as important as
the route they use. The Friday afternoon before the holiday is the
busiest on most routes so the Highway Agency says that if drivers
can try to avoid the peak journey times on this day everyone would benefit.
Holiday routes are traditionally busy all over the weekend so
drivers are advised to plan their route and check for delays.
Staying in close touch with travel websites and listening to
travel broadcasts can make the difference between a comfortable
journey and a spoilt getaway.
Roadworks and lane restrictions will have been removed by 06am
Friday 25 May and not put back before midnight on Bank Holiday
Monday. For safety reasons, roadworks at 43 locations will remain.
Details of the roadworks remaining, lifted and completed are attached.
Note to Editors:
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department
for Transport. We operate, maintain and improve England's
motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and
major A roads is available:
* From the web 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). 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.
3 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)
Roadworks list follows.....
ROADWORKS REMAINING: FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE FOLLOWING ROADWORKS
WILL REMAIN; Total remaining: 43 roadwork schemes (97.5 miles)
SOUTH EAST
M2 Jct 5
Nearest town, Sittingbourne
Bridge strengthening, narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph for
safety, Slight delays expected.
A21 Quarry Hill Viaduct
Tunbridge Wells
Bridge deck repairs and open excavations; lane closures; slight delays
A2 Darenth
Nearest town Dartford
Widening and bridge construction. Open excavations, speed limit
reduced to 50mph for safety, narrow lanes, slight delay expected.
M25 Jct 2
Nearest town Dartford
Widening and bridge construction. Open excavations, speed limit
reduced to 50mph for safety, narrow lanes, 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 bypass
Nearest town Hindhead
Lane closures and speed reduced to 40/50 mph; open excavations
M26 J2a - 3
Nearest town Wrotham
Renewing road surface, Speed 40mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
M3 Jct 1 to 3
Nearest town Staines
New road layout trial; Speed 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected
M3 Jct 4 Eastbound all lanes
Nearest town Camberley
Parapet upgrades, speed reduced to 50mph for safety, narrow lanes
eastbound. Temporary safety barrier required for upgrading
parapets, which have been partially demolished. Slight delay expected.
A27/A3(M) to M27
Nearest town Soton
Communications upgrade, narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph
for safety, Slight delays expected
A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Improvement
Gravesend
Widening; open excavations, speed limit reduced to 50mph for
safety, narrow lanes, slight delay expected.
EAST
M4 Jct 12
Nearest town, Reading
Communications upgrade, narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50mph
for safety, Slight delays expected.
M1 Watford Jct 4 to 5
Nearest town Watford
New road construction; Speed reduced to 50mph for safety;
moderate delays expected, narrow lanes.
M25 Jct 25
Holmesdale Tunnel
Tunnel improvements, lane closure Jct 25 eastbound entry slip
road and westbound exit slip road, narrow lanes and contraflow.
Speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Moderate delays expected.
A47 Dereham Bypass
Nearest town Dereham
Major scheme; carriageway closures and contraflows as only part
complete; speed reduced to 50mph for safety; slight delays expected
M1 Jct 6a to 10 project
Nearest town Luton
Major roadworks, from Jct 8 to Jct 10 All running lanes, one
northbound in contraflow. Narrow lanes and speed reduced to 40mph
for safety. Moderate delays expected.
EAST MIDLANDS
A52 Bardills roundabout
Nearest town Nottingham
Major junction improvements partly complete; speed reduced to
40mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
A1 Blyth roundabout
Junction improvement; Narrow lanes and speed reduced to 50/40mph
for safety; slight delays expected.
A1 Apleyhead/Five Lanes End roundabout
Nearest town Ranby
Junction improvement; Narrow lanes s/b and speed reduced to 50mph
for safety; slight delays expected.
A1 Markham Moor
Nearest town Tuxford
Junction improvement; all road works lifted. Narrow lanes and
speed reduced to 50mph for safety; slight delays expected.
WEST MIDLANDS
A5 Stretton
Nearest town Hinkley
Widening and associated works with open excavations; speed
reduced to 30mph for safety at island approaches; slight delays expected.
A38 Trent Valley Railway Bridge
Nearest town Lichfield
Railway Bridge construction by British Rail; narrow lanes; speed
reduced to 40mph for safety. moderate delays expected.
M6 Jct 9-8 southbound carriageway and M5 southbound spur road
Nearest town Walsall
Repair works to be carried out to Ray Hall viaduct carrying M6
over M5.. Lane 2 on M5 spur road closed. Narrow lanes on M6
southbound. Narrow lanes on M5 and M6. Speed reduced to 40mph for
safety. Moderate delays expected.
A449 Hoobrook
Nearest town Kidderminster
New roundabout works with open excavations requiring narrowing of
carriageway for safety.
SOUTH WEST/DEVON & CORNWALL
A38 Dobwalls (new bypass):
Lane closures and contraflow at approaches to Dobwalls. A 30mph
speed limit will be in force throughout the works (including the
village of Dobwalls). Moderate delays expected
A30 Bodmin - Indian Queens (new bypass):
Nearest town Liskeard
Lane closures and contraflows will be in operation; speed limit
reduced to 40mph through various sections of the works for safety.
Slight delays expected. Four miles of this scheme has just opened,
see Completed section;
NORTH WEST
A590 High and Low Newton, 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 Huyton Jct 6
Nearest town Liverpool
Junction improvement; narrow lanes due to incomplete works; speed
reduced to 50mph for safety; slight delays
M57 Huyton nr Jct 1
Nearest town Liverpool
Junction improvement; narrow lanes due to incomplete works; speed
reduced to 50mph for safety; slight delays
A5117/A550 M56 to Deeside Park Jct
Nearest town Chester
Junction improvement bridgeworks requires narrow lanes and 40mph
speed limit for safety; Slight delays
M56 Ellesmere Port to A5117
Nearest town Ellesmere Port
Junction improvement bridgeworks requires narrow lanes and 40mph
speed limit for safety; Slight delays
M6 Jct 44 to A74 Guards Mill
Nearest town Carlisle
Widening works needing narrow lanes and 50mph speed limit for
safety; slight delays
M60 Jct 1 -2
Nearest town Stockport
Contraflow and due to part completed safety fence in major
maintenance programme. Speed reduced to 40mph for safety. Slight
delays expected.
NORTH EAST
A19 near South Hilton close to A19/A1231 Jct
Nearest town Sunderland
Bridge parapet replacement. Speed limit is 50mph for safety as
bridge works incomplete. Slight delays expected.
A66 5.5km West of A1 Scotch corner
Nearest town Richmond
Widening and junction realignment project requiring speed reduced
to 40mph and ban on overtaking for safety. Slight delays expected.
A66 13km west of A1 Scotch Corner
Nearest town Barnard Castle
Widening scheme requiring contraflow and 40mph restriction for
safety. Slight delays expected.
A66 Temple Sowerby bypass
Nearest town Temple Sowerby
Construction works close to existing A66. Speed reduced to 40mph
for safety. Slight delays expected.
A66 Surtees Bridge (A66 between A1130 and A135)
Nearest town Stockton-on-Tees
Contraflow with narrow lanes on westbound carriageway as
eastbound under repair. Speed reduced to 30mph for safety.
A1 Seven Mile Bridge
Nearest city Newcastle
New bridge to be completed and new barriers not yet installed.
Speed reduced to 50mph for safety. Slight delays expected.
YORKSHIRE & HUMBER
M1 Jct 31 to Jct 32
Nearest town Rotherham
Major widening project with narrow lanes on both carriageways to
avoid exposure of part complete central barriers. Speed reduced to
50mph for safety. Moderate to Severe delays expected.
A62/M62 Jct 27
Nearest town Gildersome
Statutory diversions; all road works lifted.
ROADWORKS LIFTED - BETWEEN 6AM ON FRIDAY 25 MAY AND MIDNIGHT ON
MONDAY 28 MAY 2007; Total lifted: 29 roadwork schemes (71.2 miles)
SOUTH EAST
M20 Jct 10
Nearest town Ashford
Junction improvement and new footbridge. All traffic management
removed from M20
EAST
A11 Newmarket
Junction improvements; All road works lifted.
A12 Colchester northern bypass Jct 27 and Jct 29
Bridgework, all road works lifted.
A43 between Bicester & Banbury
Communication works all road works lifted.
M11 Jct 6 to Jct 10
Nearest town Bishops Stortford
CCTV installation; all road works lifted.
WEST MIDLANDS
A5 Weeford to Gailey
Cannock
New road markings; all road works lifted.
A5 Weeford to Dow Bridge
Rugby
New roadmarkings; all road works lifted.
M6 Coventry
Renewing drainage materials; all road works lifted.
A500 Talke
Stoke
Renewing street lighting; all road works lifted.
M6 J2 n/b exit
Rugby
Resurfacing work all road works lifted.;
M6 Jct 1 n/b entry & exit slips
Rugby
Resurfacing work; all road works lifted.
M6 J2 n/b exit slip
Coventry
Resurfacing work; all road works lifted.
A42 J13
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Layby improvements; layby remains closed but no restrictions
M6 J15 Keele Service Area
Newcastle under Lyme
Safety fencing works; all road works lifted.
M6 Jct 1 to Jct 2
Rugby
Concrete testing all road works lifted.;
M6 Jct 3 to Jct 4
Coventry
Concrete testing; all road works lifted.
M6 Jct 13 to Jct 14
Stafford
Concrete testing; all road works lifted.
M6 Jct 3 to Jct 4
Coventry
Survey work; all road works lifted.
A5/B4116 Holly Lane roundabout
Atherstone
Junction improvement; all road works lifted.
A49 Berrington
Leominster
Drainage renewal and resurfacing; all road works lifted.
M42 Jct 2 to Jct 1
Nearest town Bromsgrove
Installation of gantries, new surfacing and roadmarking; all
traffic management lifted.
SOUTH WEST
M4 J15 to J18
Nearest towns Bath & Swindon
Communications works. All works suspended.
M5 Jct 29-30
Nearest town Exeter
Junction improvement and lighting upgrade. All road works lifted.
NORTH EAST
A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvements, immediately west
of A1
Scotch Corner interchange
Nearest town Richmond
Widening works. 40mph speed restriction and overtaking ban lifted
over 2.6miles of 3.8mile scheme.
A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement, 10km west of A1
Scotch Corner Interchange
Barnard Castle
Widening works. 40mph speed restriction and overtaking ban
removed over 1.7miles of 3.9miles length of scheme.
A1 Kingstone Park to Scotswood
Nearest town Newcastle
White lining and road studs; all road works lifted.
A66 Blackwell roundabout to Jct 56
Nearest town Darlington
Signing renewal
A1 Morpeth Bypass
Drainage inspection survey; all road works lifted.
A1 Newton on the Moor
Nearest town Alnwick
White lining and road marking; all road works lifted.
ROADWORKS COMPLETED BEFORE THE SPRING BANK HOLIDAY BREAK;
Total completed: 15 roadwork schemes (27.5 miles)
SOUTH EAST
A404/M40 Jct 4
Nearest town High Wycombe
Major junction improvement
EAST MIDLANDS
A38 Burton Box project
Nearest town Derby
Communication works
A52(T) Muston to East Sedgewick
Nearest town Bingham
Survey works
A46 Winthorpe
Nearest town Newark on Trent
Communication works
A1 Newark Cromwell Service Station
Nearest town Cromwell
Junction improvement
EAST
A14 Felixstowe Jct 57 to Jct 58
Nearest town Ipswich
Bridge pier strengthening
A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick
On line improvement to dual two lane carriageway
WEST MIDLANDS
A38 Weeford to Cranwell
Nearest town Lichfield
Resurfacing work
M6 Penkridge Jct 12 to Jct 13
Resurfacing work
M50 Jct 2 to M5
Ledbury/ Tewkesbury/ Stensham
Resurfacing work
SOUTH WEST/DEVON & CORNWALL
A30 Dunheved
Nearest town Launcheston
Bridge replacement work
A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens
Nearest town Bodmin
New 4 mile section opened within scheme
YORKSHIRE & HUMBER
M62 Jct 28 to Jct 29
Nearest town Leeds
Resurfacing, resigning, new gantry
A1 Branham to Wetherby
Nearest town Wetherby
Resurfacing work
NORTH EAST
A1 Killingworth
Newcastle
Carriageway reconstruction
End