HIGHWAYS AGENCY KEEPS LANES OPEN FOR AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY DRIVERS
24 August 2004 - Highways Agency

Drivers are being encouraged to drive safely this weekend as major roads and motorways in England are likely to be busy with travellers taking advantage of the August Bank Holiday.

To help the holiday getaway, the Highways Agency will be keeping as many lanes as possible open on its network of English motorways and trunk roads.

We will be removing roadworks where it is safe to do so and working with the Police to clear any incidents that occur on the network as quickly as possible.

Drivers, especially those on long distance journeys, are being reminded to stop for a 15-minute break at least once every two hours to improve their concentration and beat tiredness.

Archie Robertson, Highways Agency Chief Executive, said:

''Drivers can make their journey easier by planning their route and keeping up to date with the latest road conditions by listening to the travel bulletins.

''The Agency will also be lifting as many roadworks as possible to help drivers get to their destinations more freely.''

Up-to-the-minute advice about roadworks and travel conditions on the motorways and trunk roads managed by the Highways Agency in England is available by phoning the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY
FRIDAY 27 - TUESDAY 31 AUGUST 04

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT LIFTED
Roadworks are being lifted at the following locations as the Agency works to keep as many lanes as possible open for drivers.

East Midlands

A5 Nutts Lane, Hinkley, Leicestershire

A453 Resurfacing work, Nottingham

A46 Farndon, Nottinghamshire

A52 Moor Lane to Thoresby, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire

A52 Holme House, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire

A38 River Derwent Bridge, Derby

A52 Stapleford footbridge parapet replacement, Nottinghamshire

West Midlands

A46 Kenilworth Bypass (beneath Festival Roundabout), Coventry

North West

M61 Jcts 8-9 north and southbound, Lancashire

M65 Jcts 1-3 westbound, Lancashire

M6 Jcts 27-30 north and southbound, Preston, Lancashire

East

A14 Jct 7 Improvements, Northants

A421 Marsh Leys Roundabout, Kempston

South East

A249 Iwade Bypass, Kent - diversion route for northbound traffic will remain in place

M4 Jct 13 east & westbound carriageways, Berkshire

Roadworks lifted continued...

M4 Jct 7-8 east & westbound carriageways, Berkshire

M4 Jct 10 east & westbound slip road, Wokingham

A34 Jct 13 north & southbound carriageways, Berkshire

A3 Thursley north & southbound carriageways, Surrey

M27 Jct 4-8 east & westbound, Hampshire

A2 Brenley to Harbledown resurfacing scheme, Kent - Traffic Management being removed from 12pm Thurs 26 August

A259 Barnhorn Gateway, East Sussex

A27 Lyon''s Farm, West Sussex

A27 Busticle Lane, West Sussex

M25 Jcts 28 - 29, Essex

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT REMAINING
For safety reasons traffic management will remain at the following locations. Drivers are advised to drive carefully around roadworks and to allow extra time for their journeys, as delays may be possible.

West Midlands

A49 Shropshire (between Craven Arms and Onibury) - Emergency repairs being carried out. 50 metres of carriageway under temporary traffic signals

A5 Birch Coppice & M42 Jct 10
* M42 Jct 10 roundabout - 1 lane only on north bridge
* M42 Jct 10 southbound exit slip - lane 1 closed
* A5 Birch Coppice junction - one lane only in both directions
* M42 under Jct 10 - hardshoulder closed in both directions.

A46 Longbridge Island/M40 Jct 15 Warwick - Traffic management to remain in place on side of the island to fence off the newly constructed lanes. No traffic management on motorway carriageway

A500 Brick Kiln Lane to A5006 footbridge, Stoke on Trent - Narrow lanes in place

A500 Pathfinder, Stoke on Trent - Narrow lane running in both directions through the works. 30 mph limit will be in place. Moderate delays should be expected

A5 Weeford to Fazeley Bypass, Staffordshire -Traffic management to remain in place:
* A38/A5 Weeford Roundabout - no lane closures but different layout
* Lane 1 closed eastbound at Fazeley

M6 Jct 5 to 6, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham - Major maintenance to Bromford viaduct, contraflow in place 24 hours. Two lanes only available in each direction

M6 Jct 6, Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham - 24-hour closure of the following link roads as part of Bromford/Aston Expressway Major
works:
* Out of City to M6 south
* Salford Circus to M6 south
* M6 north to Salford Circus
* M6 south to A38(M) ~ Aston Expressway Major Maintenance
* M6 north to A38(M) ~ Aston Expressway Major Maintenance

M6 Jct 8 Walsall/West Bromwich (Ray Hall) - Major maintenance to viaducts, contraflow in place 24 hours

M6 Jct 9, Bescot/Wednesbury - 24-hour closure of Jct 9 southbound entry slip road as part of Ray Hall major maintenance.

M5 Jct 8 (M50) to 9 (Tewkesbury) - Major maintenance, contraflow in operation 24 hours. Two lanes only available in each direction

South East

M25 Jct 12 to 15, Surrey - North and southbound between M3 and M4, West of Heathrow. Contraflow in operation with mandatory 40mph speed limit. Allow extra time for journeys especially for Heathrow Airport. Traffic management in place 24 hours a day with some lane restrictions and occasional overnight closures necessary

A27 Grove Lodge Roundabout, West Sussex - Traffic management remaining

A2 Channel Tunnel Rail Link Works Pepperhill, Kent - Permanent traffic management in place

A21 Silver Hill, Kent - Resurfacing and land stabilisation. Traffic management manually controlled from 09.00 until 21.00 on Saturday 28 August. Lifted for Sunday 29 and Monday 31 August.

M2 Wouldham Road Bridge, Kent - Traffic management in place

M4/A34 Jct 13, Chieveley - New underpass has opened, however 40mph speed limit in place

North East

A1(M) Jct 60 (A689 Bradbury) to Jct 61 (A177 Bowburn), Durham - Construction of climbing lane. Lane closures and contra flow of northbound carriageway only.

A1 Newcastle Western Bypass, North Brunton interchange, Gosforth - Construction of new slip road. Narrow lanes and lane closures of northbound carriageway only

North West

M6 Jct 20 - 21, Thelwall Viaduct, Cheshire - Contraflow system is in operation. 40 mph speed restriction.

M60 Jct 5 - 8 Clockwise, Greater Manchester - Total closure due to carriageway widening. Full diversion in operation. Severe delays.

A663 Broadway, Oldham - Lane restrictions and speed limits through major roadworks

Yorkshire and the Humber

M1 (upper deck) Tinsley Viaduct and A631 (lower deck) Medowhall Roundabout, South Yorkshire - 50mph speed limit in place north and southbound. Low risk of delays but this is an airport route to Leeds/Bradford Airport. Overnight closures between 22.00 and 05.00 on the A631

A1 Wetherby and Walshford, North Yorkshire - Contraflows, speed restrictions and two narrow lanes will be running in each direction with occasional lane closures during off-peak periods

A64 Colton Lane/Bilbrough Top, North Yorkshire - 40mph speed limit with two lanes running in each direction

East

A14 Milton to Histon embankment repairs, Cambridgeshire - 24-hour narrow lanes and 40mph speed limit

M1 bridge work near Newport Pagnell - 50mph speed limit in place

East Midlands

A38 Alfreton road bridge, Derbyshire - Closure in both directions from 8pm on Thursday 26 August to Friday 27 August, between the A61 Watchorn junction to its junction with the A38 at South Normanton. Two way traffic lights in place

A14 Jct 7 near Kettering, Northamptonshire - 40mph speed limit in place with narrow lanes

www.highways.gov.uk

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