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More help for holidaymakers as roadworks lifted for bank holiday weekend

Government Communications (NDS)

22 August 2011

Around 365 miles of works will be completed this week and 95 miles will be suspended between Friday 26 and Monday 29 August, providing extra capacity for holiday traffic.The Agency's Traffic Officers will be patrolling the network to help traffic flow smoothly - and a range of information services will be provided to allow road users to plan their journeys.Roads Minister, Mike Penning, said:"The main holiday routes have been busy throughout the school holidays and the Highways Agency has worked hard to keep these flowing – as well as providing live traffic updates from its control centres.“For the bank holiday weekend, we are completing or lifting roadworks to provide extra lane capacity and help even further. Ninety-nine percent of motorways and trunk roads in England will be clear of roadworks, meaning more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions lifted.”The Agency provides live traffic information via its websitewww.highways.gov.uk/traffic, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. The Agency also now provides live traffic information via the Twitter micro-blogging website, including special channels for key holiday routes.One hundred and eleven sets of roadworks will be completed ahead of the bank holiday traffic. A further 23 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 06:00 on Friday 26 August and will not be put back before 00:01 on Tuesday 30 August. At 22 locations, lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain in place for the safety of drivers and their passengers. (Details below and on the Highways Agency website)Friday evening and Monday afternoon are expected to be the busiest this bank holiday weekend, especially on the main holiday routes, as people set out and return from short breaks or day trips.END