The Highways Agency aims to keep traffic moving over the August bank holiday weekend, ensuring that 98% of England’s motorways and other major roads are free of roadworks.

Around 164 miles of roadworks will be completed before the August bank holiday weekend and 110 miles will be suspended between Friday, August 22, and Tuesday, August 26, providing extra lane capacity for holiday traffic.

Highways Agency director of traffic management, Simon Sheldon-Wilson, said: “This bank holiday weekend, over 98% of motorways and major A-roads in England will be clear of roadworks.

“This will be a great help to people travelling during the holiday – with roadworks lifted, more lanes will be open and many of the associated speed restrictions will also be lifted.

“To help road users, Highways Agency traffic officers and the police will work to clear up any incidents as soon as possible but we advise drivers to check weather and travel conditions before any long journey and make sure they have maintained their vehicles, including trailers and caravans before setting out.”

To help its customers, roadworks at 73 locations will be completed before the bank holiday.

A further 50 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 6am on Friday, August 22, and will not be put back before 00:01 on Tuesday, August 26.

This year, the Agency is doing more work than ever to improve the condition of its network, reduce congestion and provide real long-term benefits for drivers.

A record amount of money is being invested in Agency’s roads, but this means there are more roadworks on the ground than before so drivers need to plan and allow sufficient time for their journeys.

For the safety of drivers and their passengers, lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain in place at 49 locations.

Drivers can find out about the busiest routes in their region by looking at the Agency’s website which shows the holiday hotspot routes over the August bank holiday period and the times they are expected to be busiest and through Twitter.

This will help them help them choose the best time to travel and plan their routes. Friday evening and Monday afternoon are expected to be the busiest periods over the bank holiday weekend, especially on the main holiday routes, as people set out and return from short breaks or day trips.

Roadworks lifted at 50 locations (110 carriageway miles) to be replaced after the August bank holiday weekend:

A14 J2-3 (near Market Harborough) Carriageway repairs 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A14 Rothwell (near Market Harborough) Survey work 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A43, M1 J15a - Towcester (near Towcester) Footpath repair
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A43, M1 J15a - Towcester (near Towcester) Carriageway repairs 0.75 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A43 Towcester (near Towcester) Survey work 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A45 Skew Bridge-Chowns Mill (near Wellingborough) Drainage work 3.6 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A45 Wilby Way (near Wellingborough) Roundabout improvements 5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A5 Kilsby (near Rugby) Inspections 0.25 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

A5 Towcester (near Towcester) Bridge work 0.25 mile(s) of roadworks lifted for bank holiday.

M1 J15a-16 (near Northampton) Electrical work 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

M1 J16 (near Northampton) Survey work 1.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

M45 at the M1 J17 (near Rugby) Bridge inspection 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

M45 at the M1 J17 (near Rugby) Electrical 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

M45, Jnc A45-M1 (near Rugby) Carriageway resurfacing
2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

M45, Jnc M1-Dunchurch (near Rugby) Carriageway resurfacing 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 Catthorpe (near Rugby) Survey work 0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 J10 (near Kettering) Footpath improvement 0.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 J10-12 (near Kettering) Survey work 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 J2-4 (near Market Harborough) Survey work 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 Naseby (near Market Harborough) Survey work 1.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A14 Welford (near Rugby) Survey work 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A43 Tiffield (near Towcester) Carriageway repair 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A45 Irchester (near Wellingborough) Bridge work 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A45 Queen Eleanor (near Northampton) Drainage work 2 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A45 Stanwick-Raunds (near Wellingborough) Carriageway resurfacing 0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A45 Thrapston to Stanwick (near Wellingborough) Road marking 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

A5 Towcester (near Towcester) Drainage work 4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for bank holiday.

Roadworks remaining, mostly for safety reasons, at 49 locations (201 carriageway miles):

A47 / A1042 Jct (near Norwich) Major junction improvement. There will be an eastbound lane closure and a 50mph speed limit in operation - 3 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Traffic management remains for safety reasons due to construction adjacent to lane 1 of A47.

A1065 to A134 (near Thetford) Construction of new carriageway and refurbishment of existing. There will be a 40mph speed limit in operation - 19.2 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Temporary safety barriers installed for the protection of road users and construction workers and the 40mph speed limit is to ensure safety within the temporary barrier tolerances.

M1 J10a (near Luton) Improvements to the roundabout. There will be narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit in place - 1 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Ongoing excavation and construction work ongoing.

A14 J31-32  (near Cambridge) Carriageway realignment and widening. There will be narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit in place - 1.5 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Traffic management remains for safety reasons due to construction adjacent to lane 1 of A14.

A14 J1 and Catthorpe interchange (near Lutterworth)Excavation of new M6 to A14 link road. There will be a narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit in place - 2.15 miles of roadworks - Nil to slight delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: Open excavations.

A14 J7-9 (near Kettering Town) Widening the dual carriageway to create an extra lane in both directions. There will be narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit in operation - 2.5 miles of roadworks - Moderate delays expected. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for bank holiday: The contra-flow system is fully operational to provide the necessary working space for the safe construction of the main earthworks and to maintain two running lanes in each direction.
 

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