National Highways lifts roadworks for festive getaway  

National Highways is removing more than 1,000 miles of roadworks ahead of the festive getaway.

The move will ensure more than 98% of motorways and major A-roads will be roadworks-free in time for those travelling across the Christmas break.  

To help keep festive disruption to a minimum, the vast majority of roadworks will be removed from 6am on Tuesday (December 19) until 12.01am on Tuesday (January 2).  

Notable routes to benefit from roadworks being lifted for the festive period include the A3 in Hindhead with more than nine miles of roadworks completed ahead of the festive getaway; and the M27 between junctions 2 and 3 (near Southampton) with more than 13 miles of roadworks completed before Christmas.

The M4 between junctions 13 and 12 (near Newbury) will also see more than 27 miles of roadworks removed as will the A1 from A47 Wansford to Stibbington (near Peterborough) with five miles of roadworks lifted.

A further five miles of roadworks will be lifted on the M1 between junctions 21 to 22 (near Leicester).

National Highways customer service director, Andrew Butterfield, said: “December is an incredibly busy period which is why we’re improving journeys for motorists by keeping 98% of the roads we manage free from roadworks over Christmas.

“We know from experience that peak travel times can vary at this time of year, so it’s really important that drivers check traffic conditions before heading out to help keep traffic flowing.”