Highways England geared up to help motorists this bank holiday

Highways England will remove the roadworks by early Friday morning (August 23) to help people get away on bank holiday journeys with as little disruption from roadworks as possible.

Almost 97 per cent of England’s motorway and major A-roads, the strategic road network, will be free from roadworks over the August bank holiday period. To help motorists, Highways England is lifting 75 miles and completing 411 miles of roadworks.

Melanie Clarke, Highways England’s customer service director, said: “We’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible and that’s why we’re keeping 97 per cent of the road network we manage, free from roadworks.

“Safety is our top priority and we know from experience that almost half of breakdowns can easily be avoided if motorists carry out simple vehicle checks before setting off over this period.”

Highways England traffic officers will also be on patrol and working with partners to help clear any incidents; the majority of which will be dealt with in under an hour.

And motorists are being reminded to do their bit to help keep traffic flowing by making sure they have everything they need for their journey by making sure they are aware of the signs and signals on motorways.

Highways England says simple checks are a way to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy. Things to consider are:

• Tyres: Ensure tyre pressures are suitable for the load and check the condition of tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit
• Engine oil: Check oil levels regularly and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual
• Water: Always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen
• Lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, your vehicle may fail its MoT
• Fuel: Before setting out make sure you have enough fuel to get to your destination

Tips for motorway driving:

• Never drive in a lane closed by a red X. For details of what to do when you see a red X click here
• Keep to the speed limits shown on the gantries or signs.
• A hard shoulder is always identified by a solid white unbroken line – if there’s no speed limit displayed above it or a red X is displayed, do not use it except in emergency.
• A broken white line indicates a normal running lane.
• If the hard shoulder is being used as an extra lane, use the designated emergency areas for emergencies.
• If your vehicle experiences difficulties, eg warning light, exit the motorway immediately, if you can safely do so.
• Most breakdowns are preventable – keep your car well maintained, check your tyres and make sure you have enough fuel for your journey. Don’t stop except in an emergency. If you have to stop make sure you know what to do.

For more information about driving on motorways, visit: www.highwaysengland.co.uk/motorways

People travelling with caravans and trailers are also urged to check their vehicles before they take to the roads – especially their tyres, to ensure they are not worn or damaged – to help avoid a potential breakdown or incident and help keep traffic flowing.

The roadworks will be completed or suspended from 6am on Friday, August 23 until 12.01am on Tuesday, August 27. By suspending or completing roadworks, more lanes will be open and many of the associated speed restrictions will be lifted.

For the safety of drivers and their passengers, lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain at 35 locations.

Drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing are reminded to pay Dart Charge in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.

Completed

M1 Watford Gap Service (near Daventry)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 24 to Trowell Services (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 25 to 26 (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 Trowell Services to jct 27 (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 29 to 28 (near Mansfield)

2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M45 jct 17 (M1) to 1 (near Rugby)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M45 Dunchurch (near Rugby)

1.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1 Long Bennington to Winthorpe (near Newark on Trent)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1 Colsterworth to Barrowby (near Grantham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1 Barrowby to Long Bennington (near Grantham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A38/M1 jct 28 (near Alfreton)

1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed.

A453/A50/M1 (A453 Finger Farm Roundabout to West Leake, A50 Sawley to jct 24 roundabout, M1 jct 24 to 25) (near Derby)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A46 Six Hills to Widmerpool (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Kilsby to Watling Street (near Rugby)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Old Stratford to Towcester (near Towcester)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Towcester to Weedon (near Towcester)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Towcester to Weedon (near Towcester)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A516 Mickleover to City Hospital (near Derby)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A52 Sandiacre (M1) to QMC (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A2 Dunkirk to Upper Harbledown (near Upper Harbledown)

0.09 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 2 to 4 (near Edgware)

2.72 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 5 (near Watford)

2.65 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 (near Edgware)

0.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 to 17 (near Chalfont St Peter)

2.31 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 to 17 (near Chalfont St Peter)

2.51 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 to 17 (near Chalfont St Peter)

2.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 17 to 19 (near Chorleywood)

3.39 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 18 to 20 (near Chorleywood)

3.17 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 19 to 17 (near Chorleywood)

2.45 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 20 to 18 (near Chorleywood)

2.04 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 18 to 16 (near Chorleywood)

2.06 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 21 to 19 (near Abbots Langley)

3.13 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 26 to 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

2.28 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 to 26 (near Theydon Garnon)

2.05 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 10 to 9 (near Wisley)

1.55 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A282 (near Dartford)

1.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 8 (near Reigate)

1.72 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 8 (near Reigate)

0.23 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A30 (near Staines)

0.46 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.94 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 26 to 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

3.06 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.88 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 (near Brentwood)

1.64 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 (near Brentwood)

1.96 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 9 to 8 (near Leatherhead)

2.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for August period.

A282 (near Dartford)

0.51 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A13 jct 31 (near North Stifford)

0.24 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 22 to 21A (near Frogmore)

1.38 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 20 to 21 (near Abbots Langley)

0.78 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.34 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M4 jct 5 to 4 (near Colnbrook)

1.16 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 4 to 6 (near Watford)

2.27 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 6 to 4 (near Watford)

2.28 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 to 27 (near Brentwood)

0.81 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 20 to 19 (near Chorleywood)

0.54 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 5 to 6

2.73 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 6a to 5

2.21 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 5 to 6a (near Watford)

1.55 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M1 jct 6a to 6 (near Watford)

1.14 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 to 27 (near Brentwood)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.77 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 6 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.61 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 6 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.61 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 14 (near Poyle)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 to 15 (near Yiewsley)

0.48 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A3 (near Oxshott)

3.22 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A3 (near Painshill)

0.42 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 23 to 24

0.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 23

0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 17 to 16 (near Chalfont St Peter)

18.86 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 to 15 (near Yiewsley)

0.83 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 6 (near Theydon Garnon)

1.89 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 6 (near Theydon Garnon)

0.89 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 15 to 16 (near Yiewsley)

0.37 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1M jct 4 to 3 (near Hatfield)

0.46 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 to 27 (near Brentwood)

1.43 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 17 to 16 (near Chalfont St Peter)

1.32 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 27 to 28 (near Brentwood)

0.97 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 6 to 5 (near Upton)

2.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 6 to 5 (near Upton)

2.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 6 to 5 (near Upton)

2.81 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M4 jct 3 to 1 (near Heston)

2.76 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 4 to 5 (near Colnbrook)

1.12 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 5 to 6 (near Upton)

1.51 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 6 to 5 (near Upton)

1.55 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 2a to M25 (near Sevenoaks)

2.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 2a to M25 (near Sevenoaks)

2.29 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 17 to 16 (near Chalfont St Peter)

17.84 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 to M26 (near Sevenoaks)

0.13 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25  to  M25 jct 2a (near Sevenoaks)

2.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 22 to 23 (near Potters Bar)

1.52 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M26  to  M25 jct 2a (near Sevenoaks)

2.31 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 21a (near Frogmore)

0.38 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 22 to jct 21a (near Frogmore)

0.87 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 21a (near Frogmore)

0.42 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A405 (near Leavesdeb)

0.13 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A282 (near Dartford)

0.61 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 16 (near Tatling End)

0.24 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 5 to 6 (near Upton)

0.68 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M25 jct 28 (near Brentwood)

0.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M18 jct 7 to 6 (near Doncaster)

2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M62 jct 27 (near Leeds)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M6 jct 44 to 45 (near Carlisle)

5.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M6 jct 37 to 38 (near Tebay)

1.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M6 jct 38 to 39 (near Shap)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M6 jct 33 to 32 (near Scorton)

0.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M6 jct 43 to 42 (near Carlisle)

2.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M55 jct 3 to 4 (near Weeton)

1.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 12 to 13 (near Cambridge)

1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A14 jct 37 to 43 (near Newmarket)

3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A120 Priory Wood Roundabout, Stansted to Galley’s Corner Roundabout, Braintree (near Great Dunmow)

12 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 7 to 8 (near Harlow)

3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1M jct 9 to 8 (near Stevenage)

3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A47/A146 Trowse Interchange (near Norwich)

3 mile(s) of roadworks completed.

A1M jct 9 to 7 (near Stevenage)

10 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 7 (near Harlow)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Little Brickhill to A416 Roundabout (near Milton Keynes)

4 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A47 jct 15 to Nene Way Roundabout (near Peterborough)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A47 Necton to Swaffham (near Swaffham)

4 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Brickhill to Milton Keynes (near Milton Keynes)

3 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A120 Braintree to Coggeshall (near Braintree)

0.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 7 (near Harlow)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A120 Church Lane to Salmons Lane (near Marks Tey)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A12 jct 25 to 28 (near Colchester)

8 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A14 jct 37 to 43 (near Newmarket)

10 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A14 jct 51 to 43 (near Bury St Edmunds)

10 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1M jct 6 to 7 (near Welwyn)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 7 to 8 (near Harlow)

2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A5 Bletcham Way Roundabout to Grandby  (near Milton Keynes)

4 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A14 jct 54 to 56 (near Ipswich)

4 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A1/A421 Black Cat Roundabout to Renhold (near Bedford)

7 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M11 jct 9 to 10 (near Saffron Walden)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A14 jct 44 to 45 (near Bury St Edmunds)

6 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A12 jct 20b to 25 (near Witham)

20 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A12 jct 29 to 32 (near Colchester)

12 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A120 A131 Panner’s Interchange to A131 Mark’s Farm Roundabout (near Braintree)

5 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A3 Stoke (near Guildford)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A3 Liss (near Liss)

0.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A31 Ashley Heath (near Bournemouth)

2.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A31 Poulner (near Ringwood)

2 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M27 jct 9 (near Whitley)

2.05 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A34 Kiddlington (near Oxford)

1.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed

M27 jct 3 (near Southampton)

5.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

A34 Tothill (near Newbury)

1 mile(s) of roadworks completed

Lifted:

M1 jct 20 (near Lutterworth)

0.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M1 jct 27 to Tibshelf Services (near Mansfield)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M1 jct 27 to 28 (near Mansfield)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M1 jct 26 to 27 (near Hucknall)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A14 jct 3 to 10 (near Kettering)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A38 Ripley to Coxbench (near Ripley)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A46/A1 Newark On Trent (near Newark On Trent)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A5 Weedon to Kilsby (near Daventry)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A52 QMC to Wheatcroft (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A52 Wheatcroft to Saxondale (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A52 Elton to Barrowby (near Grantham)

2.5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A52 Saxondale to Elton (near Nottingham)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A1 Fenwick (near Haggerston)

4.4 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M1 jct 36 to A61 (near Barnsley)

2 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A585 Norcross (near Norcross)

0.6 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M6 jct 39 to 40 (near Shap)

5 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A1(M) jct 17 (near Peterborough)

1.8 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A36 Claverton to Limpey Stoke (near Limpley Stoke)

0.05 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

M5 jct 23 to 22 (near Burnham)

1.3 mile(s) of roadworks lifted

A38 Kennford to Chudleigh (near Chudleigh)

7.3 mile(s) of roadworks lifted