Highways England will complete or lift 448 miles of roadworks – leaving 98 per cent of its 9,534-mile network free of roadworks in time for the Christmas getaway.
Highways England is completing 407 and suspending 41miles of roadworks by 6am on Friday 23 December until Tuesday 3 January to help people get away this Christmas with as little disruption as possible.
In Yorkshire and the North East 16 sets of roadworks have been completed in time for the Christmas holiday.
The news comes as an online poll shows Sir David Attenborough, chef Gordon Ramsay and singer Kylie Minogue have all been chosen as the nation’s favourite passengers for festive car journeys.
The survey also shows that 50 per cent of drivers will be travelling more than 50 miles to visit friends and relatives at Christmas.
Key schemes which are being completed in time for Christmas include:
· the £191 million improvement scheme at Catthorpe Junction 19 of the M1 – which will revolutionise the journeys made by more than 142,000 vehicles through the area every day;
· work to upgrade 5.4 miles of the M1 between junction 34 for Meadowhall and Rotherham; junction 35a for the A616 Stocksbridge bypass in Sheffield;
· the M25 £100 million junction upgrade where the motorway meets the A13 in Essex, near the Lakeside shopping centre and retail park, which has added vital extra capacity to the junction in time for the Christmas shop.
Click here to see a map showing the locations of lifted and completed schemes –
Highways England operations director, Nick Harris said:
“This Christmas bank holiday, we’re helping drivers with their journeys by clearing roadworks on most of our motorways and major A-roads.
“Our traffic officers will also be on patrol working to clear any incidents; the vast majority of which will be dealt with in under an hour.
“We’re asking people to be prepared before setting off. Make sure you have everything you need for your journey should there be any delays, check before and during your journey and also make sure you’re aware of the signs and signals on motorways.”
By suspending or completing roadworks, more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions will be lifted.
Those wishing to find out more about smart motorways and driving on can head online to: www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-
Drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing are reminded to pay Dart Charge in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.
More information can be found on our website or by calling our information line (0300 123 5000) they can keep up to date with conditions on the roads.
ROADWORKS COMPLETED
A63 Castle street, Hull (near Hull)
Relocation and modification of existing staggered pedestrian crossing.
0.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A63 Hedon Rd, Hull (near Hull)
Resurfacing works
0.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A64 Rillington to West Knapton (near Malton)
Resurfacing works
1.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
M18 / M1 J32 (near Rotherham)
Drainage works
2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
M621 J1 Beeston (near Leeds)
Resurfacing works
6.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
M621 J27 Gildersome (near Leeds)
Resurfacing works
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
M621 J1 to J3 (near Leeds)
Resurfacing works
1.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A64 Tadcaster Bar to Askham Bar (near York)
Foot/Cycleway repairs and renewal of roadmarkings
10.1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1M J61-63 (near Durham)
Resurfacing
25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 J66-67 (near Gateshead)
Electrical
0.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 J70-71 (near Newcastle Upon Tyne)
Resurfacing
1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 J67-71 (near Newcastle Upon Tyne)
Maintenance Work
10 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 J67 (near Gateshead)
Electrical
0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 West Moor to Coquet (near Alnwick)
Resurfacing
5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 Stannington (near Bedlington)
Drainage
1.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.
A1 West Cawledge (near Alnwick)
Resurfacing
1.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday period.