Roadworks completed or lifted in time for the August bank holiday
Over 370 miles of roadworks will be lifted or completed on England's motorways and major A roads to help families have smoother journeys over the August bank holiday.
Highways England will remove the roadworks – including many in the North West – by early Friday morning on 26 August 2016 to help people get away on bank holiday journeys with as little disruption from roadworks as possible.
Across England almost 98 per cent (97.8%) of England’s motorway and major A roads, the strategic road network will have no roadworks over the August bank holiday period. Highways England is removing 373 miles of roadworks: 179 sets of roadworks, totalling 319 miles, will be completed and 22 sets suspended, totalling 54 miles ahead of the holiday.
The government is investing £15billion to deliver the biggest upgrade to motorways and major A-roads in a generation. Building new roads and creating smart motorways that keep traffic moving even in the busiest periods will cut congestion – and Highways England is taking action to reduce delays over the bank holiday break.
You can view a map showing the locations of lifted and completed schemes.
Highways England Chief Executive, Jim O’Sullivan said:
This August bank holiday, we’re helping drivers with their journeys by clearing roadworks across the majority of our motorways and major A-roads in England.
Our traffic officers will also be on patrol and working with partners to help clear any incidents; the vast majority of which will be dealt with in under an hour.
We’re asking people to be prepared too. 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.
Our website can help drivers plan their journeys, and by listening to local radio stations, or by calling our information line (0300 123 5000) they can keep up to date with conditions on the roads.
Highways England is advising drivers of the resources on offer to help them arrive at their destinations safely, including advice about driving on smart motorways where signs and signals are used to help ease the flow of traffic to improve journeys.
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 26 August until 12.01am on 30 August. 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 some locations, including smart motorway works on Manchester M60/62 and Cheshire M6 junctions 16 to 19.
Full list of completed or lifted schemes: North West
The full list of schemes which will be lifted and completed over the August bank holiday period is as follows:
Roadworks lifted
A66 near to Cumbria border (near Barnard Castle)
Replacement of snow poles.
1.3mile(s) of roadworks lifted for August Bank Holiday period.
M62 J6 (near Tarbock/Huyton/Whiston)
Installation of new lighting columns to roundabout and slip roads on and off roundabout.
Cycle scheme upgrading around roundabout gyratory.
0.75mile(s) of roadworks lifted for August Bank Holiday period.
M6 J39-38 (near Shap)
Bridge expansion joint replacement and fencing renewals.
2mile(s) of roadworks lifted for August Bank Holiday period.
A66 (near Keswick)
Resurfacing and road markings with sign face replacements.
2mile(s) of roadworks lifted for August Bank Holiday period.
A590 (near Swarthmoor)
Resurfacing works
1mile(s) of roadworks lifted for August Bank Holiday period.
Works at A56 Rising Bridge Roundabout improvement scheme, A56 Lighting improvement scheme, M56 Weaver Viaduct and M6 J29 Walton Summit cycle scheme have also been lifted.
Roadworks completed
M62 J35 - 34 (near Doncaster)
Patching scheme.
9 mile(s) of roadworks completed for August Bank Holiday period.
A66 (near Penrith)
Resurfacing works.
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for August Bank Holiday period.
A66 (near Brough)
Patching works and reinstatement of road markings.
1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for August Bank Holiday period.
A595 (near Blackbeck)
Renewal of existing road signing and carriageway markings.
0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for August Bank Holiday period.
Clarendon Footbridge improvement scheme on the M602 has been programmed to start after the bank holiday weekend.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.