Thousands of road users expected to travel to Donington Park (Leicestershire) for Download Festival this weekend
The Highways Agency is advising music lovers heading to the Download Festival at Donington Park in Leicestershire this weekend to plan their journey and allow plenty of time to get to the event.
Road users not heading to the festival are also being advised to seek alternative routes to avoid experiencing delays.
Approximately 50,000 people are expected be in the arena during the three day rock concert being staged from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June, and surrounding roads are likely to be very busy.
Gates to the campsite open at midday on Wednesday 11 June to allow an expected 35,000 or more campers to spread their arrival times. Up to 10,000 visitors are expected to buy daily tickets.
Steve Parker, Highways Agency Emergency Planning Manager for the East Midlands, said:
Major roads and motorways in the area, including the M1, A42, A50 and A453, are likely to be busy.
All routes to the festival will be well signposted, but people travelling in the area should plan their journey in advance and check the latest travel conditions before they set out.
Festival goers with iPhones will be able to check the traffic conditions using our Highways Agency travel news app or can follow us on Twitter @HAtraffic_emids, as long as it is safe to do so.
Donington Park is located next to East Midlands Airport, four miles west of junction 23a of the M1 and five miles from junction 24. Anyone travelling to the airport should allow plenty of extra travel time for their journey.
The Highways Agency will be using electronic message boards on the surrounding motorways to advise people of any delays. Extra Highways Agency Traffic Officers are also being deployed for the duration of the event around junction 24 of the M1 to assist motorists, clear incidents quickly and keep traffic moving.
Further information is available from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or email the Highways Agency’s Information Line
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.