Roadworks Lifted Over Festive Season
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 16 December 2011
The Highways Agency is set to help people travelling during this year’s festive holiday period, with plans in place to complete more than 500 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A roads next week. A further 60 miles will be suspended between 23 December 2011 and 3 January 2012.
In all, 118 sets of roadworks are due to be completed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday period. A further 19 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions are due to be removed by 06:00 on Friday 23 December and will not be put back before 00:01 on Tuesday 3 January. Lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain in place at 26 locations for the safety of drivers and their passengers, including on the M1 near Luton and on the M25 where important widening work will continue over the holiday period.
One of the Busiest Times
Transport secretary Justine Greening said: "Christmas is one of the busiest times on our roads and that's why we will be completing or lifting roadworks wherever possible to help people get back to see their families and loved ones.
“More than 98 percent of the strategic road network will be roadworks free, meaning that more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions lifted.
"The Highways Agency is well prepared for winter, but experience from recent years shows that we must all play our part. I'd urge all drivers to make time for winter and visit the Highways Agency's website, where there are lots of tips to help keep winter journeys safe and trouble free."
Traffic Information
The Agency will continue to offer a range of traffic information services to help road users plan their seasonal journeys and its Traffic Officers will be on patrol throughout the holiday period, to help clear up any incidents as quickly as possible. In addition, a few very simple steps taken now can reduce the risk of being caught out by the weather. Check your vehicle before you set out; take a severe weather emergency kit with you; check traffic and weather conditions and always plan your journey.
The Highways Agency provides live traffic information through its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. From the web at highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
The Agency also provides live traffic information via the Twitter micro-blogging website. Their Twitter channels @winterhighways (and @HA_Christmas over the festive period) will help you prepare for winter journeys, with timely reminders and traffic updates. There are also regional feeds for live traffic information. For further information on this service and a full index visit their Twitter pages.
For the full index visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter
Road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000 at any time.) to keep up to date with road conditions.
(Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
For the Highways Agency's advice to road users this winter, "Make time for winter", visit www.highways.gov.uk/winter
A46 Whisby Cross Road
The A46 Whisby Cross Road (near Lincoln) roadworks for Major junction improvements is still in place. The 1.5 mile(s) of roadworks is expecting Nil to Slight delays. Reason roadworks cannot be lifted for holiday period is that there are works close to the carriageway and road markings have been removed, so restrictions need to stay in place for obvious safety reasons.
Safety at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
- Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.
- Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.
- Observe all signs – they are there to help you.
