Christmas roadworks to avoid

[December 19th 2008]

If you're travelling to the airport this Christmas there are some roadworks remaining in place that could lead to traffic congestion.

The Highways Agency says that roadworks will remain at 28 locations around England for the safety of drivers and passengers. Some of the major roadworks are on key routes to the UK's major airports, so drivers are advised to leave plenty of extra time to travel to the airport.

Drivers heading to the some of the UK's busiest airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, are advised to avoid the M25 between junctions 26 and 27 near Epping. A 50mph speed restriction is in place and the hard shoulder has been closed due to the Bell Common Tunnel refurbishment. Slight delays are expected but these could become severe at peak periods.

Drivers travelling to Heathrow should take note of the roadworks on the M4 between junctions 5 and 7 near Slough. A 50mph speed limit is in place due to bridge upgrades and open excavations. Again delays are expected to be slight but there may be traffic jams at busy times.

The approaches to Birmingham airport could be congested too thanks to roadworks on the M40, M6 and M42. On the M40 there are still roadworks in place at junction 15 near Warwick and junction 16 to the M42 junction 3A near Solihull. The M42 also has roadworks between junction 7 and 9 near Coleshill. On the M6 there are roadworks between junctions 5 and 4, and junctions 10a to 12 northbound.

If you're heading to East Midlands airport watch out for the roadworks on the M1 between junctions 25 and 28 near Nottingham and Derby. There are narrow lanes in both directions with speed restrictions of 50 mph in place.

In the North West, roadworks that may affect people travelling to Manchester airport include the M60 junction 5 clockwise and anticlockwise at the A5103 Princess Parkway near Wythenshawe, and the A550 and A5117 at Deeside Park near Chester.

For travellers heading to Bristol airport there are roadworks on the M5 between junctions 11 and 11a near Cheltenham and Gloucester.

For more traffic and travel advice over the Christmas and New Year period check out the Highways Agency website.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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