Trafficmaster predicts ‘chocca’ block roads for Easter drivers
With spring in the air and British Summer Time starting on 28th March, Trafficmaster predicts that after two years in which the Easter Holiday has proved comparatively quiet on the roads, Easter 2010 will be an exceptionally busy time on Britain’s roads. The harsh winter weather and a dispiriting 2009 will encourage many to take advantage of the first major holiday break of the year, heading away on the roads for either the weekend or a full weeks break.
“After a gloomy winter both in terms of weather and the economy, we are expecting to see one of the busiest Easter breaks for several years,” says Georgina Read at Trafficmaster, “It’s anticipated that the majority of Britain’s registered road vehicles will be on the road at some time over the Easter weekend, with Maundy Thursday on 1st April likely to be the busiest day across the Easter holiday period.”
Although some school holidays across England and Wales start as early as 26th March, the main “getaway” for the holiday period will occur on Maundy Thursday. There will also be significant holiday traffic movement on Good Friday and the Saturday. It is anticipated that nearly 20 million vehicles will be on the move over these three days.
Most road works will be suspended for the holiday period, and many planned road works delayed because of the recent severe weather will start after the Easter holiday. However some road works on urban roads have been scheduled over the weekend, when the normal commuter traffic will be absent.
On Thursday, 1st April, when the worst traffic congestion is expected, the roads to watch are as follows - they are listed in order off severity:
On M25: Restrictions for the major widening work between Junctions 16 and 19 will remain in place, but set to minimise delay. There are expected to be delays in both directions into and through this section throughout most of the day, tailbacks are expected to stretch over most of the Western Sector (J10/21A) of the motorway. Similarly, the restrictions for widening work between Junctions 27 and 30 will be set to minimise delay, but delays are expected in both directions during the morning peak and from lunchtime onwards.
On M1: Restrictions for widening work between Junctions 10 and 13, and also between Junctions 26 and 29 are likely to be set to minimise delays over the holiday period, but there is likely to be slow traffic in both sections during the morning peak, then northbound from about 15.00 onwards. In the afternoon, it is expected that both sections may lead to growing tailbacks on the northbound carriageway.
On M6: Road work restrictions are likely to be lifted for the holiday period, but very slow traffic is anticipated southbound from Junction 12 (Gailey) into the West Midlands to the M5 interchange from 11.00 onwards. There is also expected to be slow traffic southbound from the West Midlands towards the M1 interchange from early afternoon onwards, and through Cheshire and Staffordshire from Junction 19 from mid afternoon onwards. Northbound, the road is likely to be slow through the West Midlands from lunchtime onwards, extending through Staffordshire and Cheshire from early afternoon onwards. Further north, the afternoon and evening will see heavy traffic in Lancashire, past Preston, towards the M55 for Blackpool, and towards the Lake District.
On M5: There is likely to be slow traffic from early afternoon onwards from Almondsbury interchange (Junction 15) westwards into Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, which will continue into the evening. There is also likely to be slow traffic southbound at intervals along the whole section from the West Midlands (M6 interchange) to the Almondsbury interchange (Junction 15) throughout the afternoon. Finally, expect slow traffic northbound towards the M6 interchange in the West Midlands for much of the day.
On M4: The usual morning and evening peak delays between Chiswick and the Reading area (Junctions 1/12) will be supplemented by slow traffic throughout the day around the M25 interchange at Junction 4B, and westbound from mid afternoon onwards. Further west, there are likely to be delays from mid afternoon westbound around Junctions 19 (M32 interchange for Bristol) and Junction 20 (Almondsbury interchange for M5).
On M3: The usual morning and evening peak delays between M25 at Junction 2 and Junction 4A will be accompanied by westbound delays from mid afternoon onwards. Further south, expect delays in late afternoon from Junction 9 (Winchester) southwards to M27 at Junction 14.
On M27/A31: Expect delays from lunchtime onwards from the M3 interchange westwards to Junction 1 and onwards along A31 into Dorset.
On A303: Delays westbound are likely to start from 10.00 onwards past Stonehenge, and extending westwards, usually on those sections of the road still single carriageway, towards the West Country.
On A30/A38: Slow westbound through Devon and Cornwall from mid afternoon onwards, especially with caravan traffic.
On M20: Traffic is likely to be heavy coast bound throughout the day, but especially south of Ashford (Junction 10), where British holiday traffic mixing with European HGV’s returning home for the holiday weekend may result in delays on ferry services and Eurotunnel. Bad weather in the English Channel would further aggravate this situation.
On A3: Traffic is likely to be slow coast bound through Hindhead from mid morning onwards, with London-bound traffic likely to be delayed at the same location throughout much of the day.
On A34: Traffic around Oxford is likely to be slow and heavy in both directions at intervals throughout the day, also around Chieveley (M4 interchange) and the Newbury Bypass, and southbound towards M3 Junction 9 at Winchester in late afternoon.
On M60/M62: Traffic around M60 is likely to be slow on all sections throughout the afternoon and evening, and especially both ways along the northern section between Junction 12 and Junction 17. On M62, afternoon and early evening delays can be expected from M60 at Junction 10 westbound towards M6 at Junction 10. Further east, expect delays both ways on M62 between M606 interchange at Junction 25 and the A1 at Ferrybridge during the early evening.
On M56/A55: Expect delays in late afternoon westbound from South Lancashire into North Wales.
On A47: Eastbound traffic likely to be heavy from Midlands towards the Norfolk coast from late morning onwards – slow moving but rarely at a standstill apart from incidents.
On A64: Eastbound traffic likely to be heavy from late morning onwards towards the Yorkshire coast – slow moving but rarely at a standstill apart from incidents.
On A1/A1M: Traffic likely to be heavy for much of the day along the whole length of the road, but especially on A1M around the Hatfield Tunnel road works, and from lunchtime onwards through North Yorkshire.
In Scotland: There is likely to be slow traffic from lunchtime onwards on
M8 through Glasgow
A80 and M80 between Glasgow, Cumbernauld and M876 interchange
A82 from Clydebank towards the Trossachs
On the Forth Road Bridge and approaches
M77 and A77 towards the Ayrshire coast.
For more information about Trafficmaster’s other services and a live view of traffic on the roads go to trafficmaster.co.uk.