cars
Highways England – Helping You This Christmas
Just over 96 per cent of motorways and major A roads will be roadworks-free
Follow Government travel advice and check your vehicle ahead of any festive journeys
Highways England traffic officers will help keep you moving
If you’re travelling this Christmas, Highways England will be helping you by removing the vast majority of roadworks from 6am on Sunday 20 December.
Highways England traffic officers will be working 24/7 as usual to help people who get into difficulty.
Some 778 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A-roads will be removed from the road network from 6am on Sunday 20 December to 12:01am on Monday 4 January 2021.
Where essential roadworks must continue, speed limits will be set at 60mph where possible.
To make journeys better for everyone, plan your route, check traffic conditions before setting out, make sure your vehicle is ready for the drive ahead and allow plenty of time for your trip.
As well as keeping roadworks to an absolute minimum, Highways England’s traffic officers will help you stay on the move by changing their working hours to meet peaks in traffic volumes.
Highways England’s customer service director, Melanie Clarke, said: “We want to help you see loved ones this Christmas, so we’ll be doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible and to minimise any disruption.
“We’ll remove roadworks wherever possible and to help reduce the chance of breaking down, we’re reminding drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before setting off on journeys.”
Before setting off remember to:
Check fuel: make sure you have enough fuel to get to your destination.
Check tyres: check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit.
Check engine oil: use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey and top up if needed. Take your car to a garage if you’re topping up more than usual.
Check water: make sure you always have good visibility by keeping your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen.
Check lights: check your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights and brake lights. If they’re not functioning properly, you’re putting yourself at risk. Also, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT.
As well as checking your vehicle, if you’re:
towing: make sure you have the correct licence and insurance to tow the weight of your load and it’s correctly connected and secured.
driving on the motorway: follow the motorway signage, including the red X signals. Lanes are closed for a reason and drivers ignoring red X signs put themselves and others at risk.
Highways England will step up works to ensure the roads are prepared for bad weather, putting over 400 patrols on duty to rapidly respond to disruption.
Over 200 Highways England staff will also be working over Christmas to provide 24/7 cover in Highways England’s 7 regional operations centres to keep traffic flowing.
Information about traffic conditions is on our website and on Twitter. We can also be contacted on 0300 123 5000.
Journey planning advice, including making sure vehicles are ready for the road, can be found here
Information about how to avoid tailgating by giving fellow road users enough space, is available here
Roadworks Lifted
A14 Jct 13 to Jct 22 (near Huntingdon)
2 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 58 to Jct 62 (near Felixstowe)
6 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 21 to Jct 21a (near Leicester)
5 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 5 to Jct 7 (near Kettering)
5 miles of roadworks
A43 Towcester-Brackley (near Towcester)
5 miles of roadworks
A46 Newark on Trent-Swinderby (near Newark)
5 miles of roadworks
A5 Burbage-Magna Park (near Hinckley)
5 miles of roadworks
A5 Danes Way-Gibbet roundabout (near Rugby)
5 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 60 (Bradbury) to Jct 61(Bowburn)
10.65 miles of roadworks
M56 Jct 6 to Jct 8 (near Altrincham)
4.65 miles of roadworks
Roadworks Completed
A38 Dartbridge
6.42 miles of roadworks
A38 Manadon
0.06 miles of roadworks
A38 St Budeaux
0.06 miles of roadworks
A38 Latchbrook
3.75 miles of roadworks
A38 Latchbrook
0.86 miles of roadworks
A38 Plymouth
0.79 miles of roadworks
A38 Chudleigh
0.18 miles of roadworks
A38 St Budeaux
0.31 miles of roadworks
A38 Lee Mill
5.44 miles of roadworks
A38 Carkeel
0.84 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 27 (near Tiverton)
0.40 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 30 (near Exeter)
0.45 miles of roadworks
A303 Podimore
1.81 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 11 (near Cheltenham)
0.87 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 21 to Jct 19 (near Bristol)
12.82 miles of roadworks
A303 Amesbury
2.48 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 17 to Jct 18 (near Avonmouth)
5.63 miles of roadworks
A36 Crockerton
11.19 miles of roadworks
A36 Crockerton
2.96 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 20 (near Clevedon)
1.96 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 19 to Jct 20 (near Portishead)
2.02 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 27 to Jct 26 (near Taunton)
5.00 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 22 to Jct 21 (near Weston-Super-Mare)
1.21 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 22 to Jct 21 (near Weston-Super-Mare)
2.56 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 9 to Jct 10 (near Clevedon)
8.95 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 30 (near Exeter)
0.20 miles of roadworks
M32 Jct 2 (near Bristol)
1.46 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 15 to Jct 13 (near Thornbury)
4.37 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 16 to Jct 15 (near Swindon)
8.13 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Swindon)
8.27 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Swindon)
8.27 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Swindon)
1.82 miles of roadworks
A303 Countess
0.31 miles of roadworks
M5 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Swindon)
1.82 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 17 - Jct 15 (near Swindon)
2.31 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 17 - Jct 15 (near Swindon)
2.31 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 (near Swindon)
0.35 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 (near Swindon)
0.27 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 (near Swindon)
1.31 miles of roadworks
M4 Jct 15 (near Swindon)
1.33 miles of roadworks
M271 Jct 1 (near Redbridge)
1.59 miles of roadworks
M275 (near Portsmouth)
5.04 miles of roadworks
M27 Jct 12 (near Portsmouth)
0.67 miles of roadworks
A3 (near Godalming)
34.31 miles of roadworks
M271 Jct 1 (near Redbridge)
1.5 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 4 to Jct 4a (near Farnborough)
8.32 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 3 (near Bagshot)
8.88 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 3 to Jct 4 (near Bagshot)
11.1 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 4 to Jct 4a (near Farnborough)
7.45 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 2 to Jct4a (near Bagshot)
5.56 miles of roadworks
A34 Peartree (near Peartree)
0.6 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 3 (near Bagshot)
7.41 miles of roadworks
A31 Palmersford
0.05 miles of roadworks
A3 Guildford
2.87 miles of roadworks
A3 Petersfield
34.12 miles of roadworks
A34 Speen (near Newbury)
2.58 miles of roadworks
A3 Hindhead
2.54 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 13 (near Eastleigh)
4.58 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 6 (near Basingstoke)
2.78 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 8 to Jct 9 (near Winchester)
5.4 miles of roadworks
A20
5.13 miles of roadworks
A27 Pevensey
0.13 miles of roadworks
A21 Vauxhall (near Tonbridge)
9.37 miles of roadworks
A2 Bean (near Darenth)
3.21 miles of roadworks
A27 Grove Lodge (near Worthing)
0.18 miles of roadworks
A27 Cop Hall (near Cop Hall)
3.81 miles of roadworks
A27 Sompting Road (near Worthing)
3.31 miles of roadworks
A27 Warren Road (near Worthing)
0.35 miles of roadworks
A27 Chichester (near Chichester)
0.78 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 21 to Jct 20 (near Hemel Hempstead)
2.26 miles of roadworks
A282 Dartford Crossing
2.42 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 31 (near Thurrock)
0.24 miles of roadworks
A282 Dartford Crossing
2.15 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 4 (near Westerham)
4.29 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 4 (near Westerham)
6.73 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 (near Riverhead)
0.86 miles of roadworks
A282 Dartford Crossing
2.42 miles of roadworks
A282 Dartford Crossing
2.42 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 4 (near Westerham)
0.64 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 30 to Jct 29 (near Thurrock)
0.85 miles of roadworks
A282 Dartford Crossing
2.42 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 11 to Jct 10 (near Leatherhead)
5.42 miles of roadworks
A30 (near Staines upon Thames)
0.36 miles of roadworks
A30 (near Staines upon Thames)
0.06 miles of roadworks
A30 (near Staines upon Thames)
0.20 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 30 (near Thurrock)
1.65 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 23 to Jct 25 (near Potters Bar)
4.66 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 8 (near Redhill)
1.72 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 8 (near Redhill)
0.23 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 10 to Jct 9 (near Leatherhead)
0.49 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 10 to Jct 9 (near Leatherhead)
1.30 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 29 (near Thurrock)
0.07 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 3 (near Swanley)
0.41 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 16 (near Denham)
0.32 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 3 to Jct 2 (near Bagshot)
1.24 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Uxbridge)
2.86 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 15 to Jct 17 (near Uxbridge)
4.98 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 14 to Jct 16 (near Uxbridge)
2.80 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 14 to Jct 16 (near Uxbridge)
2.73 miles of roadworks
A13 (near Thurrock)
0.49 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 6 (near Westerham)
1.25 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 2 to Jct 1 (near Staines upon Thames)
0.19 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 26 to Jct 27 (near Epping)
5.97 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 31 (near Thurrock)
0.67 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 9 to Jct 10 (near Leatherhead)
7.89 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 4 to Jct 5 (near Loughton)
1.67 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 4 to Jct 5 (near Loughton)
1.69 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 25 to Jct 26 (near Waltham Abbey)
0.63 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 21a to Jct 22 (near Park Street)
1.09 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 25 to Jct 26 (near Waltham Abbey)
0.71 miles of roadworks
A13 (near Thurrock)
1.10 miles of roadworks
A13 (near Thurrock)
0.18 miles of roadworks
A13 (near Thurrock)
1.43 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 7 (near Godstone)
3.09 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 7 (near Godstone)
2.85 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 5 to Jct 7 (near Godstone)
2.80 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 8 to Jct 6 (near Godstone)
2.79 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 30 (near Thurrock)
0.19 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 9 to Jct 8 (near Leatherhead)
2.42 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 9 to Jct 8 (near Leatherhead)
2.83 miles of roadworks
A3 Painshill
2.34 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 24 to Jct 23 (near Potters Bar)
0.52 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 1 to Jct 2 (near South Mimms)
1.50 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 4 to Jct 2 (near Hemel Hempstead)
2.47 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 4 to Jct 5 (near Westerham)
0.41 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 16 to Jct 17 (near Uxbridge)
3.20 miles of roadworks
A30 Staines (near Staines upon Thames)
0.75 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 2 to Jct 3 (near South Mimms)
0.30 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 1 (near Brent Cross)
2.48 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 1 (near Brent Cross)
2.56 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 15 to Jct 16 (near Uxbridge)
3.10 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 10 to Jct 9 (near Leatherhead)
2.44 miles of roadworks
A1089 (near Thurrock)
0.82 miles of roadworks
A13 (near Thurrock)
1.10 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 29 (near Cranham)
0.17 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 30 (near Thurrock)
0.19 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 4 to Jct 5 (near Welwyn Garden City)
0.29 miles of roadworks
M3 Jct 13 (near Staines upon Thames)
0.99 miles of roadworks
M25 Jct 10 to Jct 9 (near Leatherhead)
1.09 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 5 to Jct 6 (near Welwyn Garden City)
0.25 miles of roadworks
A47 Oversley Lodge to Station Road (near Thorney, Peterborough)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A120 Ramsey to Parkeston (near Harwich)
4.00 miles of roadworks
A47 Swaffham to Necton (near Swaffham)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A47 Easton to Longwater Interchange (near Norwich)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 47 Woolpit (near Bury St Edmunds)
8.00 miles of roadworks
A1M Jct 9 to Jct 8 (near Stevenage)
7.00 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 21 to Jct 22 (near Huntingdon)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A1307 Jct 26 to Jct 25 (near Godmanchester)
6.00 miles of roadworks
A47 Bascule Bridge (near Lowestoft)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A1307 Jct 25 to Jct 26 (near Godmanchester)
6.00 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 43 (near Bury St Edmunds)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A5 Jct with Portway (near Milton Keynes)
1.00 mile of roadworks
M1 Jct 10 to Jct 11 (near Luton)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A12 Jct 19 (near Chelmsford)
2.00 miles of roadworks
A11 Jct with B1085 (near Newmarket)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A11 Thetford Bypass
3.00 miles of roadworks
A47 Pasteur Road to A149 Vauxhall Roundabout (near Great Yarmouth)
2.00 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 7 to Jct 8 (near Harlow)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A1M Jct 17 to Jct 16 (near Peterborough)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A5 Jct with A421 (near Milton Keynes)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A12 Jct 11 with M25 Jct 28 (near Brentwood)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A12 Jct 19 to Jct 25 (near Witham)
25.00 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 33 to Jct 35 (near Cambridge)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A47 Bascule Bridge (near Lowestoft)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A421 Jct with M11 Jct 13 (near Bedford)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A414 Parkway (near St Albans)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A12 Jct 31 to Jct 32b (near Ipswich)
3.00 miles of roadworks
A1 Biggleswade to A1M Jct 10 (near Biggleswade)
10.00 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 8 (near Bishops Stortford)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A428 Cambourne (near Cambridge)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A15 Jct 57 (near Ipswich)
0.50 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 8 to Jct 9 (near Bishops Stortford)
18.00 miles of roadworks
A14 Jct 41 to Jct 42 (near Bury St Edmunds)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A14 Jct 33 (near Cambridge)
3.00 miles of roadworks
M11 Jct 10 to Jct 9 (near Cambridge)
5.00 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 21 to Jct 22 (near Leicester)
5.00 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 21a to Jct 22 (near Leicester)
2.50 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 22 (near Leicester)
1.50 miles of roadworks
M1 Jct 21a to A46 Kirby Muxloe (near Leicester)
5.00 miles of roadworks
M6 Jct 19(M1) to Jct 1 (near Rugby)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A1 Stamford-Grantham (near Grantham)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A1 Tuxford-Apleyhead (near Retford)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A42 Lount to M1 Jct 23a (near Melbourne)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A43 Towcester to M1 Jct 15a (near Towcester)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A45 Higham Bridge (near Wellingborough)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A453 Clifton (near Nottingham)
2.50 miles of roadworks
A46 Brownhills Roundabout to Winthorpe Roundabout (near Newark)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A46 Hobby Horse (near Leicester)
2.50 miles of roadworks
A5111/A6 Raynesway to Alvaston (near Derby)
5.00 miles of roadworks
A585 Jct 3 (near Thistleton)
1.00 mile of roadworks
A585 Jct 43 (near Carlisle)
1.80 miles of roadworks
A585 Jct 36 (near Crooklands)
3.70 miles of roadworks
A585 (near Norcross)
1.80 miles of roadworks
M6 Jct 40 and Jct 44 (near Carlisle)
1.20 miles of roadworks
M6 Jct 37 and Jct 38 (near Tebay)
1.20 miles of roadworks
A19 Tees Viaduct (near Stockton)
0.50 miles of roadworks
A1(M) Jct 16 (near Peterborough)
5.50 miles of roadworks
A1(M) Jct 16 (near Peterborough)
1.20 miles of roadworks
M20 Jct 3 to Jct 5 (near Maidstone)
69.00 miles of roadworks