Holiday misery as millions of drivers forced into 220 MILES of roadworks this summer – check the 8 motorways affected
MILLIONS of drivers face holiday misery – with 220 miles of roadworks affecting eight motorways this summer.
National Highways is bringing in 50mph average speed checks on the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M25 and M27.
Many of the speed checks are between ten and 17 miles long, The Times reports.
The speed checks are being introduced while National Highways installs more than 130 emergency areas on smart motorways.
The smart motorways do not have a hard shoulder – and were originally opened without enough safe stopping areas.
National Highways is spending £390million to fit them with the new refuge areas.
A further 11 miles of roadworks will clog up the M1 between Luton and Milton Keynes.
Major works are also taking place on the M25 at junction 10, the notorious Wisley interchange.
Junction 10 has the worst record for collisions on the M25 and is often clogged up with traffic.
AA president Edmund King said: “It’s a nightmare for drivers. Of course we support putting in new emergency areas.
“Technically, they should make should make smart motorways safer.
“But we did argue, from the start, that they shouldn’t open without the adequate number of areas anyway.”
He added: “In some places, it doesn’t feel like there is a national speed limit anymore.
“What you find is people concentrating on their speedo, rather than the road ahead.”
National Highways boss Duncan Smith said: “These improvements will help keep more road users safer for the long term.”
It comes just days after 14million drivers hit the roads in a “weekend of woe”.
Fresh getaway hell is expected this weekend as more Brits head off for their summer getaways.
Inrix expert Bob Pishue said: “Drivers should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from their destinations.
“Be flexible with your route, whether it’s the time your leave or a journey that’s longer in miles with fewer delays.
“It could also reduce the stress of being held up and make for a more enjoyable trip.”
Full list of motorways affected
- M1: junctions 10-13, 23A-25, 28-30, 30-31. 34-35A, 43-47
- M3: junctions 2-4A
- M4: junctions 10-12
- M5: junctions 4A-6
- M6: junctions 21A-26
- M20: junctions 3-5
- M25: junctions 4-5, 10, 23-27
- M27: junctions 4-11