Shropshire Star

Drivers warned to expect heavy traffic over Easter weekend

Motorists taking advantage of the four-day weekend should plan their journeys and avoid expected pinch points

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Easter traffic

Huge numbers of cars taking to the roads for an Easter getaway could cause large delays on parts of the country’s network, the RAC has warned.

After researching drivers’ travel plans, the motoring organisation has concluded that around 12 million leisure car journeys will be taken over the Easter weekend – putting serious strain on the country’s motorways and trunk roads.

Jams are expected to peak on Good Friday. The worst affected area will be the M5 southbound, passing west of Bristol – a popular route for those taking holidays in Devon or Cornwall. The M25 anticlockwise is also expected to snarl up, from junction 4 (Bromley) to junction 30 (A13).

The M6 north between junction 31 (Preston) and junction 34 (Lancaster) and the M62 west between junction 27 (Leeds) and junction 18 (Manchester) are also anticipated to be high-traffic areas.

RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “This week we’re expecting a significant second wave of Easter getaway traffic, following that which we saw at the start of April when schools broke up. This will mean the coming week and the bank holiday will likely be characterised by lengthy queues in some spots.”

Highways England is doing its best to calm motorists, however, with 450 miles of roadworks set to be removed in time for the Easter bank holiday.

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