With over 19 million leisure journeys planned, this Easter bank holiday weekend is shaping up to be the busiest of the year. Drivers can expect a ‘hat-trick of hold-ups’ across the UK, with peak congestion expected from Thursday to Saturday.
The Easter bank holiday weekend is just around the corner, and with it comes a ‘hat-trick of hold-ups’ for drivers across the UK. According to the RAC, there will be extremely high levels of traffic from Thursday onwards, with peak congestion expected from Thursday to Saturday.
Several major roads are likely to be congested during the Easter weekend. The M25, particularly the 35-mile stretch from junction 7 for Gatwick airport to junction 16 for the M40, is expected to see delays of more than an hour on Thursday. Additionally, the M6 north of Chester and the M25 clockwise towards Godstone, Surrey, are also likely to be hotspots.
The UK's road network is one of the busiest in Europe, with over 70% of journeys made by car.
According to a study by the RAC Foundation, congestion costs the UK economy £8 billion annually.
The main causes of congestion include population growth, urbanization, and lack of investment in public transport.
Additionally, factors such as roadworks, accidents, and special events like 'football matches' contribute to delays.
On Good Friday, drivers using popular routes such as the A303 in Wiltshire and the M5 southbound from Bristol can expect long queues, particularly between 11am and 1pm. The RAC’s breakdown spokesperson, Alice Simpson, advises drivers to plan their journeys carefully to avoid the worst of the congestion.
Good Friday, a significant Christian holiday, is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday.
It marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and attracts large crowds to churches and tourist destinations worldwide.
In many cities, this leads to increased traffic congestion, particularly in areas with high concentrations of religious sites or popular attractions.
According to a study by INRIX, traffic congestion increases by an average of 20% on Good Friday compared to regular Fridays.
Cities like Rome, Jerusalem, and Paris experience significant delays due to the influx of visitors.
The Port of Dover expects to process around 5,500 cars embarking on outbound ferry sailings between 6am and 1pm on Good Friday. Meanwhile, traffic management system Operation Brock will be in place in Kent until April 22, affecting traffic flows on the M20.
On the railways, Network Rail is conducting engineering work in several locations this weekend, causing disruption to a number of routes. The most significant impact will be at London Euston, where there will be no services to or from Milton Keynes on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, and a reduced timetable on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
With over 19 million leisure journeys planned between Thursday and Easter Monday, this is shaping up to be the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year. The RAC’s Alice Simpson says that while journey numbers are still high, she expects more day trips and weekend breaks than people heading off on longer holidays.
She advises drivers to plan their journeys carefully, avoiding peak travel times if possible. ‘It’s always best to travel as early as possible in the morning or later in the day when most of the traffic has eased,’ she says.
- theguardian.com | UK drivers face ‘hat trick of hold ups’ over Easter bank holiday weekend
