Jams predicted and roadworks expected to cause long tailbacks

Date published: 22/03/2008

Extensive roadworks are expected to lead to severe traffic problems over Easter exodus. About 10% more traffic than normal is expected as hundreds of thousands head off for the long weekend.

Meanwhile, rail travellers face Easter closures on the West Coast, East Coast and South West main lines.

Traffic is expected to be heaviest on routes to major attractions and coastal towns.

The AA says 6.5 million cars are expected on the roads over the weekend, with Easter Monday the busiest.

And as many as three million passengers took the train on Thursday, according to Atoc, the Association of Train Operating Companies.

The RAC has predicted that the shorter school break in much of the UK will lead to a "nightmare" on the roads as more people head off at the same time and fewer choose to go abroad.

Because Easter is unusually early this year, many schools are not having their traditional two-week break until April.

Consequently, families going away for Easter only have four days, which is expected to lead to a more concentrated getaway rush than normal.

The Highways Agency has removed nearly two thirds of roadworks from England's motorways and major A roads.

A total of 38 sets of roadworks have been completed and a further 47 are suspended until midnight on Monday 24 March.

However, roadworks are still affecting the M1, M4, M5, M6, M11, M25, M42, M48, M55, M56, M57, M60, M62, M65, M69 and many A roads.

More than two million air passengers are expected to pass through Britain's airports over the long weekend.

This is fewer than last year - which travel experts say is due to Easter falling outside school holidays in many parts of the UK, combined with worries over the global credit crunch.

On the railways, more than 30 projects are to be carried out over the Easter holiday, with 6,000 people working around 300,000 man-hours, laying new track, repairing bridges and updating signalling systems.

Passenger groups have said they accept the need for the works but warn it is important that works are not allowed to over-run as they did at New Year, causing major disruption.

The RAC said an expected cold snap could add to travel problems over the weekend.

If the weather conditions are bad, motorists are advised to only make journeys that are necessary.

If they must travel, they should ensure they carry spare warm clothes, food and drink and keep mobile phones charged in case of emergency.

The rail watchdog Passenger Focus is warning rail users to plan ahead to avoid the disruption.