Traffic alert to 15million bank holiday motorists

HALF of the nation’s motorists are expected to take to the roads this bank holiday weekend, the AA warned yesterday.

Issuing a rare ‘ amber’ traffic alert, it said around 15million drivers were planning trips to round off the summer holidays.

Families will be keen to make the most of temperatures hitting up to 30C – and petrol costing £11 less a tank than it did at the start of July. But they will have to battle for road space with daytrippers, festival-goers and sports fans.

Reading and Leeds festivals start on Friday, Notting Hill Carnival is happening in west London all weekend and it is the finale of the Edinburgh Fringe.

There is also a full programme of football fixtures as well as the second test between England and South Africa in Manchester.

‘Jams are pretty much inevitable’

Analysis by the AA suggests traffic will be at its peak between 10am and 4pm on Saturday. But Friday and bank holiday Monday are also set to be busy.

Potential gridlock is expected on the M4/ M5 interchange near Bristol, the M5 between Taunton and Exeter, the M1 between the M25 and Newport Pagnell, the M6/ M42 interchange near Birmingham and the Liverpool-Manchester section of the M62.

The M8, A90 and A720 in Scotland are also expected to be busy.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘The last bank holiday for many people before Christmas, the hope of some settled weather and the impact of a packed schedule of events up and down the country mean jams are pretty much inevitable.’

Network Rail is also carrying out track and signalling upgrades so some services will be operating with a reduced timetable.