Roads Set To Be Twice As Busy This Easter Weekend
INRIX advises drivers to check traffic before they travel as Easter holidaymakers could be caught in queues twice as long as last year on Maundy Thursday
INRIX® Inc., a leading global provider of transportation information, analytics and driver services for the connected car and smart cities worldwide, today released information on the congestion hotspots drivers should avoid in the UK this Easter weekend.
As the UK experiences major railway engineering works, increasing numbers of cars on the roads1 and Brits make their way to their holiday destinations, the worst-affected congestion hotspots in the South East and South West could be twice as busy compared to last year.
With foreign holidays on the rise again2, travellers heading to Gatwick and Heathrow airports on Thursday 2nd April could face up to four times the standard journey time with a typical 30-minute journey around the western section of the M25 taking up to two hours, and remaining congested for much of the day. Those making the most of the British countryside are expected to experience delays of up to an hour on the M4 between Hampshire and the West Country.
In the Capital, Londoners should be prepared for closures on rail lines in and out of London, particularly if travelling to or from Euston and Paddington. There will also be significant congestion on the A406 North Circular Road at South Woodford and around Vauxhall due to closures and increased traffic on the roads, as well as closures on London’s overground rail and Tube lines.
This year’s busiest periods will be on Thursday 2nd April with traffic levels significantly above normal levels for nearly the whole day, Friday 3rd April between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and again on Monday 6th April with congestion evident between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. The majority of delays will be focused around London but extra traffic on the roads will affect congestion up and down the country.
Greg Hallsworth, UK traffic analyst at INRIX, explains, “On the one hand, increased traffic on the roads, railways and public transport signifies good news for the economy with more people travelling and increasing numbers of goods being moved across the country. For those planning an Easter weekend getaway, our advice is to check before you travel. With rail closures, diversions and huge numbers of vehicles on the roads, many routes will be busier than usual. However there are smarter times to travel and alternative routes to take based our insights that will help reduce travel times.”
As expected, Londoners wanting to escape the capital will feel face some of the longest delays. If you must travel at the busiest times, our advice is to use the alternative routes we have outlined below. Travellers can check the INRIX traffic website for real time traffic information, the Transport for London website (www.tfl.gov.uk/traffic/status) or tune into their local radio stations to better plan their journeys and steer clear of major delays.”
Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport at Transport for London, comments, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that traffic is increasing year-on-year in London as the population continues to grow.
“During this Easter break, we will be working hard to minimise any disruption and remind all road users to check before they travel to avoid congestion where they can. Separately, we are working to improve reliability and updating our roads for the 21st century. By installing state-of-the-art traffic signals, refurbishing key locations such as the Hammersmith flyover and transforming pinch-point junctions like the Elephant & Castle and Archway junctions, we can continue to ensure that London’s roads are fit for purpose.”
For detailed Tube and Rail travel advice over the Easter weekend, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/easter and www.nationalrail.co.uk/easter
