News story: Fuel for thought as motorists head off on Easter getaway

Almost 98 per cent of motorways and strategic A roads will be roadworks-free over the bank holiday, meaning motorists and their passengers can enjoy journeys with as little disruption as possible.

We are also reminding drivers to check their vehicles before they set off as it was revealed around 20 motorists break down every day because they have run out of fuel.

Latest statistics show almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which could be avoided with simple checks. Nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems.

Highways England Chief Executive, Jim O’Sullivan said:

I want all drivers to arrive at their destinations safely. We are removing almost all of our roadworks across the country to make people’s journeys easier for people this Easter and we are urging drivers to make sure they are ready by checking their fuel, tyres, and lights. Anyone who runs out of fuel is putting themselves and other road users, including their own passengers at risk. With a few simple checks that risk can be overcome and everyone will be safer.

The government is investing £15 billion to improve the strategic road network. The improvements will keep traffic moving even in the busiest periods, cutting congestion – and we are taking action to reduce delays over the bank holiday break. We are completing 190 and suspending 119 miles of roadworks by 6am on 13 April until 12.01am on 18 April to help people get away this Easter with as little disruption as possible.

Schemes completed in time for the Easter getaway include:

A556 – the £192m Knutsford to Bowdon dual carriageway linking junction 19 of the M6 to junction 7 of the M56 was completed on time and on budget after a 28 month build programme
A590 – our £1m project to realign and raise the carriageway at Lindal near Ulverston, removing a the long-running Lindal ‘Dip’ issue which led to carriageway closures during flooding was completed
£191 million improvement scheme at Catthorpe Junction 19 of the M1 – which will revolutionise the journeys made by more than 142,000 vehicles through the area every day

And before they set off we are urging drivers to:

check fuel: make sure you have enough to get to your destination
check tyres: before setting off on a long/significant journey, check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare; look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit
check engine oil: use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey, and top up if needed; take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual
check water: to ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screenwash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen
check your lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself at risk; in addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT

You can view a map showing the locations of lifted and completed schemes.

By suspending or completing roadworks, more lanes will be open and many speed restrictions will be lifted. Those wishing to find out more about driving on smart motorways can find further information on our smart motorways guidance page.

Drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing are reminded to pay Dart Charge in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.

More information can be found on our website or by calling our information line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with conditions on the roads.

For more detailed information on how to carry out your vehicle checks, view the Think! website.

View our vehicle checks video

Roadworks lifted

A38 Glynn Valley (near Dobwalls) Slope stabilisation 4.75mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

M1 Jct 20 to 21 (near Leicester) Carriageway resurfacing 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

M69 M1 (Jct 21) to Jct1 (near Hinckley) Drainage works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A1 Colsterworth to Barrowby (near Grantham) Drainage works 10mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A1 Harlaxton to Barrowby (near Grantham) Drainage works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A1 Tinwell to Colsterworth (near Stamford) Drainage works 10mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A1 Elkesley (near Retford) Electrical works 4.25mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A1 Barrowby to Long Bennington (near Grantham) Drainage works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A5 Gibbets Hill to Crick (near Rugby) Drainage works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A5 Old Stratford to Tove Roundabout (near Towcester) Carriageway resurfacing and drainage works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A14 Jct 3 to 10 (near Kettering) Horticultural works 10mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A14 M1 (Jct 19) to Jct 1 (near Rugby) Horticultural works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A14 Jct 10 to13 (near Kettering) Horticultural works 10mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A14 Jct 1 to 3 (near Market Harborough) Horticultural works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A38 Palm Court to Kingsway (near Derby) Horticultural works 2.5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A38 Markeaton (near Derby) Horticultural works 2.5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A43 Abthorpe (near Towcester) Carriageway improvement 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A45 Billing to Wilby Way (near Northampton) Carriageway repair works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A52 Bardills to Priory Roundabouts (near Nottingham) Horticultural works 5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A52 Radliffe on Trent (near Nottingham) Carriageway improvement 1mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A52 Radliffe on Trent (near Nottingham) Carriageway improvement 0.5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A453 Farnborough Road to Silverdale Roundabout (near Nottingham) Horticultural works 0.5mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

A5 Gledrid Roundabout (near Chirk) Widening the carriageway on the approaches and exit of the roundabout 1mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

M18 Jct 4 (near Doncaster) Bridge waterproofing 0.4mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

M621 Jct 1 to 5 (near Leeds) Electrical scheme 6.2mile(s) of roadworks lifted for Easter period.

Roadworks completed

M32 Jct 2 to 3 (near Bristol) Installation of bus only lane 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M4 Jct 16 (near Swindon) Structures maintenance 0.65 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M23 Jct 9 to 8 (near Crawley) The scheme addresses verge cracking along the embankment crest. Works involve removal/replacement of safety barrier, earthworks, ducting works and other maintenance activities. 7 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M20 Jct 4 to 10 (near Kent) Electrical works 3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M2 Jct 1 to 7 (near Kent ) Electrical works 3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M20 Jct 5 to 6 (near Maidstone, Kent) Resurfacing 3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A2 (near Dunkirk, Kent) Resurfacing 12 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A2 (near Gravesend) Resurfacing 4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A13 Slip road closure, southbound (near Essex) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 0.16 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A1(M) Jct 3 to 4 (near Hertfordshire) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 1.59 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A282 Jct 31 to 1A (near Essex / Kent) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 2.11 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct10 anti-clockwise entry slip (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 0.23 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 10 anti-clockwise off slip (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 0.21 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 11 anti-clockwise entry slip (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 0.18 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 28 anticlockwise exit slip (near Essex) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 0.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct10 to 11 (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 1.11 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 11 to 10 (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 2.51 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 11 to 9 (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 2.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 12 to 10 (near Surrey) Carriageway – reconstruction/repair 1.52 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M20 Jct 2 to 1 (near Kent) Communications 1.44 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M4 Jct 3 to 1 (near Hillingdon / Hounslow) Construction – improvement/upgrading 6.29 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 4 to 3 (near Kent) Drainage 0.99 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 4 to 3 (near Kent) Electrical works 0.57 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 16 to 15 (near S. Bucks) Electrical works 0.65 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 9 to 8 (near Surrey) Electrical works 0.44 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M20 Jct 1 to 2 (near Kent) Horticulture (cutting & planting) 2.45 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A3 JA244 to JA245 (near Surrey) Inspection/survey 0.65 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A3 southbound (on slip) at Esher Common Junction (near Surrey) Inspection/survey 0.41 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A40 Denham Roundabout eastern quadrant (near Buckinghamshire) Inspection/survey 0.06 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

A40 Denham Roundabout western quadrant (near Buckinghamshire) Inspection/survey 0.65 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct10 to 9 (near Surrey) Inspection/survey 0.42 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 15 to 16 (near S. Bucks) Safety barrier/fence Repairs 0.59 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 22 to 21A (near Hertfordshire) Safety barrier/fence Repairs 0.14 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M1 boundary to Jct 6 (near Hertfordshire) Signs – maintenance 0.22 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 10 to 11 (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 1.41 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 12 to 11 (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 2.31 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 15 to 16 (near S. Bucks) Signs – maintenance 1.51 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 15 to 16 (near S. Bucks) Signs – maintenance 1.43 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 16 to 15 (near S. Bucks) Signs – maintenance 2.42 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 17 to 16 (near S. Bucks) Signs – maintenance 1.32 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 21 to 21A (near Hertfordshire) Signs – maintenance 0.78 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 21 to 22 (near Hertfordshire) Signs – maintenance 1.59 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period.

M25 Jct 6 to 5 (near Kent) Signs – maintenance 2.91 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M25 Jct 11 exit slip.(clockwise) (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 0.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M3 Jct 1 to 2 (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M3 Jct 3 to 2 (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 0.68 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M3 west to M25 anti-clockwise link road (near Surrey) Signs – maintenance 0.27 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M4 Jct 3 to 2 (near Hounslow) Signs – maintenance 0.62 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A282 Dartford east tunnel (near Kent) Structure – new/reconstruction 0.33 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A282 Dartford east tunnel (near Kent) Tunnel maintenance 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A282 Dartford west tunnel (near Kent) Tunnel maintenance 0.97 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A120 Jct 29 (near Hare Green) Central reserve vehicle restraint system replacement 2.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M1 Jct 21 to 21a (near Leicester) Electrical works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M1 Jct 26 (near Nottingham) Electrical works 0.75 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M1 Jct 28 to 27 (near Sutton-in-Ashfield) Sign repairs 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M1 Jct 26 (near Nottingham) Sign repairs 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Blyth (near Retford) Bridge repairs 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Little Ponton (near Grantham) Surveys 1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Barrowby-Newark on Trent (near Newark On Trent) Drainage works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Tickencote to Little Ponton (near Melton Mowbray) Drainage works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Newark on Trent to Tuxford (near Newark On Trent) Drainage works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Apleyhead to Blyth (near Retford) Drainage works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Wothorpe to Tinwell (near Stamford) Horticultural works 1.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A5 Hinckley to Nuneaton (near Hinckley) Surveys 0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A5 Litchborough (near Daventry) Drainage works 1.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A5 Towcester (near Towcester) Carriageway improvement works 1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A5 Weedon to Kilsby (near Daventry) Horticultural works 2.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A14 Jct 7 to13 (near Kettering) Communication works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A14 M1 (Jct 19) to Jct 1 (near Rugby) Horticultural works 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A14 Jct 1 to 3 (near Market Harborough) Horticultural works 1.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A45 Wellingborough (near Wellingborough) Road marking 0.25 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A46 Cossington to Six Hills (near Loughborough) Horticultural works 5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M6 Jct 37 to 38 (near Tebay) Parapet connection and barrier upgrade 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A66 (near Embleton) Contraflow 2.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A66 (near Thornthwaite) Traffic signals 1.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A66 (near Thornthwaite) Full closure 1.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A585 (near Thorton) Traffic signals 1 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1 Jct 73 (near Newcastle upon Tyne) Electrical work 0.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M18 Jct 5 to J6 (near Doncaster) Barrier renewal 0.6 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A1T Ferrybridge to Barnsdale Bar (near Pontefract/Doncaster) Resurfacing works 13.7 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A64 Scampston (near Malton) Barrier renewal 0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A64 Rillington (near Malton) Footway improvements 6.2 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A64 Hopgrove to Stockton (near York) Resurfacing works 4.3 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M18 Jct 1 to 2 (near Doncaster) Carriageway repairs 6.4 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A19 northbound & southbound A684 Osmotherley (near Northallerton) Construction of central reserve crossover to facilitate contaflow system 0.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

M5 J4a to J5 (Phase 1) (near Droitwich) Constructing the infrastructure for Smart Motorways (ALR) 4.8 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period

A180 & A160 Brocklesby Interchange (near Immingham) Carriageway improvement works 3.5 mile(s) of roadworks completed for Easter period