Roadworks cleared for Easter getaway

Almost two-thirds of roadworks were being removed from England's motorways and major roads in time for the big Easter getaway which was starting today.

Road and rail routes are expected to be packed, despite schools breaking up for the holiday at different times.

The Highways Agency has pledged to complete 38 sets of roadworks, including 11 in the West Midlands by today, while a further 12 were being suspended between 6am today and midnight on Monday.

Only two schemes will remain for safety reasons in the West Midlands, at M42 Junction 8a to seven at its link with the M6 Junction 4A link, and another at the M69 north of Junction 1 near Hinckley.

Rail passengers are also being told to expect delays similar to those seen at New Year as major engineering work takes place on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby.

London Euston station will be closed to Virgin Trains on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with services heading for the capital terminating at Birmingham International or Coventry where replacement buses will be waiting.

Even when the route to Euston reopens on Tuesday, there will be a reduced level of service with only five or six trains per hour in each direction and journeys will take longer.

Derek Turner, Highways Agency director of traffic operations, said: "The Highways Agency is helping to make journeys easier over the holiday by taking all possible steps to complete and suspend as many roadworks as possible on the motorways and major A roads in England.

"To help people to a smoother getaway, we are encouraging them to plan their route and check for delays before starting their journey, and to make simple checks to their vehicle."

Highways Agency traffic officers will be patrolling the motorways 24 hours a day throughout the weekend.

They will be helped by incident support units and operators in seven regional control centres who will be monitoring the network to keep traffic moving smoothly.

Drivers can prepare for their journey by tuning into the Highways Agency's traffic radio, available on DAB digital radio and at www.trafficradio.org.uk

Easter work update

Staying in place are roadworks at:

M42 Junctions 8a and 7 and M6 Junction 4a near Water Orton.

M69 north of Junction 1 north of Junction 2 near Hinckley for resurfacing works.

Roadworks stopping between 6am today and midnight on Easter Monday are:

A4123 Tipton; A449 Gailey; A45/M42 Junction 6 Birmingham; A456 Kidderminster Road; A46 Teddington Hands, Beckford; A5 Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury; M42 Junction 3 to 3a Redditch; M5 Junction 4a to 4 Lydiate Ash; A46 Oversley Mill, Alcester; M6 Junction 10a-12; A38 Branston Interchange Burton upon Trent; A500 Handford Junction, Newcastle under Lyme.

Roadworks due to be completed by today:

M5 Junction 3, installation of signals; A38 Eggington footway, Whittington; A42 New Street Overbridge, Ashby; A42 bridge over M1, Loughborough Bridge joint replacement; M69 Shilton Railway Bridge; A5 Kingswood Lakes; A38 between A5148 and A5; M42 Junction 10, Tamworth; M42 between Junction 9 and 10; A5 junction with Shawell Lane; A45 between Memorial island and Ryton Island; M6 Junctions 1 to 4 Coventry to Rugby.