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Roadworks removed to ease busy Christmas roads Roadworks removed to ease busy Christmas roads
(about 9 hours later)
Nearly 400 miles of roadworks are to be removed in preparation for one of busiest days on the roads for motorists, Highways England has said.Nearly 400 miles of roadworks are to be removed in preparation for one of busiest days on the roads for motorists, Highways England has said.
A total of 148 schemes will be removed by 06:00 GMT on Wednesday in an effort to free up motorways and A-roads. Some 148 schemes were to be removed by 06:00 GMT on Wednesday in an effort to free up motorways and A-roads.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said he recognised roadworks could be "frustrating" and wanted to apply "common sense". Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said roadworks could be "frustrating" and he wanted to apply "common sense".
Wednesday along with 30 December will be peak travel days, Abta said. Meanwhile, unions said rail passengers were enduring a "fortnight from hell" on Britain's "over-stretched" railways.
"It's impossible to improve roads without some element of engineering work, but I also know how frustrating they can be. We are determined to apply common sense to our roads so we can minimise disruption," Mr McLoughlin said. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said travellers had already been hit with signal failures, staff shortages, overcrowding and congestion.
The roadwork removals will leave 98% of the motorways and major road networks clear for the Christmas period, Highways England said. People travelling by rail are advised to check for possible service disruptions with National Rail Services.
'Speed reductions' Millions of people are also expected to travel by air this Christmas, with major airports reporting increases on last year's festive passenger numbers, the Association of British Travel Agents said.
On the M5 a one-and-a-half mile stretch of works will be cleared at Exeter and a further four-miles will be taken away near Bristol. It said Wednesday, along with 30 December, would be a peak travel day.
Analysis
By Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent
Some 95% of the rail network will be running as normal this Christmas, but Network Rail uses the break to crack on with some of its biggest projects, because the trains are so much quieter than normal.
Last year, a catalogue of errors left 115,000 people stranded and angry. It came down to silly things. Equipment didn't work. Critical safety paperwork that should have taken a couple of hours took ten. The back-up plan was laughable.
Network Rail says it's done bigger jobs since then without a hitch, and months of planning will prevent any repeat of last year.
The company boss was on holiday in Cornwall when it all kicked off last Christmas. He's not going away this year.
Follow Richard on Twitter @BBCwestcott
'Speed restrictions'
The removal of roadworks will leave 98% of the motorways and major roads clear for the Christmas period, Highways England said.
On the M5, a one-and-a-half mile stretch of works will be cleared at Exeter and a further four-miles will be taken away near Bristol.
Roadworks will stay lifted until midnight on Saturday 2 January.Roadworks will stay lifted until midnight on Saturday 2 January.
Highways England director of customer operations Melanie Clarke said: "This Christmas, we're clearing roadworks across the majority of motorways and major A-roads in England to help people make important journeys to see family and friends. Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas getaways by road, with the RAC predicting 4.1 million separate journeys - although the reduction in normal traffic could mean the roads are actually quieter than usual, it said.
"Where possible, we've completed or lifted roadworks, leaving more lanes open and lifting many of the associated speed restrictions to help people travelling over the festive period."
Millions of people are also expected to be leaving the country through the major airports all of which are reporting increases on last year's festive passenger numbers, trade group Abta said.
For the latest live travel advice motorists are encouraged to check the the Highways England website.For the latest live travel advice motorists are encouraged to check the the Highways England website.
Highways England's Melanie Clarke said: "This Christmas, we're clearing roadworks across the majority of motorways and major A-roads in England to help people make important journeys to see family and friends.
"Where possible, we've completed or lifted roadworks, leaving more lanes open and lifting many of the associated speed restrictions to help people travelling over the festive period."
Mr McLoughlin said: "It's impossible to improve roads without some element of engineering work, but I also know how frustrating they can be. We are determined to apply common sense to our roads so we can minimise disruption."
Rail disruption
It comes as the RMT union said travellers had suffered two weeks of "hell".
On Wednesday, a fault with the signalling system near Chippenham caused disruption to Great Western journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon.
A temporary shortage of train crew has caused disruption to Southern services, with some trains altered or cancelled.