'Amber traffic warning' issued for M6 and M62 over summer holiday getaway congestion
29.07.2022 - 11:50
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Drivers are being warned to expect severe congestion, with the AA issuing its first 'amber traffic warning' for Friday and Saturday covering the M6 and M62 motorways.
Congestion is expected to peak between 11am and 3pm on both days. The AA said it's due to a combination of the first switchover days for holiday lets during the school summer holidays in England and Wales, the rail strikes, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the start of the Football League season in England.
And Friday got off to the worst possible start as one of the busiest stretches of motorway in England - the M6 around Preston - was closed southbound due to a HGV on fire, with long queues building around the area and firefighters at the scene.
Roads approaching Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone are expected to be busy, as well as those serving Devon and Cornwall, such as the M5, A303 and A30.
The south-west and western sections of the M25, the Bristol M4/M5 junction, and the M6, M42, M1 and M62 are also vulnerable to jams this weekend, the AA said.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “With holiday let switchover day starting on Friday mixed with train strikes and a huge weekend of sport, we are concerned that drivers will experience delays across the network, with the south of England particularly vulnerable.
“All eyes will be on Dover and Folkestone, but we believe changes have been made throughout the week and we will keep our fingers crossed for a smoother trip across the Channel.
“Breakdowns can make jams worse and last weekend we saw a rise in breakdowns where vehicle checks had not been carried out before setting off. Spending 10 minutes checking tyres and fluid levels before setting off can make a big