THE Highways Agency intends to help holidaymakers by keeping traffic moving over the August bank holiday weekend, ensuring that 98 per cent of England’s motorways and other major roads are free of roadworks.

Around 164 miles of roadworks will be completed before the bank holiday weekend and 110 miles will be suspended between Friday and next Tuesday, providing extra lane capacity for holiday traffic.

Highways Agency director of traffic management, Simon Sheldon-Wilson, said: “This bank holiday weekend, over 98 per cent of motorways and major A roads in England will be clear of roadworks. This will be a great help to people travelling during the holiday - with roadworks lifted, more lanes will be open and many of the associated speed restrictions will also be lifted.

“To help road users, Highways Agency traffic officers and the police will work to clear up any incidents as soon as possible but we advise drivers to check weather and travel conditions before any long journey and make sure they have maintained their vehicles, including trailers and caravans before setting out.”

Roadworks at 73 locations will be completed before the bank holiday. A further 50 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions will be removed by 6am on Friday and will not be put back before a minute after midnight nextMonday/Tuesday.