MORE than 400 miles of roadworks are being removed from motorways and major roads across the country this weekend, to help bank holiday trips go smoothly.

Highways England always removes as many roadworks as possible at busy times, and will complete or lift 177 sets of roadworks for the late August getaway.

In Yorkshire and the North East, they will be lifting 14 sets of roadworks, have completed 24 sets and have only nine sets of roadworks remaining for the bank holiday weekend.

Simon Sheldon-Wilson, director of customer operations at Highways England, said: “To help road users enjoy this bank holiday weekend, we’re completing or suspending over 400 miles of roadworks on motorways and major trunk roads. But we’re still asking people to play their part by planning their journeys and making use of the traffic information services we provide.”

Roadworks will be removed wherever possible by 6am on Friday, August 28  – leaving 97.4 per cent of Highways England’s 9,534 mile network roadwork-free. In all, 432 miles of roadworks will be removed. Highways England is completing 115 schemes and suspending a further 62 sets of roadworks.

For the safety of drivers and their passengers, lane restrictions or temporary speed limits will need to remain at 52 locations.

To give drivers as much information as possible to plan their trips, Highways England is also flagging potential holiday routes, which could get busy over the bank holiday weekend.

For the latest travel information, go to highways.gov.uk/traffic