Drivers have been warned to expect heavy congestion around the Leeds Festival site over the Bank Holiday weekend. More than 90,000 people are due to attend the event at Bramham Park and several roads nearby will be closed. National Highways cautioned ticket-holders to allow plenty of time for their journeys and other motorists have been advised to avoid the area.
Operations manager Dave Skupski warned drivers not to underestimate how busy the roads would be. He said: “Leeds Festival has the second biggest impact on traffic on our network after the British Grand Prix. Our message to anyone heading to the festival or using those key routes around Leeds over the weekend is to plan your journey, check traffic conditions before setting out and give yourself plenty of time. Follow the signs, and don’t rely on your satnavs.”
The M1, A1(M) and A64 around Leeds are expected to be especially busy as Bramham Park is close to the A1/A64 interchange. Road closures will be in place at points on the A64, A1M and local roads. Some roads will be subject to 30mph speed limits and bans on U-turns. The busiest times are expected to be around 23:00 BST on Sunday and 02:00 BST on Bank Holiday Monday, and then from 08:00 BST to 14:00 BST later that day.
Mr Skupski added: “If you’re not planning to attend, please make sure you allow extra time if you’re travelling around this area. If possible, avoid the expected peak festival arrival and departure times.” There will also be footpath closures through the Bramham Park Estate and along Mangrill Lane bridleway. Residents living within the affected areas should have received a road closure pass in the post.
Festival-goers should also be wary of receiving fines if they make a dangerous mistake on the motorway. Dance music fans heading to Creamfields festival in Cheshire could see their party plans take a serious hit. Drivers and revellers flocking to the massive four-day festival are being warned that they’ll face fines if they break the law on the motorway. With around 70,000 people descending on Daresbury for the event, roads are going to be heaving – especially around Junction 11 of the M56, where most of the festival traffic is expected.
National Highways is pulling out all the stops to keep things running smoothly and, more importantly, safely. Extra officers will be on patrol around the M56 to stop anyone from making a dangerous – and costly – mistake: walking on the motorway. In the past, some over-excited festival-goers have tried to hoof it along the motorway, but National Highways is putting its foot down this year.
Gary Farrell, National Highways’ senior network planner, had a stark warning for anyone thinking of risking it: “The motorway is no place for pedestrians – it’s dangerous and illegal. Having people walking on the network can cause delays, and more importantly, it puts lives at risk.” And it’s not just pedestrians who need to be careful.
Drivers dropping off or picking up their mates at the festival are being told not to stop on the hard shoulder or in live lanes. Instead, National Highways is directing drivers to use the dedicated collection points off the motorway network, which will be clearly signed. So, if you’re giving your mates a lift, make sure you follow the rules – or it could be a very expensive trip.
If you’re relying on your sat-nav to get you to the festival, think again. National Highways is urging festival-goers to follow the dedicated signs to the site instead. Ignoring them could see you winding up on unsuitable, narrow roads. Revellers travelling from the north, south, and east of the venue are being directed to use Junction 11 of the M56, while those coming from the west should use Junction 12.
For anyone else hitting the road this weekend, be warned – the M56 around junctions 10, 11, and 12, as well as the M56 interchange with the M6, is likely to be chock-a-block, especially during peak times. Electronic signs along the M6, M56, and M62 will be giving advance warnings about the event, so keep your eyes peeled.
