People in the North West warned of Easter getaway delays

Around 2.6 million car journeys are expected to be made on Friday alone

Author: Zoe Head-ThomasPublished 29th Mar 2024
Last updated 15th Apr 2024

Drivers in the North West hitting the roads this Easter are being urged to check their travel routes and prepare for what is expected to be a busy weekend on the roads across the country.

This bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of the Easter holiday for many schools across the counties, which is predicted to cause higher traffic on the roads.

It is expected that around 2.6 million car journeys will be made across the UK on Good Friday alone, as travellers race to reach their destinations, with heavy traffic likely.

Two of the most popular routes for travellers - the M5 southbound from Bristol to Taunton, alongside the stretch of the M3 between the M25 and the south coast - are also reported to be highly congested.

As well as this, the country's airports have seen a strong uptake of numbers leaving the country, with 2 million passengers set to jet off for an Easter holiday.

Some of the airports that are reporting a large increase in passengers include Liverpool, which expects around 60,000 passengers over the four days - as well as Manchester Airport, which is expecting an extra 160,000 travellers.

However, poor weather is hampering efforts for people looking to get away by sea as the Spanish-named Storm Nelson hit the south of the UK.

Ferry company DFDS said that their Dover services were being delayed as a result of "strong winds in the Channel" on Thursday (March 28th).

A yellow weather warning for winds reaching 60 to 70mph has been issued across London, the South West, the South East and the East of England and will run throughout Friday.

In addition to this, the West Coast Main Line from London Euston and Milton Keynes will be closed for four days beginning on Good Friday.

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