WIREDGOV

Advice to drivers - A43 closure and diversions for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Northants, July 4-6

HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (EMRCC/16/08) issued by The Government News Network on 30 June 2008

Drivers planning to use the A43 in Northamptonshire during the weekend of the British Grand Prix are advised to plan their journey and keep up to date with the latest road conditions.

Last year approximately 53,000 vehicles travelled to the circuit over the three days of racing with similar numbers expected for the 2008 Grand Prix at Silverstone.

As a result the Highways Agency will be closing the A43 to through traffic between Brackley and Towcester. Road users heading for the Grand Prix will be directed along one-way systems, with additional lanes which will be reversed as traffic leaves the event.

And for the first time this year, spectators will be able to visit the Highways Agency exhibitions stand at Silverstone to learn more about how to plan their journeys.

Highways Agency staff including East Midlands traffic officers will be available on each day to answer questions from the public and explain more about the different information available to allow motorists to make choices before and during their journeys.

During the Grand Prix weekend the A43 closure will be in place from 4.30am until 9pm on Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July and non-race traffic is advised to avoid the area if possible.

Motorists not heading to the Grand Prix will be diverted from M1 junction 15 along the A508, A422 and A421, or vice versa.

Local traffic will be able to gain access to the area between the M1 junction 15A and Towcester, and between Brackley and the Welsh Lane interchange.

Grand Prix traffic will take the following route:
* Traffic using the M1 will be directed onto the A43 southbound from junction 15A and drivers using the A5 will join the A43 at Towcester. South of Towcester race-goers cars will leave the A43 to follow the A413 into the circuit at Winterhills for the external car parking. Official vehicles and coaches will continue on the A43 to the Dadford Road interchange to enter either the circuit main entrance or the adjacent coach park.
* Drivers approaching using the M40 will leave the motorway at junction 10 and continue along the A43 towards Brackley.

These special traffic arrangements are designed to help both race-goers and non-Silverstone traffic by improving safety and reducing the congestion caused by traffic heading to the circuit.

Bob Gale, Highways Agency spokesman, said:
"The traffic arrangements around the circuit have worked well in previous years and we want to reduce the impact to race-goers, long distance drivers and local residents as much as we can."

"The Highways Agency wants motorists to help motorists make their journeys as safely and reliably as possible, so we urge drivers to plan their journeys and keep up-to-date with the latest conditions on the roads."

Routes to Silverstone on the English motorway and trunk road network can be checked for travel conditions and roadworks in advance by visiting http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo, by phoning the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 or by tuning into the Highways Agency's Traffic Radio, available on DAB digital radio and at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo

* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).

3. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on
020 7081 7443.