Music fans urged to plan ahead for Leeds Festival

Up to 90,000 people are expected to make their way to Bramham Park, and heavy congestion is anticipated on motorways and major roads in Yorkshire – especially at the beginning and end of the event. In addition, roadworks in the area could potentially add to delays.

National Highways Operations Manager Dave Skupski said: 

“Leeds Festival has a significant impact on traffic on our network. We’re expecting the roads to be extra busy, with it also being a Bank Holiday weekend.

“There are also concrete barrier works taking place this year, reducing capacity, so it could be a very busy bank holiday weekend

“Our message to anyone heading to the festival or using those key routes around Leeds over the weekend is follow signs for the festival, pay attention to updated electronic signage, don’t rely on satnavs, take extra care through roadworks, and plan ahead - don’t underestimate how busy the roads will be.

“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.” 

Congestion is likely in these areas throughout the festival period and as people leave the site:

• Junction 43 of the A1M at Hook Moor, where the A1M and M1 merge.
• The A1M at junctions 44 (Bramham) and 45 (Grange Moor)
• The A64 westbound approach to A1M - the A64 westbound will be closed to through-traffic after the Bramham crossroads throughout the festival period.
• The A1M southbound is expected to be very slow on Monday between junctions 44 and 47, due to the number of people leaving the festival as well as bank holiday traffic.

Dave added:

“We’ve been working closely with Festival Republic, West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council to plan our traffic management and keep disruption to a minimum.

“There will be additional traffic officers on duty, patrolling or parked up at strategic points to help manage traffic and keep drivers on the move. Electronic variable message signs will be used to advise motorway users in advance as well as during the event to direct traffic, warn of incidents and any congestion.

“Our control room operators will be closely monitoring motorway traffic using CCTV cameras.”

Arrivals 

 The M1 and the A1(M) around Leeds is expected to be especially busy on the Thursday (21 August). This section is also likely to see heavy traffic all weekend due to the combination of the festival and Bank Holiday weekend traffic.

Traffic is likely to be heavy between 8am and 4pm on Wednesday, 8am to 4pm on Thursday and 10am to 1pm each day on Friday to Sunday. 

There will be no through route from junction 47 of the M1 to junction 44 of the A1(M) via Aberford Village, throughout the festival period. 

Leaving the event 

• The busiest times are likely to be between 9pm – 2am on Saturday and Sunday, and then from 8am to 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday. 
• The northbound exit slip road at Junction 45 of the A1(M) will be closed from 4am to 2pm on Monday to support traffic leaving the festival.

Drop off and pick up 

• All drop-off and pick-up traffic will be directed to A1(M) junction 44 and west on the A64.
• The A64 will be closed eastbound from Red Bus Layby to junction 44.
• The A64 westbound from the junction 44 roundabout will be festival access only for drop off and pick-up.

Have a safe TRIP

 Ahead of the Bank Holiday, drivers are reminded to have a safe TRIP: (top-up, rest, inspect and prepare). The new summer T.R.I.P. safety campaign has been launched to urge motorists to make sure they’re well rested ahead of long journeys.

The TRIP checklist is:

Top-up – fuel, water and oil

Rest – every two hours

Inspect – tyres and lights

Prepare – plan your journey ahead and check the traffic and weather forecasts

For more information on the TRIP vehicle checklist visit: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/trip/

National Highways provides live traffic information via www.trafficengland.com, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available at @HighwaysYORKS. Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the National Highways information line on 0300 123 5000 to keep up to date with road conditions.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)