08 June 2012
08 June 2012 15:39 Highways Agency
The Highways Agency and organisers of the Download Festival at Donington Park in Leicestershire are advising road users that the volume of vehicles accessing the event is causing delays to traffic in the area.
M1 northbound traffic for Donington Park is advised to use J24, join the A50 and exit at junction 3 on to the A514. M1 southbound traffic for Donington Park is also advised to use J24A, join the A50 and exit at junction 3 on to the A514.
Northbound airport traffic should use junction 23a. If the northbound J23a has been closed to relieve traffic congestion, use J24 and use the A453 to the airport. Southbound airport traffic should use J24 and use the A453 to the airport.
Highways Agency is also advising road users not heading to the festival to seek alternative routes or be prepared for delays.
Up to 95,000 people are expected to attend the three day rock concert being staged from today until to Sunday 10 June.
John Probyn, Download Festival Director, said:
"We are working closely with the police and Highways Agency to keep traffic moving and are doing everything that we can to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum. Poor weather over the last couple of days has had a major effect on the car parking area but we have robust contingency plans in place to make sure this is resolved swiftly."
Steve Parker, emergency planning officer for the Highways Agency, said:
"Major roads and motorways in the area, including the M1, A42, A50 and A453, are very busy due to the volume of traffic making its way to the event. All routes to the festival are well signposted, but people travelling through the area should plan their journey in advance and check the latest travel conditions before they set out.
"We are making sure that we can provide as much helpful information as we can to enable people to make their journeys safely and reliably. Festival goers with iPhones will be able to check the traffic conditions using our Highways Agency travel news app or can follow us on Twitter @HAtraffic_emids."
Donington Park is located next to East Midlands Airport, four miles west of junction 23a of the M1 and five miles from junction 24. Anyone travelling to the airport should allow plenty of extra travel time for their journey.
The Highways Agency is using their electronic message boards on the surrounding motorways to advise people of delays and additional traffic officers patrols have been deployed for the duration of the event around junction 24 of the M1 to assist motorists, clear incidents quickly and keep traffic moving.
Further information is available from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or email ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk.
Contact Information
Name Highways Agency
Job Title
Division Highways Agency
Email pressoffice@highways.gsi.gov.uk
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