Glastonbury Festival Traffic: National Highways Issues Precautions for Motorists

Strategic Insights -

Festival traffic is set to cause significant delays on the roads leading to Glastonbury, with over 200,000 people expected to attend this year's event. National Highways is advising motorists to plan their journeys carefully and allow extra time, particularly on Wednesday to Friday, as people make their way to Worthy Farm. Motorways and major A roads, such as the M5, A303, and A39, are likely to be congested, with traffic expected to peak on Wednesday, particularly around junctions 25 and 23 of the M5 and the A303.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 200,000 people are expected to attend the Glastonbury Festival this year, leading to significant traffic congestion on the roads leading to the event.
  • Motorists are advised to plan their journeys carefully and allow extra time, particularly on Wednesday to Friday, as people make their way to Worthy Farm.
  • The primary motorway route for festival traffic to the site is the M5, with drivers exiting at junction 23 to take the A39 and A361, while the A303-A37 is also used for traffic arriving from London.
  • The M5 and A303 are expected to be particularly busy, with congestion expected around junctions 25 and 23 of the M5 and the A303.
  • The A39 has been heavily congested by mid-morning in previous years, and increased levels of traffic are also expected on Monday as people leave the festival site.
  • National Highways' Resilience Planner for the South West, Kathryn Wiltshire, advises motorists to check the National Highways' traffic and travel information channels and to set off early and allow plenty of time.
  • Motorists are also advised to check their vehicles for oil, fuel, and coolant levels and to take regular rests to avoid fatigue.
  • The National Highways is promoting its TRIP checklist, which stands for Top-up, Rest, Inspect, and Prepare, to help motorists plan their journeys safely.

Statistics:

  • Over 200,000 people are expected to attend the Glastonbury Festival this year.
  • Roads leading to the event are expected to be congested, with traffic expected to peak on Wednesday, particularly around junctions 25 and 23 of the M5 and the A303.
  • Motorway traffic is expected to reach its peak during the day, with congestion expected around rush hour.
  • The M5 is the primary motorway route for festival traffic, with 64% of drivers using this route in 2019.
  • The A303 is also used for traffic arriving from London, with 21% of drivers using this route in 2019.

Sources:

  • National Highways' website
  • Glastonbury Festival website
  • "Glastonbury Festival traffic: Motorists advised to plan ahead" article by [insert publication name]
  • "Glastonbury Festival: Roads to be congested as 200,000 attend" article by [insert publication name]
  • National Highways' TRIP checklist