M25 scheme 'may have wasted £1bn'

A project to widen two stretches of the UK's busiest motorway could have wasted £1bn of public money, MPs have said.

The Highways Agency gave poor cost estimates for the M25 scheme and did not look at possible cheaper alternatives, the public accounts committee found.

The MPs also questioned why it had taken nine years to sign a contract with a private company to do the work. But the agency said the project was progressing on time and under budget. It covers 22 miles (35km) between junction 16 and junction 23 of the M25, in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

The agency's cost estimates for a 30-year, £3.4bn private finance contract for road-widening had been "poor", the committee said. It expressed concern that the invitation to tender for the contract had excluded "hard shoulder running", in which drivers are allowed to use the hard shoulder at peak times.

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source: BBC

New 'ice eliminator' to tackle Scotland's frozen roads

Stocks of a liquid that can tackle hard-packed snow and ice on roads at temperatures as low as -20C are to be used in Scotland.

The solution is being distributed after the failure of salt and grit to clear key routes during the recent extreme weather.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said the liquid had been tested in Aberdeenshire and had shown "favourable results". The project forms part of a new government winter transport plan.

Mr Brown said ministers were exploring "innovative ways" to tackle future bouts of freezing weather.

He said: "This is one of the first times this treatment has been used on the Scottish road network and it is encouraging to see this initial trial deliver positive early results."

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source: BBC News

Roads busy as Christmas getaway freeze continues

Millions of motorists are taking to the roads for the festive getaway as the big freeze continues to make driving conditions "treacherous".

Thursday is likely to be one of the busiest traffic days of the year for shoppers and Christmas travellers. Sub-zero temperatures are predicted and up to 10cm (4ins) of snow is expected in Northumberland and eastern Scotland.

The Highways Agency has suspended 64 miles of roadworks between Christmas Eve and 4 January 2011.

AA president Edmund King said drivers must remember to top up anti-freeze, put de-icer in their windscreen washers and drive on a full tank of petrol. He also said: "The roads in many parts of the country are treacherous. Conditions are not great because of the sub-zero temperatures so try not to brake too harshly and where possible stick to motorways and trunk roads. The day the majority of people stay at home is Christmas Day. Some 60% say they won't venture out at all. If people really are worried and get stuck in the traffic, maybe early in the morning on the 25th might be the time to travel."

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source: BBC

Weather chaos continues as thaw remains days away

The winter weather is continuing to cause problems across the UK, as a thaw seems unlikely for several days.

Gatwick Airport re-opened at 0600 GMT after closing overnight, but passengers were told to expect further disruption. Heathrow Airport is operating no more than a third of all flights until 0600 GMT on Wednesday, and there are delays at regional airports across the UK.

The coldest temperature overnight was -17.6C, recorded in Crosby, Merseyside, and in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, Eurostar passengers were queuing for more than half a mile on Tuesday morning as the cross-channel operator ran a restricted service at St Pancras station in London. The company asked customers booked to travel before Christmas to exchange their tickets or get a refund free of charge, if their travel was not essential. On Monday, people queued for up to eight hours.

Forecasters have predicted there will be no let-up in the freezing conditions until Boxing Day - with ongoing delays on the roads and railways. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings of widespread icy roads across most of the UK.

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source: BBC

Further snow travel chaos set to disrupt Christmas week

Thousands of people face further disruption to their Christmas travel plans as cold weather conditions continue to grip much of the country.

British Airways is hoping 60 flights will depart Heathrow on Monday morning, but dozens more have been cancelled. BAA has apologised to people who were forced to sleep in the terminal but Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said aviation was a "safety-first business".

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source: BBC

Heavy snow and ice cause disruption across the UK

Several UK airports have been closed and train services cancelled after heavy snowfalls in many areas.

Motorists are also being warned to take extra care because of widespread ice, and police in northern Scotland are advising against all travel.

At least 440 schools in Wales, 200 in Scotland and 220 in Northern Ireland are closed. More snow is forecast later and on Saturday, with up to 25cm (10in) in Wales and southern and central England.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for widespread icy roads for the whole of the UK. There are also heavy snow warnings for Orkney and Shetland, Highlands and Outer Hebrides, Grampian, Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England on Friday.

By Saturday, another band of heavy snow is forecast to affect much of England and Wales, with 5 to 10cm likely in many places and 20 to 25cm possible in some others.

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source: BBC

Latest Traffic and Travel from the BBC

Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News by clicking here... source: BBC

M8 motorway in Scotland reopens after big freeze

A 20-mile stretch of the M8 motorway has reopened after being closed for 48 hours due to snow and ice.

Scotland's busiest road had been closed westbound between the outskirts of Edinburgh and Shotts in North Lanarkshire since Monday afternoon. It was the last of Scotland's motorways to be opened after the transport network was brought to a standstill by severe weather two days ago.

Police were still advising drivers against travelling and temperatures again plummeted overnight, with Edinburgh recording -14C and Glasgow dropping to -13C.

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source: BBC News

Highways Agency advice during exceptionally low temperatures

The Highways Agency have published this advice as very low temperatures and snow continue to affect the country.

'While the severe weather continues, road users are advised to take extra care because of the risk of ice forming on road surfaces. Despite the severe weather, all motorways are open, as are the vast majority of the other strategic roads we operate. Our winter fleet continues to lay salt and remove lying snow around the clock to keep these routes available for use.

However with exceptionally low temperatures forecast, the Highways Agency is advising drivers to take extra care because of the risk of ice forming on road surfaces. While salt is very effective at reducing the risk of ice formation, at very low temperatures there can still be a risk of black ice on road surfaces even when salt has been spread. Drivers are advised to pay particular care at locations where local conditions such as road gradients, bends or overhanging trees mean that there may be an increased risk of ice. There is still a need to drive with care, even after road surfaces have been treated.

While the severe weather continues, drivers are advised by the Highways Agency to check their route and the weather forecast before setting out, and to take extra care if they decide to travel where there is a risk of snow or ice. In the worst affected areas, if a journey is not essential, then road users should consider whether to delay setting out until local conditions improve.

Continuous salt treatment and snow ploughing is being carried out on the strategic road network in England. Where incidents have occurred, our traffic officers and maintenance teams are working with the Police to re-open routes as soon as it is safe to do so.

Road users who decide to travel are advised to check road conditions and the weather forecast for their planned route. Listen to travel bulletins on the radio and take a severe weather emergency kit including warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade for snow. When driving leave sufficient distance between vehicles so you can stop safely.'

To visit the Highways Agency website for advice and links to 'breaking news' items click here...

source: Highways Agency

Three police forces urge drivers not to travel

Three Scottish police forces have warned motorists not to travel in the central belt after hundreds of drivers spent the night stranded in their cars.

Strathclyde Police, Central Scotland Police and Lothian and Borders Police asked people not to venture out "unless absolutely essential".

Heavy snow and freezing temperatures caused the country's transport network to ground to a halt. More than a third of Scotland's schools have again been closed. About 900 schools are closed and more than 200,000 children are away from classes.

There are blanket closures in place across the whole of the Strathclyde region.

Many drivers were stuck overnight on the M8 after heavy snow caused severe disruption to the route between Glasgow with Edinburgh.

Traffic was also brought to a standstill on the M80 in central Scotland, with drivers advised to stay with their vehicles.

Some drivers were stuck overnight in their vehicles on the M8, M80 and A80. HGV driver Fraser Brown told BBC Scotland he had spent more than 13 hours in "nightmare" gridlock after setting out on the M8 from Livingston.

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source: BBC

Freezing weather shows no sign of letting up

The freezing weather shows no sign of letting up with more snow forecast for the rest of the week. Hundreds of schools are closed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north-east of England.

The Local Government Association says councils have increased stockpiles of salt and grit but hundreds of motorists are trapped in their cars in Scotland. Gritting lorries servicing icy roads were attacked by youths in Londonderry on Sunday. The window of one vehicle was smashed and a number of roads in the Creggan and Gobnascale areas of the city went untreated as a result.

There were further heavy snowfalls in Scotland overnight and traffic is backed up for several miles on the A9 between Dunblane and Perth after several lorries jack-knifed. The M62 between junction 34 and junction 38 in West Yorkshire was described as "hazardous" while one of the main routes into the centre of Sheffield, the Parkway, was said to be "treacherous".

A Highways Agency spokesman said one lane of the eastbound M4 at the Severn Crossing had been closed as a precaution after ice started to form on the bridge.He said the road had now been reopened but added: "It is Monday morning and the advice that we issued last week still stands - be aware and be sensible. If the weather is bad, make sure you have got an emergency kit in the car and think about whether the journey is absolutely necessary."

BBC broadcast meteorologist Philip Avery warned plummeting temperatures overnight on Monday were likely to lead to icy roads in many places, while the strengthening winds will make it feel even colder. The UK has been experiencing the earliest widespread snowfall since 1993. Met Office severe weather warnings for icy roads - and snow in places - are effective across central and eastern Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland. Warnings of heavy snow are also in place along the entire east coast of England, as well as in Cornwall, with more expected throughout Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Avery said the worst weather would be in central and eastern Scotland and north eastern England but added: "There is a likelihood of wind in the northern half of the British Isles picking up in strength leading to more significant drifting."

For some regions Monday's forecast is for a nicer day, he said, but he warned the biting winds would have an impact and make it feel colder. The Greater London area and Kent are at risk of snowfall from Tuesday, with the Met Office warning drifting snow could cause disruption to road and rail networks towards the end of the week.

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source: BBC

Government to scrap M4 bus lane

The controversial M4 bus lane is to be scrapped at the end of the year.

All motorists will again be able to use the 3.5-mile (5.6km) lane, which operates on the London-bound carriageway from near Heathrow Airport.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the move, saying the bus lane was "not effective".

It will be suspended from 24 December for 18 months when the lane come back into use for the Olympics, after which it will be scrapped for good. The motorway's third lane between junctions three and two - which carries about 7% of London-bound traffic - is reserved for buses, licensed black taxis and motorcycles.

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source: BBC

China traffic jam stretches 'nine days, 100km'

A massive traffic jam in China has slowed vehicles to a crawl for nine days near Beijing, local media say.

Vehicles, mostly lorries bound for Beijing, are in a queue for about 100km (62 miles) because of heavy traffic, road works and breakdowns. The drivers have complained that locals were over-charging them for food and drink while they were stuck. The situation has now "basically returned to normal," state television said on Monday.

There has been a boom in road building in China in recent years but vehicle use has soared at the same time. The stalled traffic stretched between Jining in Inner Mongolia and Huai'an in Hebei province, north-west of Beijing, said the Global Times. The road works which were obstructing traffic are necessary to repair damage caused by an increase in cargo lorries using the highway, the state-run newspaper said. They are not expected to be finished until mid-September.

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source: BBC

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'Most dangerous' roads in Britain

Half of all fatal road crashes occur on one-tenth of Britain's roads, according to charity the Road Safety Foundation.

Its report, covering 28,000 miles of A-roads and motorways, says Scotland has the highest-risk highways, followed by parts of northern England. It identified the A537 between Macclesfield, Cheshire, and Buxton, Derbyshire, as the most dangerous road.

The charity wants government spending to be targeted at improving safety on the most dangerous roads. Its report, entitled Saving Lives for Less, suggests the high cost of emergency services and hospitals could be avoided by spending small sums in accident blackspots. The foundation is the British arm of the European Road Assessment Programme, the sister organisation of EuroNCAP, which measures car safety.

It examined accident data relating to roads across Britain. Among its conclusions were:

• A third of all fatal and serious crashes happen at junctions
• Single roads carry six times the risk of motorways and twice that of dual carriageways
• One-in-four fatal or serious crashes on A-roads or motorways involves a motorcyclist
• There was a 5% reduction in the number of fatal crashes on such roads in the past three years
• West Midlands is the safest region

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source: BBC

Adonis warns salt needs to be conserved

Efforts to ration salt supplies will be necessary for councils to cope with continuing cold weather, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has warned.

He insisted that "all main transport networks are operational" during "the most prolonged spell of freezing conditions" in the UK since 1981. But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers accused the government of making "inadequate preparations".

Forecasters predict a "slow, erratic climb" out of the freeze. There has been a slight thaw in places but more snow in parts of central England.

Roads managers say milder weather could improve safety, amid salt shortages.

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source: BBC

Winter weather closes NI schools

A number of schools are to close on Monday as Northern Ireland remains in the grip of severe winter weather.

Snow is continuing to affect parts of Northern Ireland on Monday, particularly on higher ground. A thaw has begun in some parts but icy weather in many areas is continuing to make driving treacherous.

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source: BBC

Icy conditions hit the UK

People are battling with treacherous conditions after sub-zero temperatures followed days of heavy snow to leave icy roads and pavements across the UK.

Thousands of schools remain shut and travel problems continue, while power cuts are affecting thousands of homes. UK-wide severe weather warnings of ice are in place amid freezing temperatures and "nightmare" side road conditions.

The mercury fell to -18C overnight in places and temperatures were typically between -8C and 0C at lunchtime. The Arctic conditions are expected to continue for up to a week. The National Grid has issued its second gas alert in three days, with demand expected to hit a new record of 454 million cubic metres on Thursday.

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source: BBC News

Top tips for driving in the snow

In many parts of the UK there are warnings not to drive unless it is absolutely necessary, but if you do have to get in the car, what is the best way to drive in snow?

Karlene Pinnock, a BBC Newsbeat reporter, has some top tips from driving instructor Tim about how to make your journey safer.

To watch her video on the BBC Newsbeat pages click here...

source: BBC Newsbeat

Cold weather causes travel disruption

Winter weather is continuing to cause disruption across the UK with road, rail and air travel all affected.

Channel Tunnel services remain badly affected and Gatwick airport's runway has been closed for essential "de-icing work" and will reopen when it is safe. Luton airport is currently closed because of snow.

Warnings about driving conditions have been issued in Strathclyde, Stirling and Dumfries and Galloway as well as for parts of Northern Ireland. Hundreds of people were also stranded at Manchester Airport overnight after flights were suspended. The airport later reopened.

A Met Office severe weather warning is in place for ice in many parts of the UK, where snow freezing on the ground is causing treacherous conditions. In Wales, 180 schools and nurseries had to close, while the M4 was shut after a crash. Heavy snow fell across north-west Scotland and the north of England as well as in north Somerset and south Wales.

Forecasters said a band of rain, which could turn to snow, was expected to hit the southern counties of England on Monday afternoon. The weather had its greatest impact on Channel Tunnel services, where Eurostar cancelled trains to mainland Europe for the third day, while Eurotunnel closed its shuttle car service to new arrivals. Eurostar said it hoped to resume a limited service on Tuesday.

For the full story on the BBC website click here...

source: BBC News