An amber traffic alert has been issued ahead of Leeds Festival 2022 held on Bank Holiday weekend.
The M62 is expected to see the biggest queues nationally over the weekend as festival goers from all over the UK travel to Bramham Park. The AA published the alert because it expects 45 per cent of UK drivers to embark on at least one non-commuting journey between Friday and Monday.
The festival, held at Bramham Park near Wetherby runs from August 26 until August 28. Each year it attracts around 75,000 people across the three days. Before the festival officially kicks off on Thursday (August 24) huge queues were spotted on a gridlocked M62 on Wednesday morning as early bird punters arrived.
Read more: Major traffic disruption for those heading to Leeds Festival as A64 closed eastbound
Roads are facing issues today in Leeds with severe congestion in parts and severe delays on the A1(M) Northbound. The A64 York Road eastbound is closed with no access towards York past the Old Red Bus Cafe. Westbound routes towards the city are still open but any motorists travelling on the A64 West are being advised it is for Leeds Festival only. Traffic is being diverted onto the A1(M) in the meantime.
Not only is Leeds Festival underway, but with it being a three-day weekend people are expected to be travelling more. What's more there's also Reading Festival, CarFest South in Hampshire, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and sports fixtures on.
The AA expects leisure traffic to peak on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. Motorists are being warned to expect major delays. Predicted traffic hotspots include the M62 near Leeds, between Liverpool and Manchester.
Other hotspots are the M4/M5 interchange near Bristol; the M1 between the M25 and Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire; the M6/M42 interchange in Birmingham. AA patrol of the year Sean Sidley said: "This year we are predicting up to 15 million journeys will be made over the August Bank Holiday, as families make the most of the warm weather and have a last hurrah before the new school year.
"With events and festivals fully back to normal, localised congestion will peak at closing time around major venues, but the rest of the UK could see peak journeys throughout Saturday.
"Traffic is likely to build again from Monday afternoon and into Tuesday, so allow plenty of time if you're travelling then. Routes to and from coastal resorts and beauty spots will be among the busiest, so drivers should plan ahead for the journey and check your car before you go."
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