Check twice, not once
Look the night before, then again just before you leave. Emergency works and incidents pop up with no warning, and planned jobs can start a day late or finish early.
Live National Highways & Street Manager data
Live Roadworks & Road Closures Near You
What the roadworks map is telling you
Every closure on the map answers two questions: is it happening right now, and how will it squeeze the traffic? Together they tell you whether to leave earlier, take another route or not worry at all.
- Live now
- Cones are out and the road, lane or junction is affected right now. Expect delays if it sits on your route.
- Upcoming
- Booked in but not started yet. Check the dates and times on the card to see whether it overlaps your trip.
How much warning each kind of works gets
Councils and utility companies register every dig on a local street in Street Manager under one of these categories. The bigger the job, the further ahead it has to be booked, so the long ones rarely catch anyone out. Emergencies are another story.
| Category | Lasts | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate: emergencyGas leaks, burst mains and anything that puts people or property at risk. No warning, so check the map before you go. | Lasts: Starts straight away | Notice: Registered within 2 hours |
| Immediate: urgentRepairs that can't wait, such as a dead supply or a dangerous pothole, but aren't quite an emergency. | Lasts: Starts straight away | Notice: Registered within 2 hours |
| MinorQuick jobs like a new service connection or a manhole lid. Usually a set of temporary lights rather than a closure. | Lasts: Up to 3 days | Notice: 3 working days |
| StandardBigger digs that can mean lane closures or lights for a week or more. Worth planning around on a daily commute. | Lasts: 4 to 10 days | Notice: 10 working days |
| MajorLong-running schemes or anything needing a traffic order to shut the road. These are booked months ahead, so they're rarely a surprise. | Lasts: 11 days or more | Notice: Around 3 months |
Each closure card is labelled with how the traffic is managed, such as a road closure, lane closure, contraflow or two-way signals, so you can see at a glance how much road is left.
How to beat roadworks on your next journey
A closure only ruins your day if you find out about it at the cones. Four habits keep you moving.
Mind the overnight window
Most motorway closures run from around 8pm or 9pm to 6am. Late-night airport runs and early starts are exactly when you're most likely to meet one.
Follow the yellow symbol
Motorway diversions are signed with a black shape on a yellow sign. Spot it at the closure and stick with it, even when the sat nav begs you to turn back.
Respect the red X and the 50
A red X closes the lane and carries a fine of up to £100 plus three points. Most works zones also run a 50mph limit, often checked by average speed cameras.
Driving after dark? Our guide to overnight motorway closures explains why roads shut at night and how the diversions work. A long detour burns extra fuel, so check the cheapest petrol and diesel prices near you before you set off, or find EV Charging Stations Near You if you're driving electric.
Why check road closures before you travel?
The UK Strategic Road Network (SRN) is under constant maintenance and improvement. While this ensures safer roads in the long run, overnight closures, smart motorway upgrades, and emergency repairs can severely impact your journey time.
Search your starting postcode or destination on the map to see exactly what lies ahead. We pull straight from National Highways for motorways and major A-roads, and from the Department for Transport's Street Manager for the council and utility works on local streets, so the picture covers your whole journey across England, not just the motorway bit.
Looking for a specific motorway or A-road?
Already know your route? Jump straight to it. Every road below has its own live map with each closure drawn along the stretch it covers, from overnight lane closures on the M25 roadworks page to long-running upgrades listed under A1 roadworks.
Motorways
- M1roadworksLondon – Leeds
- M2roadworksRochester – Faversham
- M3roadworksLondon – Southampton
- M4roadworksLondon – Bristol
- M5roadworksBirmingham – Exeter
- M6roadworksRugby – Carlisle
- M11roadworksLondon – Cambridge
- M18roadworksRotherham – Goole
- M20roadworksLondon – Folkestone
- M23roadworksLondon – Crawley
- M25roadworksLondon Orbital
- M27roadworksSouthampton – Portsmouth
- M40roadworksLondon – Birmingham
- M42roadworksBromsgrove – Tamworth
- M53roadworksWirral – Chester
- M54roadworksWolverhampton – Telford
- M55roadworksPreston – Blackpool
- M56roadworksManchester – Chester
- M60roadworksManchester Orbital
- M61roadworksManchester – Preston
- M62roadworksLiverpool – Hull
- M65roadworksPreston – Colne
- M180roadworksDoncaster – Humber
- A1(M)roadworksLondon – Newcastle
Major A-roads
- A1roadworksLondon – Scotland
- A2roadworksDartford – Dover
- A12roadworksM25 – Ipswich
- A14roadworksMidlands – Felixstowe
- A21roadworksM25 – Hastings
- A27roadworksPortsmouth – Eastbourne
- A30roadworksDevon – Cornwall
- A38roadworksDevon, Cornwall & the Midlands
- A46roadworksM5 – Lincoln
- A47roadworksPeterborough – Great Yarmouth
- A66roadworksTeesside – Cumbria
- A303roadworksM3 – Devon, past Stonehenge
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this roadworks data come from?
Motorways and major A-roads come from National Highways, which runs England's Strategic Road Network. Local streets come from the Department for Transport's Street Manager, where councils and utility companies register every dig, permit and closure.
Are both planned and emergency closures shown?
Yes. The map shows scheduled maintenance (like overnight closures) and unplanned works (like burst water mains or emergency repairs). Use the Live and Upcoming filters to see what is shut right now or what is coming next.
What do 'lane closure', 'contraflow' and 'two-way signals' mean?
Each closure is labelled with how traffic gets past it. A road or carriageway closure shuts it completely and sends you on a diversion. A lane closure leaves the road open with fewer lanes. A contraflow moves you onto the opposite carriageway, and two-way signals or stop/go boards let one direction through at a time.
Why are motorways closed overnight?
Traffic is at its lightest overnight, so National Highways schedules most resurfacing, barrier repairs and bridge work then. Closures typically start from around 8pm or 9pm and the road reopens by 6am, ready for the morning rush.
How do I follow a diversion route?
Motorway diversions are signed with a black symbol on a yellow sign, such as a hollow or solid circle, square, triangle or diamond. Note the symbol at the closure and follow it until it brings you back onto your road. Your sat nav may not know about the closure, so trust the signs.
What does a red X on a motorway gantry mean?
A red X means that lane is closed, often because of an incident or workers ahead. It is legally enforceable: driving under one can earn a fine of up to £100 and three penalty points, or a court summons in serious cases.
How far ahead are roadworks planned?
It depends on the job. Major works lasting more than ten days need around three months' notice, standard works need ten working days and minor works three. Emergency and urgent repairs can start straight away, so they appear on the map as soon as they are registered.
Does the map cover Scotland and Wales?
Not yet. Both of our data feeds stop at the English border. For Scottish roads check Traffic Scotland, and for Welsh trunk roads check Traffic Wales.
Never get stuck in traffic again.
Create a free Digital Garage account to receive instant Email notifications about upcoming closures and active incidents near you.