Planned closures of major routes in and out of London will be postponed to reduce congestion as large numbers of people travel to the capital for ceremonial and commemorative events to mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

All closures for roadworks on motorways in and out of London will be paused from the start of this week until after the State Funeral on Monday 19 September. This includes on motorways such as the M25, M11, M3, M4, and M23.

Additionally, all other closures on the motorway network nationally will be postponed for the duration of the extended bank holiday weekend. Existing roadworks will also be removed where possible, with cones and temporary signals withdrawn from 6am on Friday 16 September and not put back in place until Tuesday 20 September.   

A planned closure of the southbound M6 between junctions 33 and 32 north of Preston will be among the roadworks postponed this weekend. 

John McNeill, National Highways, Head of Service delivery, East of England, said: 

"We expect the roads to be busy with people looking to travel into the capital and to other royal residences over the weekend. Our traffic officer patrols will be out on the network to help anyone who might get into difficulty, but it's important people remember to check their vehicle before setting off.

"The last thing anybody wants on the way to their destination is to have a vehicle breakdown. That's why it's really important that people spend a few minutes checking the condition of their tyres before setting off."   

The postponement of roadwork closures – both through the week and over the Bank Holiday weekend – will specifically apply to motorways. Works on A-roads will be assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on their impact. Full details of the programme are currently being finalised and will be available in due course.

Those travelling into London should check the TfL website - https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/travel-advice-for-the-mourning-period - for the latest travel information in the capital.

For further travel advice from National Highways see - https://nationalhighways.co.uk/about-us/travel-advice-during-the-period-of-national-mourning/

National Highways is also urging drivers to make simple checks to make sure their vehicle is roadworthy. Things to consider are:  

• Tyres: Ensure tyre pressures are suitable for the load and check the condition of tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear across the whole tyre including sidewall. 
• Engine oil: Check oil levels regularly and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you're topping up more than usual.
• Water: Always keep your screen wash topped up with a good ratio of water and screen wash to maximise the cleaning efficiency so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen easily. 
• Lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, your vehicle may fail its MoT.
• Fuel: Before setting out make sure you have enough fuel to get to your destination. Running out of fuel can put you, your family and other road users at risk unnecessarily. 

If people experience problems with their vehicle and can't leave the motorway, they should always try to go left - to an emergency area, a hard shoulder, motorway services or slip road hard shoulder.   

But if that is not possible and the vehicle has stopped in a live lane, or there is a risk to life, the advice is for people to stay in their vehicle with seatbelts and hazard lights on, and call 999 immediately.