MOTORISTS are being warned of the likelihood of heavy traffic this week as crowds flock to Glastonbury Festival.

Highways England have advised that motorways and major A roads leading to the festival site in Pilton, Somerset, are likely to be busy between Wednesday and Friday, with traffic high again on Monday as people leave.

The M5 is the main motorway route for the festival traffic, and the most likely to be affected by festival goers, with drivers exiting at junction 23 to take the A39 and A361, while the A303-A37 is also used for traffic arriving from London. 

With Pilton situated five miles outside of Glastonbury, festival traffic has very little impact on the town itself, but drivers are advised that traffic is expected to reach its peak on Wednesday. In previous years the A39 has been heavily congested by mid-morning.

Highways England south west emergency planning officer Gareth Price said: “We’re reminding road users to plan ahead for Glastonbury – 190,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival and roads leading to the event are likely to be very busy.

“Our aim is to keep the Highways England network running whilst keeping festival goers and other road users safe and informed. Check our traffic and travel information channels, set off early and allow plenty of time.”

Live traffic information can be found via the Highways England website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or from a phone or mobile device at m.highways.gov.uk.

Travel information is also available by phone from the Highways England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 and updates will be provided via Twitter.