BRITAIN: Thousands of commuters in Britain faced a miserable return to work yesterday following the Christmas break, which coincided with major roadworks and rail fare increases.
Long-term lane widening work started yesterday on the busiest section of the M25, Britain's most congested motorway and the busiest in the EU, with knock-on delays on other roads around London.
Most rail passengers were paying more for tickets, with price rises above inflation level under a new formula which comes into force yesterday.
The M25 works are on the western section - the London orbital road's busiest part - which includes Heathrow airport and the junction with the M4, heavily used by Irish road traffic heading across the UK for continental Europe.
A spokeswoman for AA Roadwatch said there were other works around the country that could cause delays as drivers return to the roads after the holiday period.
Parts of the M62 in West Yorkshire between junctions 32 and 33 has speed limits of 50 m.p.h. for bridge maintenance and work on the A1 at Newark-on-Trent resumed yesterday.
She said delays were expected at peak times on the M5 between junctions 19 and 20 near Bristol due to lane closures.
Resurfacing work on the M58, Greater Manchester, at the M6 interchange, was timed to avoid the worst of the rush-hour traffic, she said.
Both the AA and the RAC warned motorists to ensure that their vehicles were in good condition. The RAC said the first day back after the festive break is traditionally the busiest day of the year for their patrols.