Driver advice as Merseyside hosts The Open golf championship
Drivers using motorway routes around the Wirral peninsula are being advised to plan their journeys during next month’s Open golf championship.
The popular annual event is being staged this year at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club just off junction 2 of the M53 at Hoylake. It is taking place between Sunday 13 July and Sunday 20 July.
The prestigious tournament – last held in the North West at Lytham St Annes in 2012 and last held at Hoylake in 2006 - always attracts a large turnout, and the Highways Agency has been planning traffic management well in advance.
Phil Stockford, the Highways Agency’s events planning manager, said:
We are used to hosting The Open in the North West from time-to-time and we work closely with the police, local authorities, golf clubs and other agencies to ensure we can get people as smoothly as possible to and from the event as well as keeping other motorway drivers on the move.
Spectators and other people using the motorway network around Wirral during the championship can help themselves by heeding our advice and planning their journeys – including checking traffic conditions before setting out.
Everyone driving to the golf will be directed to use the northbound M53 from junction 15 of the M56 at Stoak Interchange. From junction 11 of the M53 they will then travel the 15 miles north to leave the motorway at junction 3 or junction 2 west of Birkenhead from where they will be directed to dedicated and public park and ride sites, reserved label car parks or coach parking.
Highways Agency traffic officers at the North West regional control centre at Newton-le-Willows will be using electronic signs across the region’s motorway network before and during the event to give driver advice including directions to the M53 route. They will also be monitoring traffic levels with extra patrols of on road traffic officers on standby to respond quickly to incidents and keep golf-goers and other motorway users on the move.
Full information for anyone travelling to the golf is available at the Open Championship website.
The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_nwest and @HAtraffic_pen9 for Transpennine routes.
Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.