As Glastonbury Festival comes to a close, residents and commuters in the surrounding areas are gearing up for significant traffic disruptions expected during the festival's mass departure on Monday, 1st July.

Anticipated Traffic Congestion

The volume of traffic is expected to increase sevenfold as festival-goers leave, potentially leading to severe gridlock, particularly on key routes such as the A39 and A361. These roads are likely to face the most strain as attendees exit the festival site. Additionally, heavy traffic is also expected on the A303 eastbound from the Podimore Roundabout, a commonly used route for those returning to London after the festival.

Local drivers should aim to travel either early in the morning or late at night to avoid peak times. The worst congestion is anticipated between 8am and 5pm.

For those travelling from the festival area, journey times could be extensive. Travelling on the A39 back to the M5 may take several hours, and the A37 towards Bristol could see journey times up to four hours. Historically, one of the best exit strategies has been to head south on the A37 to the A303, then east towards the A34 for Midlands and North, or onto the M3 for London. Another viable route is the A361 towards Frome, connecting to the A350 towards Swindon, and then onto the M4.

The festival site is expected to be cleared by 5.00pm on Monday, however around this time traders and contractors will also start to leave, likely leading to further congestion on the roads.

Local Road Adjustments

In response to the expected traffic surge, local authorities will implement one-way systems on Pylle Lane and Pylle Road at specific times to manage the flow efficiently. There will also be temporary road closures to non-local traffic and enforced no-waiting zones to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Temporary Traffic Regulations

Drivers should be prepared for reduced speed limits and prohibited turns on major routes like the A361 and A37, which are implemented to guarantee safety due to the increased pedestrian and vehicle movement during the festival exit.

Recommended Departure Time

According to traffic data from INRIX, traffic volumes will be at their peak at around 4pm.

Somerset Council is urging all residents and visitors to plan their travel with care and stay updated on the latest traffic conditions through local news outlets and traffic management apps. Patience and flexibility will be crucial for navigating Monday effectively.

Local residents are encouraged to stay informed and plan their activities accordingly on Monday to avoid the worst of the festival traffic.

Stay safe and keep abreast of all local traffic updates.