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Check the responsible road authority’s latest notice before setting off, then follow the signed diversion rather than trying to find a shortcut with your satnav. Allow extra time. If the official route is impractical or severe weather makes travel unsafe, consider waiting and check for an updated notice before you leave.

Check whether the closure is active and what has changed

Closure schedules and diversion details can change at short notice, so use the latest information from the authority responsible for the road—not an old screenshot, a dated closure schedule, or a search result that may describe a previous closure.

In the UK, GOV.UK’s Get traffic information to plan your journey page directs drivers in England to National Highways’ live traffic information and roadworks database, and points drivers in Scotland and Wales to Traffic Scotland and Traffic Wales for major-road information. Elsewhere, check the relevant road authority or emergency-management service for current restrictions and instructions.

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For example, National Highways’ A417 Missing Link page includes dated notices, maps and route instructions, and warns that details can change at short notice. Those notices describe that project and its particular dates; they are not evidence that the A417, or any other named road, is closed now.

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Which route should you take?

Use the signed diversion

If the authority has provided a diversion, follow its signs. National Highways’ A417 guidance says, “Please follow the official diversion routes rather than sat-navs.” A navigation app may not reflect the planned detour or the reason it was selected.

Do not improvise a shortcut around the closure

A detour may seem indirect, including by doubling back at first. National Highways’ A3 Hindhead advice explains that official routes are planned for traffic levels and emergency-service access, and that some local roads may be unsuitable. Leaving the signed route can put you on roads not intended to carry diverted traffic.

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How much extra time should you allow?

Do not treat a closure notice as a dependable journey-time estimate. The time added depends on the specific closure, diversion and conditions, and the available guidance does not establish a general delay figure. GOV.UK’s advice on roadworks signs explains that signs can warn drivers of likely delays so they can allow more time or make other arrangements.

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For a journey where a long delay is foreseeable, plan where you can take breaks and rest rather than assuming you can continue uninterrupted. GOV.UK gives this advice specifically for potential disruption around Kent: plan breaks and overnight rest before entering the county, and identify motorway services along the route. That is corridor-specific advice, not a universal rest-stop plan for every closure.

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When is it better to wait?

Consider postponing travel if the official diversion is impractical for your circumstances or conditions are changing in a way that could make the journey unsafe. Check the authority’s notice again before setting off; a route assessment or restriction may change as crews review conditions.

A dated example illustrates why waiting can be reasonable in some cases, but is not a rule for every closure: on 7 July 2026, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi reported that an overnight detour for flooding on SH1 would take much longer and could face further restrictions. It encouraged travelers to consider delaying until the weather had passed and crews could reassess the route in daylight. Follow current local advice for your road and conditions rather than applying that flood-specific example universally.

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If the closure disrupts plans after you have started

Use a safe place to stop before checking for updates or changing plans; do not make route decisions while driving. Once stopped, consult the responsible authority’s latest notice and follow any signed diversion or local instructions. If you decide to wait, confirm that the road authority has not issued a new restriction or route update before resuming.

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