The UK government has announced plans to reduce disruptive street works to cut congestion and improve roads.

It says that the new measures could generate up to £100 million extra over 10 years to resurface roads across England. It’s all part of the Plan for Drivers that started in January.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, has launched a street works consultation on a series of measures to prevent utility companies from letting roadworks overrun and clogging up traffic as a result.

The consultation seeks to extend the current £10,000 per day fine for overrunning street works into weekends and bank holidays as a deterrent for working on the busiest days for road travel. Currently, utility companies are only fined for disruption on working days.

The plans would also direct at least 50% of money from lane rental schemes to be used to improve roads and repair potholes. Lane rental schemes allow local highway authorities to charge companies for the time that street and roadworks occupy the road.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said: “After investing an extra £8.3 billion to resurface roads across England, the largest ever increase in funding for local road improvements, this government continues to back drivers with these new measures from our Plan for Drivers. Our new proposals seek to free up our roads from overrunning street works, cut down traffic jams and generate up to £100 million extra to resurface roads up and down the country.”

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said: “Being stuck in traffic is infuriating for drivers. Too often traffic jams are caused by overrunning street works. This government is backing drivers, with a robust approach to utility companies and others, who dig up our streets.”

Edmund King, AA President, said: “Overrunning roadworks and poorly reinstated roads from utility companies frustrate drivers and cause unnecessary congestion, and trench defects can damage vehicles and injure those on two wheels. We are pleased that the government is looking to extend the fines for overrunning street works, invest more of the surplus fines in roads and ensure that those who dig up the roads repair them to a high and timely standard.”

Roadworks on satnav

In addition, the government plans to make all temporary, experimental or permanent restrictions on traffic digital. This means they must now be added to satnav systems, ensuring drivers have the most up-to-date information, making journeys easier and paving the way for more reliable autonomous vehicles.

RAC Head of Policy, Simon Williams, said: “Drivers shouldn’t have to put up with temporary roadworks for any longer than is necessary, so we’re pleased to see the government is looking to do more to guarantee that utility companies minimise disruption by carrying out roadworks as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The measures follow the biggest ever funding uplift for local road improvements, with £8.3 billion of redirected High Speed 2 (HS2) funding – enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across England.