The Government is launching new measures to crack down on disruptive street works that aims to slash congestion and improve the state of roads.
The Department for Transport said the new plans could generate up to £100million extra to resurface roads as part of the Government’s Plan for Drivers.
A street works consultation has been launched in a bid to prevent utility companies from letting roadworks overrun and causing traffic to further cause issues for drivers.
Companies could be hit with a £10,000 fine every day if they allow street works to overrun into weekends and bank holidays.
The new measures aim to crack down on utility companies allowing roadworks to overrun
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It is hoped this deterrent will keep roads free when traffic is likely to be busier than normal, with utility companies only being fined currently if they cause disruption on working days.
The measures could double fines from £500 to £1,000 for companies that breach the conditions of the job, like working without a permit.
In total, the Government has estimated that the new measures could generate up to £100million over the next 10 years to resurface roads.
Guy Opperman, Roads Minister, praised the new rules for utility companies, saying: “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.
“We will seek to massively increase fines for companies that breach conditions and fine works that overrun into weekends and bank holidays while making the rental for such works help generate up to an extra £100million to improve local roads.”
It is estimated that the two million street works carried out in England in 2022 and 2023 have cost the economy around £4billion.
Despite the essential work from gas, water and utility companies, the street works have caused severe road congestion and disrupted journeys.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper also highlighted the massive £8.3billion investment to resurface roads over the next 11 years.
The redirected funding from the HS2 project is enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of road.
Across England, local highway authorities will receive £150million this financial year, followed by a further £150million for 2024/2025.
Mark Harper said: “After investing an extra £8.3billion 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 £100million extra to resurface roads up and down the country.”
At the busiest times of the year, namely Christmas, New Year and some bank holidays, National Highways will remove hundreds or even thousands of miles of roadworks to remove any barriers to traffic.
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It is hoped the plans will generate £100million over the next 10 years
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Over the Christmas break, the organisation removed more than 98 per cent of motorways and major A-roads between December 19, 2023, and January 2, 2024.