Institution gives evidence at Transport Committee inquiry into ‘Managing the impact of street works'.
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Today (19 March 2025) CIHT gave oral evidence to the Transport Committee inquiry looking at ‘Managing the impact of street works'.
The committee heard evidence from Kate Carpenter FCIHT (from CIHT’s Learned Society and Technical Strategy Board) Director of Operational Road Safety – Buildings & Infrastructure Europe, Jacobs, Kevin Hamilton, Commissioner, Scottish Road Works, and Sarah Widdows, Chair, JAG(UK).
In her evidence, Kate raised several points including:
Describing, with evidence, real world examples of utility companies conducting unsafe work on highways.
Suggesting that EV charging infrastructure should be installed on a curb build out or in a parking bay opposed to installed in the footway, which may cause an obstruction for users with accessibility requirements.
Highlighting that the highways industry could learn from the civil engineering construction sector, where contracts have evolved from an adversarial system to one that encourages collaboration, reducing late claims and promoting information sharing.
The Transport Committee, chaired by Ruth Cadbury MP, asked the panel several questions, including:
What challenges are preventing local authorities from adopting lane rental as a solution to issues with managing the impact of street works?
Are there mechanisms in place to inform councils that street works have been completed ahead of time?
Considering the needs of road users, pavement users, and bus customers, how do you believe communication and notification can be enhanced to increase public awareness of street works?
Would it be beneficial to establish a Roadworks Commissioner in England?
The full committee session is available to watch here.
CIHT looks forward to continuing to work with the Transport Committee and assisting them with a variety of their inquiries. CIHT will be revisiting the impact of street works in a policy report, due to be published later in the year.
Note for editors –
Kate Carpenter is CIHT Technical Champion, member of the Board of Trustees, and is a member of the CIHT Learning Society and Technical Board.
Kate Carpenter is discipline lead for operational safety and traffic engineering, supporting many strategic and local authority clients, delivering an evidence-based approach to intervention design and network management.
Kate has led safety governance work on smart motorway projects, Queensferry Crossing, and other major projects for Transport Scotland, Welsh Government and TfL, as well as local authority clients. She also undertakes pro bono work on behalf of CIHT, PACTS and Transport Safety Commission.
Kate Carpenter in Westminster.
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