The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has submitted evidence to the Transport Committee to aid their inquiry into Managing the impact of street works.  

Street works are works carried out by utility companies to install, repair or maintain their services, which involve digging up roads or pavements. Although necessary to provide utility services, street works can be disruptive to road and pavement users and can affect surface quality in the long term. 

The Transport Committee’s inquiry will look at the effects of street works on surface quality and maintenance costs, and how well local authorities are able to manage disruption for road and pavement users. 

This will involve reviewing the processes for notifying works and issuing permits, as well as identifying additional opportunities to reduce the impact of street activities. 

CIHT believe that whilst there are mechanisms that local authorities can use to coordinate street works and encourage promoter compliance, there are limitations to these mechanisms.  

The key issues for CIHT on street works include:  

• Poor quality reinstatement of roads, which can create accessibility and safety issues and reduce the lifespan of roads.  

• Addressing premature maintenance issues created by reinstatement is costly for local authorities.  

• While street works are ongoing, there is limited incentive for promoters to minimise disruption.  

• Greater understanding is needed of accessibility requirements, particularly regarding people with disabilities, throughout the sector.  

• Permit schemes may encourage promoters to finish work by the end of the agreed permit, but grant local authorities little power to encourage minimal disruption during permit period.  

• Lane rental schemes do provide a greater degree of incentive for expedient works but so far have been limited in their introduction and only apply to the busiest roads. 

CIHT’s full submission to the Transport Committee inquiry is available to read here.  

CIHT looks forward to continuing to engage the transport committee and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the committee’s work, helping to create better transport networks that work for all.