Street Manager launch delayed until July

Disruption resulting from the coronavirus crisis has prompted the government to postpone the introduction of its new digital platform for improving the management of utility street works.

Utility Week has learnt that the Department for Transport has delayed the introduction of new rules which would make it mandatory to use the Street Manager system. The new system had been due to be rolled out from April but this will now happen from July.

The new platform is designed to transform the planning, management and communication of the estimated 2.5 million street and road works which take place in England each year in order to minimise disruption and improve journey times.

The amendments relating to the street and road works regulation also mean that the transitional arrangements for introducing Street Manager will kick in during July instead of April.

Clive Bairsto, chief executive of Street Works UK, said he was pleased that the go-live date for Street Manager had been put back.

He said: “This will provide our sector with much needed certainty, to help ensure essential works can still take place at this difficult time for our country.

“The safety of the public and our operatives is at the forefront of our mind and as an organisation, we are working closely with the government and our partners at the Joint Authorities Group to ensure that essential works take place and supply chains keep operating where possible.

“Our country is living through extraordinary times, but I am reassured by the steps we are taking together to ensure that essential utility services stay running.”

Utility companies and contractors will input data into the Street Manager system so that it can provide up-to-date, accurate and open data on live and planned works, which technology companies can then make use of in journey planning apps and satnavs.

Street Manager will replace the existing system, known as the Electronic Transfer of Notifications (EToN), which has been used since the 1990s and was last updated in 2013.

EToN allows for two-way communication and the exchange of notices and permit documents, which are needed for road works, between local highway authorities and works promoter or contractors.