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Utilities and councils could be fined £5000 for each day roadworks are left unattended at weekends, the Department for Transport has announced.
Proposals for major changes to reduce disruption caused by roadworks on local roads are being considered by Transport Secretary, Patrick Mcloughlin.
The new measures are expected to reduce congestion and avoid unnecessary delays.
Similar charges could be levied on those who leave temporary traffic lights in place after work has been completed. The government will also encourage seven day working to ensure roadworks finish quickly on ‘A’ roads.
McLoughlin said: “I want to deliver better journeys for drivers. Roadworks can be essential, but that doesn’t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. That is why I am looking at proposals to reduce queues and make drivers’ lives easier.
“These common sense measures will be a welcome relief to those trying to get from A to B on our local roads.”
This initiative will sit alongside the government’s £15 billion Road Investment Strategy which aims to improve England’s road network and fix longstanding problems that inconvenience drivers.
There is an existing penalty of £5,000 per day for roadworks that overrun.
Read Utility Week’s recent Streetworks Special Report here
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