Utilities face increased fines for delayed street works

Utility companies are facing the prospect of heavier fines for letting street works overrun.

New measures being consulted on seek to extend the current £10,000 per day fine for overrunning street works into weekends and bank holidays as a deterrent for working on the busiest days for road travel. Currently, utility companies are only fined for disruption on working days.

The proposed measures could also see fines doubled from £500 up to a maximum of £1,000 for companies that breach conditions of the job, such as working without a permit.

The proposed measures are part of road minister Guy Opperman’s plan to crack down on disruptive street works.

The plan would also direct at least 50% of money from lane rental schemes to be used to improve roads and repair potholes.

The government estimates that the measures could generate up to £100 million extra over 10 years to resurface roads.

Roads minister Guy Opperman said: “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 £100 million to improve local roads.”

Government statistics shows that the two million street works carried out in England in 2022 to 2023 have cost the economy around £4 billion by causing severe road congestion and disrupting journeys.

Edmund King, AA president, added: “Overrunning roadworks and poorly reinstated roads from utility companies frustrate drivers and cause unnecessary congestion, and trench defects can damage vehicles and injure those on two wheels.

“We are pleased that the government is looking to extend the fines for over-running street works, invest more of the surplus fines in roads and ensure that those who dig up the roads repair them to a high and timely standard.”

In response, Clive Bairsto, chief executive of Street Works UK, said: “Utilities perform a vital role in connecting households, working to the highest standards, while complying with rigorous inspections to ensure works are high quality and lasting.

“We look forward to engaging constructively with government throughout this consultation, representing our members and the wider industry, to ensure both utilities and local authorities can deliver infrastructure works while giving customers and road users the speed of delivery, lack of congestion and transparency they expect.”