Imagine sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, late for a crucial meeting, all thanks to yet another set of roadworks. This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a growing crisis impacting our economy and daily lives. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a necessary evil for progress, or are we simply mismanaging essential infrastructure upgrades? Let's delve into the frustrating reality of roadworks and explore why they seem to be multiplying, and what, if anything, can be done about it.
As a political correspondent, I recently experienced this firsthand on a late-night drive along the M6. Miles of cones and flashing orange lights signaled the all-too-familiar presence of roadworks, reducing a near-empty motorway to a crawl. This experience, common for anyone who frequently travels Britain's roads, highlights a growing problem. Brett Baines, a seasoned HGV driver with nearly 30 years of experience, echoes this sentiment, noting that roadworks "seem to drag on for months, years."
Unfortunately, the situation is poised to worsen, especially in England. National Highways, the agency responsible for managing the nation's motorways and major routes, anticipates an increase in roadworks as our aging road network requires extensive upgrades and repairs. Much of this infrastructure was built in the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with the boom in car ownership. Nicola Bell, the executive director of National Highways, explains that these roads and bridges are now reaching the end of their "serviceable life."
The same holds true in Wales, where significant highway infrastructure dates back to the same era, necessitating "essential maintenance work," according to the Welsh government. While the outlook for increased disruption is less clear in Scotland and Northern Ireland, drivers across the UK should brace themselves for potential delays.
The impact of roadworks extends far beyond mere inconvenience. Roads represent a daily interaction with the government's infrastructure, shaping public opinion on how well the country is functioning. And this is the part most people miss: The disruption isn't just about wasted time; it carries a significant economic cost. The Department for Transport (DfT) estimates that the 2.2 million street and road works carried out in England between 2022 and 2023 cost the economy approximately £4 billion through travel disruption. It’s a delicate balancing act between the benefits of improved infrastructure and the economic cost of disruption, but the question remains: Are we getting this balance right?
Consider the experience of David, a resident of Clanfield in Hampshire. He describes a frustrating situation where utility companies have repeatedly dug up roads to replace old infrastructure, creating a chaotic patchwork of road closures and temporary traffic lights. "We're just coming up to the famous four-way set," he says, expressing his frustration with the seemingly endless delays. "It's had a huge impact," he adds, emphasizing the lack of coordination among the various projects.
SGN, the gas network operator in the south of England, acknowledges the disruption caused by its project to replace 10 miles of aging pipework. They describe it as a "particularly challenging" project bringing "vital improvements" and aim to complete the project by May. A spokesperson emphasized their commitment to completing the works "as quickly and as safely as possible" and maintaining "regular communication with the community."
Similar scenarios are playing out in towns and villages across the country. Local roads are experiencing an increase in road works and street works, often related to upgrading utilities like water, energy, and broadband. The Local Government Association of England and Wales, representing local councils responsible for highways, reports a 30% increase in utility company works over the past decade. But here's where it gets controversial... While necessary, the lack of communication and coordination are the biggest pain points for residents like David.
In England, local councils oversee all highways except major roads and motorways. Road works are carried out both by the councils themselves (for tasks like patching up roads) and by utility companies. Nick Adams-King, leader of the Conservative-run Hampshire County Council, acknowledges the poor condition of the roads in his area, estimating that bringing them up to standard would require £600 million, while their annual budget is only around £70 million. The government has increased funding for local road repairs, projecting a budget of over £2 billion per year by 2030, up from £1.6 billion in 2026-27.
However, Adams-King points to another challenge: the significant leeway utility companies have in scheduling and executing their work. "They also have the ability to declare some work an emergency piece of work... and only inform us six working hours later, by which point it's often too late for us to be able to properly manage what's happening."
Local authorities employ permit schemes to exert greater control over road works. However, issues have arisen with the "immediate permit," used for urgent or emergency works, which doesn't require advance notification. Alarmingly, these permits accounted for nearly a third of all street works in England in 2023-4, leading some councils to suspect misuse. One authority even reported a "crackly phone line" as the justification for an immediate permit, despite the issue being known for weeks. Could this be a loophole being exploited? A report by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee last year recognized the necessity of these permits but recommended a consultation on the definition of urgent works.
The government has also doubled the fines for street works offenses, from £120 to £240. Yet, Streetworks UK, representing utility companies, maintains that most work (69%) is planned and coordinated. Clive Bairsto, its chief executive, refutes claims of overuse of immediate permits, citing the Department for Transport's lack of evidence to support such allegations. "I actually don't believe there is abuse of the system going on," Bairsto stated. But is this a genuine reflection of the situation on the ground, or a defense of industry practices?
The economic impact of roadworks is felt by businesses nationwide. Angela Collinge, owner of Amber Pets in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has operated her pet shop for 27 years. She says roadworks are now impacting her business. "As soon as one lot's finished, another lot starts," she says. "[There's] just hideous congestion every morning... People avoid coming this way and then they don't come into the shopping centre. We have seen a lot of regular customers disappearing." Utility companies in Rochdale assert that essential works have been undertaken to upgrade or maintain vital infrastructure, with coordination with the local council, and steps taken to keep local residents informed. Two firms are even trialing a simultaneous gas and water works approach to minimize disruption. However, local MP Paul Waugh believes more needs to be done, emphasizing the "damaging economic impact" and advocating for a "much better, more coordinated system."
Clive Bairsto, however, argues that utility companies do work hard to coordinate where they can. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gardens at Wisley, near junction 10 of the M25 in Surrey, offer another stark example. Over the past three-and-a-half years, National Highways has invested over £300 million to improve congestion and safety at this busy junction. However, RHS Director General Clare Matterson estimates that the charity has lost nearly £14 million as a result. "We've dropped over 350,000 visitors in a year," she says. "We had families sitting in their cars, we have a lot of older visitors getting very stressed about driving in those very difficult conditions... People got in touch with us and have said, 'We'll either cancel our membership until this is all over or we won't be coming visiting for a few years.'" While acknowledging the need for improvements, Matterson questions the duration and extent of the disruption. The project has even been delayed, with an extra nine months of work attributed to extreme weather. RHS Wisley is now seeking compensation. National Highways is attempting to minimize disruption by implementing unprecedented weekend closures of the M25 to accelerate the works. "Actually, you [are] going to get more done by closing it for five weekends throughout the duration of the works than prolonging that disruption by perhaps just closing one lane," argues Nicola Bell of National Highways. She acknowledges the sympathy National Highways has for businesses like RHS Wisley. And this is the part most people miss: Minimizing disruption is a goal, but the reality is often far from ideal.
Motorways and major trunk roads (the strategic road network) comprise only 2% of England's roads by mileage but carry a third of all traffic and two-thirds of all freight. Delays on England's major roads increased between 2019 and 2025, partly due to road works. A DfT report on National Highways' performance expressed concern over the rise in average delays, recognizing their cost to businesses and frustration for road users. Addressing these delays is a priority for driving economic growth, according to the government, which plans to invest £25 billion in the strategic road network between 2026 and 2031.
Hampshire has also trialed a new approach for a garden village development requiring an extra junction on the M27. A concrete tunnel was constructed in a nearby field and then slid into place beneath the motorway, necessitating a full closure of the motorway over Christmas. John Beresford, managing director of Buckland Development, said the aim was to minimize disruption. "[We knew it was] going to be hell for all the local people for a bit of time," he said. "[But it's] a short, sharp sort of shock, hopefully minimizing the long-term disruption." James Barwise, policy lead at the Road Haulage Association, suggests that short-term, full-road closures can be beneficial, despite being "scary [and] disruptive" for locals. He argues that advance notice allows hauliers to plan for fewer days of complete disruption rather than months of lane closures. But, is this "short, sharp shock" approach truly less disruptive in the long run, or does it simply concentrate the pain?
Local authorities are also exploring other solutions, such as lane rental schemes, which charge utility companies up to £2,500 per day for works on busy routes during peak times. Councillor Tom Hunt, chair of the Local Government Association's inclusive growth committee, believes that lane rental schemes would lead to more efficient and faster works. Currently, only a few councils have these powers, but MPs on the Transport Select Committee advocate for wider implementation across England. Ministers have indicated that mayors will gain the authority to introduce these schemes in their areas. However, Bairsto of Streetworks UK cautions that these costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers. "Lane rental is a cost of doing business and is passed directly on to the consumer." More broadly, he suggests, "I think we have to bear a little bit of irritation and pain from time to time, just to ensure that we have the quality and standards of utilities we need to progress as a nation."
Ultimately, coordination, communication, and duration consistently emerge as key concerns. While various solutions are being proposed, immediate answers remain elusive. As National Highways' Nicola Bell puts it, "Across all of our infrastructure, whether that's energy, water – you could argue they have all seen a lack of investment, which is why you're now seeing increased levels of road works as we now invest." With a government prioritizing improved infrastructure as a driver of economic growth, roadworks appear to be an inevitable part of our future. The crucial question is whether they can be managed more effectively to minimize the impact on daily commutes, businesses, and the collective well-being of the nation's motorists. What are your experiences with roadworks? Do you believe the benefits outweigh the costs? Share your thoughts and solutions in the comments below!
