MATT WARMAN MP: CRACKDOWN ON ROADWORK DISRUPTION WILL EASE CONGESTION FOR MOTORISTS IN BOSTON AND SKEGNESS

Matt Warman MP has welcomed new proposals to crackdown on disruption caused by roadworks on local roads, with new rules being considered that would reduce disruption for families and businesses in Boston and Skegness who rely on our local roads to get around.

The new rules would encourage the start of 7-day working on local roadworks. Under the plans being considered, councils and utility companies would face paying up to £5,000 a day if motorists are needlessly inconvenienced by roadworks left in place on local A-roads over a weekend with no one actually working on them. There could also be charges when temporary traffic lights are left in place. Roadworks on these council-managed A-roads would either have to continue over the weekend, minimising the length of the project, or be lifted until work was resumed.

Minimising disruption would mean faster and more reliable journeys on our roads, benefitting local people who have had to deal with disruption at places such as on the John Adams Way in Boston. This action comes alongside big investment in our roads, with £15 billion being invested in England’s road network through the Road Investment Strategy, which will fund major projects to improve and renew the network.

Matt said, ‘This is fantastic news for all the families and businesses in Boston and Skegness who rely on our local roads to get around. We all know how frustrating the disruption caused by roadworks can be, as we’ve had to deal with recently on the John Adams Way in Boston, the A52 on the way to Skegness and across Lincolnshire’s many A-roads. By encouraging 7-day working, or the lifting of works at weekends, these changes could help minimise the inconvenience we all face.’

‘Through taking action on roadworks, and delivering £15 billion of investment in our roads, the Government is ensuring that our roads are looked after and improved for the future, with fast, reliable journeys for the people and businesses that depend on them.’

 

  • Proposals to encourage 7-day working on local roadworks are being considered – with charges where roadworks on local A-roads are left unworked on over weekends. New rules are being considered by the Transport Secretary which would mean that, on council-managed A-roads, councils and utility companies would face fines of up to £5,000 a day if roadworks are left in place over a weekend with no one actually working on them. There could also be similar charges when temporary traffic lights are left in place after work is completed (DfT press release, 27 January 2016, link).
  • This follows action taken to lift a large number of roadworks on trunk roads over Christmas. Action was taken to minimize roadwork disruption over Christmas England, with Highways England completing or lifting 148 schemes ahead of Christmas Eve so that 98 per cent of the network was free of roadworks for the holiday period (DfT press release, 23 December 2015, link).
  • This comes alongside a £15 billion Road Investment Strategy which is improving England’s roads. The Conservatives set out the first Road Investment Strategy, detailing a long-term plan to improve our motorways and major roads. This set out £15 billion in over 100 major schemes to enhance, renew and improve the network, building over 1,300 additional lane miles (DfT, Road investment strategy, 12 March 2015, link).
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