The Government is proposing to “massively” increase fines on disruptive street works to cut congestion while generating millions of pounds to improve roads.

The plans extend the current fines for street works that overrun to also include weekends and bank holidays

Roads Minister Guy Opperman has launched a street works consultation on a series of measures that would deter utility companies from letting roadworks overrun and clogging up traffic as a result.

One of the first key measures from the Plan for Drivers set out in October 2023, the consultation seeks to extend the current £10,000 per day fine for overrunning street works into weekends and bank holidays – currently, they are only fined for disruption on working days.

Launched on National Pothole Day, the proposed measures could also double fines from £500 up to a maximum of £1,000 for companies who breach conditions of the job, such as working without a permit.

The plans would also direct at least 50% of money from lane rental schemes to be used to improve roads and repair potholes. Lane rental schemes allow local highway authorities to charge companies for the time that street and road works occupy the road.

The measures could generate up to £100m extra over the next decade to resurface roads while also tackling congestion.

Government data for 2022/2023 indicates the two million street works carried out in England cost the economy around £4bn through severe road congestion and disruption to journeys.

The launch of the consultation follows the announcement in November 2023 of a record £8.3bn increase to resurface roads across England, after the Government scrapped the northern leg of HS2.

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 £100m to improve local roads.”

The AA said it was a welcome and much-needed move.

Edmund King, AA president, commented: “Overrunning roadworks and poorly re-instated roads from utilities companies frustrate drivers, 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.”

The Government has also announced that all temporary, experimental or permanent restrictions on traffic will go digital. So-called ‘Traffic Regulation Orders’ (TROs) – which cover things such as the location of parking spaces, road closures and speed limits – must now be added to satnavs, ensuring drivers have the most up-to-date information, while also paving the way for the arrival of autonomous vehicles.