CIHT Urges Government to Act on Reducing Roadworks Disruption

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has published a new report calling on Government to take stronger action to minimise disruption from road and street works.

The report, Reducing the Impact of Highway Works on Road Users, highlights inefficiencies in current maintenance practices and sets out recommendations to cut congestion, improve accessibility, and deliver better value for money at a time when local authority budgets are under intense strain.

The study follows similar concerns raised by the Transport Committee earlier this year in its Managing the Impact of Street Works report. While Government rejected those recommendations, arguing that best practices should be adopted voluntarily by utilities, CIHT says that meaningful progress will require direct intervention.

According to CIHT, frustration among road users is often made worse by poor coordination of works, which not only disrupts journeys but also increases long-term costs for authorities.

“Many of the barriers to collaboration cannot be solved by industry alone,” the Institution stated. “They require government-led change. We believe the measures we have set out are practical, achievable, and essential to improving outcomes.”

Collaboration at the Core

Developed with input from CIHT’s Partnership Network, Technical Champions, and sector experts, the report stresses the need for a “collaboration-first” approach across councils, contractors, and utility providers. Legislative restrictions, compliance burdens, and resource gaps currently make effective coordination difficult.

The report points to positive examples already in place, such as joint trenching, real-time data dashboards, AI-driven monitoring, and innovative materials that speed up repairs. CIHT argues that expanding these practices could significantly reduce disruption while improving efficiency.

Recommendations for Change

Key proposals include:

• Appointing an Independent Works Commissioner for England to oversee planning, coordination, and performance of roadworks, supported by real-time Street Manager data.

• Introducing performance-based penalties and incentives so utilities are rewarded for minimising disruption and penalised for repeat failures.

• Creating a new “immediate-planned” permit category to give earlier notice of urgent works and enable better coordination.

• Making coordination meetings mandatory, bringing together utilities, local authorities, and user representatives.

• Embedding collaboration in statute, supported with adequate funding for local councils.

• Strengthening data use, linking Street Manager with the National Underground Asset Register and improving access to standardised information.

• Updating accessibility guidance in the Red Book to reflect road user experience and ensure works are safe and inclusive.

Economic and Social Impact

CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy warned that the stakes extend beyond inconvenience:

“Street and road works cost the economy billions every year. Reducing this disruption is not just about smoother journeys—it’s about improving the efficiency of our highway networks, delivering savings, and enabling economic growth.”

Government figures estimate that road and street works carried out in England during 2022–23 imposed costs of around £4 billion. With demand for road space rising and 1.5 million new homes planned, CIHT argues that the need for more efficient delivery has never been greater.

“We call on policymakers, utilities, and local authorities to work together, embrace innovation, and apply best practice consistently. These recommendations provide a clear path to cutting disruption and improving long-term outcomes for communities and the economy.”

While ministers previously rejected similar calls from the Transport Committee, CIHT insists that the evidence presented in its report should prompt a rethink.