ICE and the Pipe Jacking Association recently hosted a roundtable to discuss how to reduce congestion caused by road works including representatives from the Department for Transport and the National Infrastructure Commission.
Urban traffic congestion caused by utility roadworks and other highway interventions cost the economy £4bn a year according to the Department for Transport.
The National Infrastructure Commission identifies urban road congestion as a major issue in its recent consultation ‘Congestion, Capacity, Carbon: Priorities for National Infrastructure’.
At a roundtable hosted by ICE President Professor Lord Robert Mayor attendees discussed solutions focused on the greater use of outcome based decision-making, more effective communication and the sharing of global best practice of innovative approaches.
Everyone knows how frustrating it is to see roadworks with no-one working on them. The delays also have serious knock on effects – such as loss of working hours when people are late for work as well as increased carbon emissions.
Utility companies have no legal obligation or incentive to use proven non-disruptive technologies or to consider carbon impacts. There is therefore no necessity to utilise or invest to research new technologies.
Government has proposed a four pronged approach to the issue of roadworks: permits, lane rental, standards and better data management.
There is a need for clear decision-making and specification on outcomes while allowing freedom on the how. Clients should set the contractors the challenge of solutions that offer the best outcome for all affected stakeholders.
There are many innovative technologies either in development or already in use which the industry could benefit from, such as robotics, 3D printing and smart concrete. However, there is no clear mechanism for telling construction stakeholders what exists.
This approach to finding innovative solutions for the bigger issues would be well suited to the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenges and aligned with the recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission so that R&D funding is spent as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Read the policy paper here
The National Infrastructure Commission identifies urban road congestion as a major issue in its recent consultation ‘Congestion, Capacity, Carbon: Priorities for National Infrastructure’.
At a roundtable hosted by ICE President Professor Lord Robert Mayor attendees discussed solutions focused on the greater use of outcome based decision-making, more effective communication and the sharing of global best practice of innovative approaches.
Utilities that need repair vs travel delays
The general public has two differing needs. The first is for utilities such as electricity, gas, water and communications networks to function efficiently. The second is to use roads to get from A to B. It is also the public who ultimately pay for these two services and who suffer when they go wrong.Everyone knows how frustrating it is to see roadworks with no-one working on them. The delays also have serious knock on effects – such as loss of working hours when people are late for work as well as increased carbon emissions.
Utility companies have no legal obligation or incentive to use proven non-disruptive technologies or to consider carbon impacts. There is therefore no necessity to utilise or invest to research new technologies.
Government has proposed a four pronged approach to the issue of roadworks: permits, lane rental, standards and better data management.
Informing construction about new technologies
Reducing and streamlining roadworks is only one way to resolve the wider issue of congestion. As the public are the users – and the people paying – should they be demanding more innovative solutions at no extra cost?There is a need for clear decision-making and specification on outcomes while allowing freedom on the how. Clients should set the contractors the challenge of solutions that offer the best outcome for all affected stakeholders.
There are many innovative technologies either in development or already in use which the industry could benefit from, such as robotics, 3D printing and smart concrete. However, there is no clear mechanism for telling construction stakeholders what exists.
This approach to finding innovative solutions for the bigger issues would be well suited to the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenges and aligned with the recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission so that R&D funding is spent as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Read the policy paper here
You may also be interested in
- Type
- Infrastructure blog
What’s in the UK government’s long-awaited 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy?
The £725bn strategy is a significant moment for the UK’s infrastructure sector. Here’s what’s in it and why it matters.
- Type
- Infrastructure blog
Rewriting the rules: what does the Green Book review mean for infrastructure?
The UK government has confirmed it will change the guidance that shapes how public infrastructure investment decisions are made. The ICE unpacks what it all means.
- Type
- Infrastructure blog
6 takeaways from the UK government’s 2025 Spending Review
Will longer-term planning support better infrastructure delivery? The ICE analyses the UK's first multi-year Spending Review since 2021.