Roadworks

By searching on a street name you will be able to see what works are planned, or have been carried out in that street

Disclaimer: The information provided from the Street Works Register is regularly updated by the organisations named in relation to works. Errors and/or delays may occur. We accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies or inconvenience caused. If you have any specific queries regarding current street works or are aware of any works not listed on this site, please contact us.

Who is digging up the road?

We receive enquiries and questions every day about the public highway. Often people ask "who is digging up the road"? It's a common misconception that we are responsible for all works on the highway. In fact, statutory undertakers carry out the vast majority of highway excavations.

Planned roadworks can be viewed on the One.Network interactive map

• One.Network

If you have any concerns regarding works that are taking place on the road or highway, please contact us to report the problem.

Who undertakes the works?

Works on the highway are undertaken by differing “Works Promoters”. These can range from the Highway Authority carrying out maintenance works such as resurfacing a Street, the installation of new safety schemes, and signal refurbishments through to the “Statutory Undertakers” i.e. those other organisations granted a Statutory Right by the Department for Transport to undertake works. Statutory Undertakers are mainly Utility companies, such as Water, Gas, Electric etc who have a legal right to “install, retain, repair, and replace” their apparatus within the highway.

How is the Highway Authority Notified?

All works promoters are required to submit a permit application to the Highway Authority for assessment and approval. This allows the Highway Authority to assess the application, ensure there are no conflicts, check the traffic management type is appropriate and impose any conditions on the works such as hours of working or the requirement to manually control signals when required.

What powers do the HA have to Co-ordinate?

All Streetworks are assessed to ensure that they do not conflict with each other (as far as reasonably practical) and that the correct traffic management and appropriate conditions are applied to the works to help alleviate congestion. However this is not always possible due to the nature of Immediate works.

Works to put end to an issue which may cause damage to persons or property, restore a loss of supply or to prevent loss, are classed as “Immediate” and the Highway Authority has no legal powers to prevent a works promoter from undertaking the works.

“Immediate” works commenced in proximity to already in progress planned works which have already implemented temporary traffic management on site can unfortunately lead to significant congestion.

Why is Traffic Management required?

All sites must be safe for both the workforce and for members of the public passing the location. To this end the Safety at “Street Works and Road Works, A Code of Practice” must be followed, which gives very specific details in relation to what can and cannot be implemented. For example, if a running lane of an absolute minimum of 3 metres for main road (2.5 for light vehicles only) cannot be maintained then a full road closure is required.

If 6.75m for two-way flow cannot be maintained (5.5 for light vehicles only) then some form of traffic management is required.

Traffic management types also have strict criteria and ascend in impact dependant on the length of works, the number of vehicles passing the site, visibility around corners etc.

What types of Traffic Management are there?

Traffic management required is determined by a site-specific risk assessment and must be appropriate for the nature of the road and the traffic flows associated with it. Give and Take are referred to as passive traffic control, as this relies solely on signage and allows drivers to make decisions themselves, however this cannot be used if a distance of 50 past the end of the works cannot be seen.

If these cannot be implemented other forms of traffic control must be used, which must be suitable for the traffic flow and size of the works site as per the below table (taken from the Safety at Streetworks and Roadworks code of practice).

What Powers do the Highway Authority have to enforce?

The highway authority has a team of inspectors that monitor works whilst they are in progress and ensure that they are conforming to the conditions of the permit, and that the site is compliant with the safety code of practice. Any defects are notified to the works promoter who are legally required to attend site and rectify the issue within the required timescales (2 hours for dangerous issues). Failure to so allows the highway authority to take action and recover the associated charges.

When works are completed, the works promoter is required to guarantee the reinstatement for a period of 2 years (3 years for excavations deeper than 1.5m) and any defects that are identified during this time are the responsibility of the promoter to rectify. This remedial work will also reset the guarantee period on the relevant site. DMBC endeavour to inspect all sites before the end of the guarantee period to ensure any defects are identified and remedied by the works promoter.  

Live sites are checked the day after the works were scheduled for completion. If works have overrun the end date, either by materials and/or signing and guarding equipment remaining on site, or the works are still in progress, the Highway Authority has powers to levy charges on the works promoter under Section 74 of the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991, which vary dependant on the type of road and the length of time. i.e. works overrunning on a Classified “A” road attract a higher charge than works in a residential estate.

Why are there an increasing number of signals?

Data from the Streetworks Register shows that:

• In 23/24 there were 684 Streetworks using signals, which equates to 6.33% of the total number (10,805).
• In 22/23 there were 826 Streetworks using signals, which equates to 9.5 % of the total number (8,663).
• In 21/22 there were 738 Streetworks using signals, which equates to 9.5% of the total number (7,740).

Therefore it can be seen that the number of signals has either remained steady in comparison to the volume of works being carried out, or decreased over the last three financial years.

As works promoters move their targeted works areas, it may appear create the false impression that there are more on the network.

Why don’t residents get advanced notice?

The Utilities are legally only obliged to provide advanced notice to residents / businesses when their works will be interfering with the supply of services, or if they require access to private property. All other advanced notification including the “Yellow and Black” advanced notice signs are done as a Public Relations exercise only. With the volume of works that are required and the durations that they are on site, it is not possible to provide advanced notice for all works. (DMBC do request that Major works with extensive Traffic Management are issued advanced notice signs).

Notifications of Road Closures are notified on street attached to lamp columns and any planned closures over 5 days in duration are advertised in the local media.

(“Immediate” works will not received advanced notice as they are reactive and not planned).

All Streetworks data is transmitted from the Streetworks Register to One.Network which provides a digitised mapping system detailing in progress and planned Streetworks, which the public can gain free access to which includes information regarding who is undertaking the works, the proposed duration and the nature of the traffic management.

If you have any concerns regarding works that are taking place on the road or highway, please contact us to report the problem.