The government is considering a national roll out of the lane rental scheme, which would see utility companies charged up to £2,500 per day by local councils for carrying out roadworks during peak hours.
This follows a successful trial of the scheme by Kent County Council and Transport for London that reported significantly reduced delays, encouraging works to be carried out in quiet periods and for utilities to collaborate in order to reduce disruption.
The initial trial showed a 55 percent decrease in serious and severe congestion caused by planned utility works in the period 2015-2016 and a 616 percent increase in collaboration on roadworks, compared to the baseline of 2010-2011. The average number of days when disruption was avoided rose from 110 to 353, an increase of 353 percent during the same period. Kent County Council reported similar improvements.
Initially scheduled to end in March 2019, the Department for Transport has announced both trials will continue indefinitely and that it is considering rolling out the scheme to other areas in England from 2019.
