Skip to main content

Bid to solve pothole problem

The UK now has new guidance designed to ensure that when utilities companies dig up the road surface, they leave proper repairs once the work is complete. It is estimated that poorly replaced road surfaces mean there are around 90,000 remedial works each year, adding inconvenience to motorists and cyclists. Many of the road repairs are not properly carried out, increasing the risk of potholes forming and further defects. This significantly increases the risk of accidents and of damage to vehicles. The new l
July 3, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Road repairs not properly carried out increase the risk of potholes forming. This pothole, showing exposed wires to the traffic lights, is on a busy London road
The UK now has new guidance designed to ensure that when utilities companies dig up the road surface, they leave proper repairs once the work is complete.

It is estimated that poorly replaced road surfaces mean there are around 90,000 remedial works each year, adding inconvenience to motorists and cyclists.

Many of the road repairs are not properly carried out, increasing the risk of potholes forming and further defects. This significantly increases the risk of accidents and of damage to vehicles.

The new legislation is intended to reduce the chances of potholes developing as well as cutting down the risk that the road will have to be replaced a second time.

The UK government has set out a package of measures over the last nine months to reduce disruption caused by road works. These include proposals to increase the charges for companies whose works overrun by a factor of ten, as well as to improve signage and protection of sites and for a tougher street works inspection regime. In addition, the 5432 Department for Transport has introduced more rigorous testing and training for those who dig up the road as well as approving the first two street works permit schemes to help councils coordinate and manage works on their roads.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The Road Ahead
    August 5, 2020
    According to recent figures, there are over 560,000 potholes that pose a risk of damage to vehicles in the UK alone, and the situation is similar in countries across the globe.
  • Novel concrete surfacing option used in Colorado
    December 10, 2015
    Proven polyester bridge deck surfacing technology is now being used more widely – Mike Woof writes. The benefits of using polymer concrete bridge deck overlays are well known and this technology is becoming widely used in the US. The system can improve protection for bridge surfaces and help extend the life of a bridge deck, as well as increasing skid resistance. In the last 25 years the use of these overlays has increased significantly in the US. These perform best when installed on bridge decks that are i
  • Global growth in machine rental
    May 20, 2015
    The machine rental sector is undergoing significant expansion worldwide – Dan Gilkes reports. Plant hire, equipment rental, leasing, call it what you will, being able to use a machine when and where you need it, with no further concerns relating to ownership costs, depreciation or sudden repair bills, remains a compelling argument for many contractors. Which is one of the main reasons for the continued growth in popularity of equipment rental across the world. Rental has been big business in the UK, the US
  • Safety gains on Europe’s roads with lower KSI rates
    February 19, 2014
    Better road safety is helping to cut KSI rates right across the EC - Mike Woof writes Road safety continues to improve in Europe, with official statistics for 2012 showing a drop in fatalities of 2,661 compared with the figures for 2011. The latest data from Pan-European police body TISPOL shows an encouraging trend towards better road safety. This highlights safety improvements right across the EU. In 2012, a total of 27,700 people were killed in road crashes in the European Union’s 27 member states, eq