Working with utility companies to minimise disruption

We routinely monitor and enforce the quality of utility works as part of our street works management activities.

We have completed a senior-endorsed assessment to determine whether a lane rental scheme would be suitable for our area.

We seek input from utility companies when developing highway maintenance programmes. This helps us coordinate works and reduce disruption to road users.

We have carried out and published a permit scheme evaluation within the last three years.

We have also completed a traffic-sensitive review within the last three years.

Evidence summary

We inspect roadworks and completed reinstatements in line with the Code of Practice and the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH), Fourth Edition, helping to ensure work is carried out safely and to the required standard.

We hold quarterly coordination meetings with utility companies to plan works, encourage collaboration and minimise disruption for road users.

Section 58 restrictions are applied following major resurfacing and reconstruction schemes, with advance notice provided to help protect newly improved roads from unnecessary excavation.

We have completed a traffic-sensitive review and are progressing a Lane Rental assessment. We are also reviewing our Permit Scheme to identify opportunities to improve coordination and reduce disruption across the network.

Performance data shows improved collaboration between organisations, better coordination of works and shorter average roadworks durations, helping to minimise disruption for residents and road users.

More information about working with utility companies

We use our Permit Scheme to help coordinate roadworks, reduce disruption and keep works durations to a minimum.

We work closely with utility companies through regular coordination meetings to support forward planning and minimise unnecessary disruption for residents and road users.

To help ensure work is completed to the required standard, we carry out sample, routine and permit inspections in accordance with the Code of Practice for Inspections. Inspection results are recorded and shared through Street Manager.

We also inspect utility reinstatements during the guarantee period, including inspections within six months and two years of completion. This helps identify defects before maintenance responsibility transfers to us.

This approach supports:

• better coordination of roadworks
• reduced disruption for road users
• improved compliance with national standards
• early identification of defects
• more effective management of the highway network