Government: Roadworks should be guaranteed against potholes for five years

Utility firms that dig up UK roads could be forced to guarantee their repairs for five years under new Government proposals announced this week.

Current Department for Transport (DfT) code of practice states that firms must guarantee all repairs for two years after roadworks. This could be increased to five years if proposals - put forward by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling - are given the green light.

>>> Drivers more than twice as likely to breakdown due to hitting a pothole

"Potholes are the biggest enemy for road users and this Government is looking at all options to keep our roads in the best condition," said Grayling. "Road surfaces can be made worse by utility companies, so imposing higher standards on repairs will help keep roads pothole-free for longer."

The eight-week consultation comes after an additional £420 million for road maintenance was announced in the Budget in November.

"The quality of road maintenance, whether that’s repairs or resurfacing, needs to come under closer scrutiny to guard against substandard workmanship."

In an attempt to reduce congestion, the DfT gave local councils the power to charge utility companies up to £2500 a day for digging up roads at peak times.

The latest proposals have been welcomed by motoring organisations, with the RAC dubbing them 'a very sensible and welcome idea'.

"Utility company roadworks should not lead to an overall worsening of road surface quality," said the RAC's head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes.

“The next logical step that could make a far greater difference to the standard of the country’s local road network is to ensure all road contractors working for local authorities have to provide the same guarantee.

"The quality of road maintenance, whether that’s repairs or resurfacing, needs to come under closer scrutiny to guard against substandard workmanship. This way every pound spent on our roads would last longer and motorists would have far better surfaces to drive on.”

As well as introducing a longer guarantee for road repairs, the DfT is also proposing that a new innovative surface should be used, such as asphalt with a high bitumen content. This is easier to compact to the required density, making it less prone to potholing.