DfT announces road congestion plan

23 August 2011

Posted by Samuel Couratin

The Department for Transport has announced new measures designed to reduce congestion caused by road works during rush hour.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has unveiled a lane rental scheme that would see local councils charge utilities companies to dig up the busiest roads during times when such work is likely to cause the most problems.

Such firms would avoid such financial penalties if they chose to carry out improvement works outside rush hour.

Mr Hammond said that traffic congestion can be frustrating and cause major problems.

"This disruption is expensive as well as inconvenient, with one estimate valuing the loss to the economy from road works congestion at £4 billion a year. We simply cannot afford this," he added.

According to LoveHateTravel.co.uk, 80 per cent of commuters are in favour of using conference calling in a bid to avoid the congestion likely to be created by the 2012 Olympic Games in London.