Hampshire County Council is considering a new charge for roadworks to improve planning and minimize traffic disruptions on busy roads
Hampshire: The council is looking at a plan that would charge contractors working on the busiest roads during peak times. The idea is to help them plan better and work outside of rush hours to reduce delays.
They want to introduce a daily fee for the duration of the work, including any hold-ups. The extra money made could go towards projects that aim to lessen roadwork disruptions.
There’s also a chance that some of this income could be used for highway maintenance, depending on new national laws coming out later this year.
Cllr Lulu Bowerman, who’s in charge of highways and waste, will discuss these proposals on January 28. If they get the green light, the council will seek more public input this year.
They hope to have everything up and running by 2026. This ‘disruption charging’ idea, also called ‘lane rental,’ is already being used in other parts of the UK.
The council could charge up to £2,500 a day for roadworks on the busiest local roads. They believe this will encourage better planning and execution of roadworks, leading to less hassle for everyone.
If it goes ahead, this scheme could really change how roadworks are done in Hampshire, benefiting both businesses and residents in the long run.
