According to reports, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has told Highways England to limit stretches of roadworks to two miles and introduce tough new rules for contractors to prevent motorists getting stuck in lengthy queues. He is also calling for better communication with road users so they understand the reason for works and can plan alternative routes.
A DfT spokesman said: "Our road investment strategy will deliver the biggest upgrade to Britain's roads in a generation and secure our transport network for the long-term.
"But as it is delivered we've got to respect the drivers who use our roads every day.
"That means taking common sense decisions to minimise frustrations wherever possible."
The M1 and M3 motorways, which currently have the longest stretches of roadworks in the country, are understood to be the main areas of concern.
In addition, disruption on England’s motorways is expected to increase as the Government’s £15.2bn plan to improve the strategic road network gets underway. This will see more than three-quarters of England’s motorways and major A-roads will be resurfaced and more than 1,300 miles of road will be built by 2020.
In response, Malcolm Bingham, the FTA’s head of road network management policy, said: “Long stretches of roadworks create a series of problems for our members – it’s an issue that they constantly complain about.
“We know that for the largest vehicles it costs £1 for every minute they’re stuck in traffic. Limiting roadworks to two-mile stretches could considerably reduce the time they’re delayed. Nose-to-tail shunts are more prevalent in queues of slow moving traffic too, so hopefully this will also cut the number of accidents in roadworks.”
