There are workers working outside my house at the moment. Will I be able to get my car out if I need to go to the shops?
Sometimes, it is necessary to excavate in front of accesses to properties or to allow newly-laid surfacing material to cool and set. Where excavations cannot be filled-in straight away, the surface is usually levelled-off with stone or bridged with plates to enable access across them. While the workers are there, they should always be able to allow access somehow. They will liaise with occupiers if they plan to do something that might cause problems.
There were workers working outside my house when I left for work this morning and I won’t be going home until late this evening. Will I be able to get my car into my drive when I get home?
While the works are un-attended we never leave access blocked without prior agreement with the residents or businesses concerned.
Why are the temporary traffic lights still holding-up the traffic when there is nobody working?
Often, we are not able to remove traffic control arrangements each time workers leave the site. The road surface may still need reinstating or other parts of the work may be unfinished. There are many legitimate reasons why progress might not be apparent occasionally. However, we do not inconvenience traffic unnecessarily and we will remove the traffic control as soon as we are able to do so.
I have waited a quarter of an hour in a long queue at the temporary traffic lights for the road-works, only to find that the queue going the other way was only three cars long! Can you do something about this?
We can usually lessen this problem by adjusting the timing of the traffic lights or controlling them manually during busy periods.
Why do you have to close the road? Surely you can do what you have to do and let traffic squeeze past.
We do not close roads unless it is necessary to do so. There are certain margins within which we must work, for the safety both of users of the highway and our construction workers. Generally, if there is sufficient space to allow traffic to use the road while the work is progressing then we will not close it but use other measures instead, like temporary traffic lights.
I see my road is going to be closed. Does that mean I won’t be able to get my car in and out?
A temporary road closure does not mean that access to properties is denied: when we implement temporary road closures, we always make it possible for residents and businesses to access their properties from one direction or another.
The small notice on the lamp-post outside my house says the road will be closed for three months! Is that really right?
Temporary road closures are legally enforceable and therefore we need to obtain legal orders to be able to implement them. This is why small notices advertising them are in evidence on site before the closure is actually implemented. They usually indicate a period of closure longer than the actual time we estimate will be necessary, to allow us a window of opportunity within which we can legally close the road to carry-out the work. The window of opportunity is qualified by an estimate of the actual duration of the closure. Where we anticipate our road closure may cause significant disruption, in addition to these notices we usually erect larger signs that can be read by passing drivers, warning of the closure - with our estimate of the actual start date and duration - and distribute letters to affected premises.
The sign says the road is closed but am I allowed to drive through if I can physically do so?
No. It is illegal to pass through a temporary road closure. You must not move the barriers and attempt to drive through, even if it looks as if you might be able to do so physically.
I saw the signs saying that the road is closed ahead but thought I could get through anyway. Then I had to turn round and go all the way back again!
At each end of a length of road that has a closure somewhere along its length, signs displaying “Road ahead closed, access only” are erected. This means that the road is unavailable as a through route because it is physically blocked at one particular point along it, although these signs may be passed to gain access to properties located before the point of blockage is reached. They act as an advance warning of the closure to save through-traffic the inconvenience of having to double-back. At the actual point the road is blocked, barriers and signs displaying “Road closed” are erected. Access beyond “Road closed” signs is illegal and, usually, not physically possible due to the nature of the work.
The road is closed near my house and it is blocked with diggers. They are working their way towards my house. I am expecting a delivery the day after tomorrow. Which side of my house will the blockage be then and which way can I tell my delivery driver to get here?
As the work progresses, the point of closure may move along the road, causing a change of access route for some adjacent properties. When necessary, our construction workers keep occupiers of affected premises informed as to from which end of the road access is available at any one time.
The road near my house is closed at the moment. If there is an emergency, won’t the ambulance or fire engine be delayed if they have to turn back and go the other way?
The emergency services are informed when temporary road closure orders are made, so that they may account for them during an emergency.
There is a sign saying that the road on the way to my town will be closed next week. I am hosting a big wedding party then and it’s vital the guests don’t get lost.
An alternative diversion route is always signed for the benefit of those who do not know the area.
The signs say the road is closed, but I can walk through can’t I?
Usually, pedestrians are allowed to pass through temporary road closures in order to gain access. Pedestrians are prohibited from passing through temporary road closures only if this is stated specifically in the advertised temporary road closure order. Road-works are construction sites and present more hazards than would normally be expected. If you are walking through a temporary road closure, please make sure you keep to any walkway provided, beware of uneven surfaces and do not enter areas enclosed with barriers.
Why are the road-works taking so long? I thought they would have been finished by now!
We are usually fairly accurate in our estimates of road-works duration. However, sometimes they over-run. Construction work is not as exact as repetitive factory processes, as the circumstances of each scheme are different. Unforeseen problems in the ground can be encountered once excavation commences and, of course, changeable weather can affect progress of certain processes that are dependent on good weather.
I am losing passing trade because of the road-closure. Please will you compensate me for this.
We understand that road-works can sometimes cause difficulties for businesses that rely on the highway for their trade. However, we are not obliged to pay compensation for disruption or loss of business caused by road-works. This is because we are carrying out a statutory duty, that of maintaining the highway for all to use.