The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse

SOURCE: BBC Business (Finance) 11 January 2026

A critical and costly challenge is unfolding across the UK’s road network. The country's aging infrastructure, a legacy of post-war expansion, is now demanding urgent and extensive repairs, creating a drag on the economy that costs billions annually. As National Highways and local authorities confront decades of underinvestment, official forecasts and on-the-ground reports indicate that the disruption from road and street works is not only significant but set to intensify in the coming years.

This surge in maintenance activity represents a difficult balancing act between the long-term necessity of modernising vital arteries of commerce and the immediate economic pain caused by delays, closures, and bottlenecks.

The £4 Billion Disruption

The economic toll of roadworks is substantial. Analysis from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveals a stark figure: the UK economy is losing an estimated £4 billion per year due to the disruption caused by works on its road network.

This figure quantifies the cumulative impact of delays on commercial logistics, commuter productivity, and fuel consumption. It stems from a huge volume of activity on the nation's highways.

• Scale of Works: In England alone, 2.2 million individual street and road works were carried out between 2022 and 2023, according to the DfT. Each project, from major motorway overhauls to minor utility repairs, contributes to the overall economic friction.

An Aging Network at Breaking Point

The fundamental driver of this impending wave of works is the age of the infrastructure itself. Much of the UK’s primary road network, including its motorways and major A-roads, was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. These assets are now collectively reaching the end of their intended "serviceable life."

Nicola Bell, an executive director at National Highways—the agency managing England's strategic road network—confirms that these aging roads and bridges require much-needed upgrades and repairs, signaling a sustained period of major projects.

• The Core Issue: Decades-old concrete and steel structures were not designed to last indefinitely or to handle modern traffic volumes. They are now requiring comprehensive refurbishment or replacement, a far more disruptive process than routine maintenance.
• National Scope: This issue is not confined to England. The Welsh government notes that a large portion of its highway infrastructure also dates back to the 1960s and 70s and will require "essential maintenance work." The exact scale of future disruption in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland is less clearly defined but follows a similar underlying trend of aging assets.

The Direct Cost to Commerce

For the logistics and haulage sector, roadworks are not an inconvenience but a direct hit to the bottom line. Delays have a cascading effect on finely tuned supply chains, where punctuality is paramount.

Brett Baines, a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver with nearly 30 years of experience, notes that works "seem to drag on for months, years," creating persistent uncertainty.

• Supply Chain Impact: For commercial operators, delays translate directly into operational costs. According to Baines, the "knock-on effect can be late deliveries, [for] which sometimes the company or the customer gets charged." This erodes profit margins and can damage commercial relationships.
• Productivity Loss: Beyond penalties, slow-moving or stationary traffic increases fuel consumption, adds to driver hours, and reduces the number of journeys a vehicle can complete in a day, lowering overall asset productivity.

Local Roads: A Crisis of Coordination

While motorways grab headlines, a parallel and equally disruptive battle is being fought on local roads. Here, the issue is often compounded by a perceived lack of coordination among the various entities digging up the streets.

In communities like Clanfield, Hampshire, residents report a "patchwork" of road closures and temporary traffic lights as utility companies separately upgrade aging gas, water, and broadband infrastructure.

• A Surge in Utility Works: The Local Government Association of England and Wales has recorded a 30% increase in works carried out by utility companies over the last decade. This reflects a national push to replace legacy pipes and cables.
• Resident Frustration: As one Clanfield resident noted, the primary frustration stems from the duration of the works and a lack of joined-up planning. "The issue I have around here is the co-ordination of it all," he stated, highlighting the public's desire for better communication and scheduling.
• The Utility Perspective: Utility providers, such as gas network SGN, defend the projects as "vital improvements" for long-term community benefit. They cite the complexity and safety requirements of replacing miles of aging pipework as reasons for the extended timelines.

The Structural Funding Gap

Underpinning the entire problem is a severe and persistent funding gap, particularly at the local government level. Councils are responsible for the vast majority of the road network but lack the resources to address the scale of the maintenance backlog.

Nick Adams-King, the leader of Hampshire County Council, provides a stark illustration of this financial reality.

• An Unsolvable Equation: Adams-King estimates it would cost £600 million to bring all of Hampshire's roads up to a good standard. His council's entire annual budget for highways maintenance is approximately £70 million.
• Government Funding: The central government has acknowledged the issue, pledging to increase the annual budget for local road repairs in England from £1.6 billion in 2026-27 to over £2 billion by 2030.
• A Drop in the Ocean: While the increase is significant, it remains insufficient to close the chasm between available funds and the multi-billion-pound national repair backlog. This financial reality means that many councils will be forced to continue with short-term, reactive patching rather than comprehensive, long-term resurfacing.

Outlook: A Long Road Ahead

The evidence points to an unavoidable conclusion: the disruption from roadworks is a structural feature of the UK economy that will worsen before it improves. The confluence of aging infrastructure, a massive maintenance backlog, and a persistent funding gap creates a perfect storm for sustained delays.

The core challenge for government, National Highways, and local authorities is to manage this period of intense activity more effectively. Improving coordination between utility companies, investing in new technologies to speed up repairs, and providing clear, long-range communication to businesses and the public will be critical. However, for the foreseeable future, the orange cones and 50mph limits will be an increasingly familiar sight—a visible symbol of a nation grappling with the immense cost of renewing its essential infrastructure.