Higher speed limit pledged for motorway roadworks

SPEED limits past motorway roadworks will be increased to cut journey times and ease drivers’ frustrations.

Highways England announced that the typical 50mph restriction where work was being carried out would rise to 60mph.

The government-owned company made the decision after carrying out trials over the past 18 months which showed the safety of motorists and road workers could be maintained despite the 10mph increase. It found that more drivers stayed within the limit when it was 60mph, with average time savings ranging from 8 per cent to 14 per cent at the eight sites tested.

At one pilot scheme – the M1 between junctions 13 and 16 – drivers typically shaved 68 seconds off their journeys due to the increased limit.

For several years, routes such as the M1, M4, M6 and M20 have had stretches where the standard 70mph limit has been reduced to 50mph for roadworks, due to the rollout of smart motorways.

The policy will be rolled out on a case-by-case basis on certain roads, but will not mean limits will be immediately increased at every set of roadworks nationwide. Depending on the road layout and the work being done, 40mph and 50mph restrictions will continue to be used in places.

Jim O’Sullivan, the Highways England chief executive, said: “All of our research shows that road users benefit from 60mph limits in roadworks. They have shorter journey times and feel safe. Road users understand that roadworks are necessary, but they are frustrated by them. So testing 60mph has been about challenging the norm while ensuring the safety of our people working out there and those using roads.”

Anthony Smith, the chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, described the introduction of 60mph limits as “a welcome step”.