We know there is a lot of work happening on the roads across the county. Before you head out the door, check before you travel by using some of our useful tools and tips below.
Why are there more roadworks than usual?
There is more work happening on roads across the county than usual. This will be no surprise to people who are already experiencing more disruption as a result.
Utility firms are dealing with ageing pipes and networks that need repairs and upgrades. At the same time demand for high broadband speeds means a lot of new cable is being laid. These companies have a legal right to work on the roads to access their equipment and provide new services to residents and businesses.
We are also investing in a major programme of repairs and improvement works.
All of this means more work on the roads. This is in addition to the major disruption being caused by HS2 and East West Rail.
Emergency Works
Emergency works take place without warning.
We can’t plan for these, which means sometimes they happen at the same time as other work on the roads. We carefully monitor any emergency works and manage the impact where possible.
What we are doing
We play a role in managing planned roadworks through our Streetworks team. Permits are given to companies who request to carry out works on the roads and pavements.
We refuse to issue a permit if the works will cause too much disruption or if too many are requested in a similar area. We refused 10% of permit applications last year. We cannot however prevent works for an emergency for example a burst water main or leaking gas pipe.
However, the level of demand is making co-ordinating competing works more and more challenging.
The Streetworks team inspect works regularly to make sure companies are sticking to the conditions of the permit. Our Streetworks team are now working 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 4pm over the weekend.
We are also doing what we can to relieve the pressure on the roads. We are bringing forward the Aylesbury ring road project and we’re investing in new cycling and walking routes. And of course, we are constantly holding HS2 and East West Rail to account to communicate better with our residents about their works, to give people plenty of notice and to pay for road repairs as a result of their construction traffic.
What you can do
We want to encourage you to check before you travel - even if it’s a routine journey to school or work!
- One.Network is a great tool for showing which roads have the most disruption. One Network is available and accessible to everyone. For all of the latest road closure information whether they are in progress now or planned for the future go to uk.one.network and create your own account to receive alerts from your set zone.
- You can also follow @buckshighways on social media for updates and information on works in the County.
- Use your Satnav, even if you know where you are going. It will give live updates on traffic and help you to choose the best route.
You can also think about other ways to travel. Why not think about walking or cycling? Even if you drive some of the way, there are many benefits to walking and cycling. We have many cycle routes and cycle paths.
Report a problem on the roads
If you spot a problem on the roads or footpaths, you can report this online using Fix My Street.
You can use this to report potholes and other defects in the road, problems with trees, streetlights, flytipping, flooding, street signs and more.