Abstract
Highway works are highly inconvenient and disruptive for society. Accordingly, four highway policy interventions were investigated in Derby, UK, for potential corresponding reductions in highway works durations. Time series analysis was used to test the durational impacts on works led by Highway Authorities (HAs) and utility industries. The modelling results demonstrated that a highway works management permit scheme (chargeable) reduced utility works durations by 5·4% (727 work days annually). Conversely, three conflated interventions – namely, the permit scheme (cost-free to HAs), JCB Pothole Master deployment and construction direct labour organisation – did not make any statistically significant difference to HA works durations; however, introducing an automated works order management system (Woms) reduced HA works duration by 34% (6519 work days annually). The key finding of this study is that chargeable permit schemes can create the impetus for change, as demonstrated by the utility industry. Furthermore, the Woms revealed that back-office efficiency can lead to on-site efficiency in works execution.
Highlights
Growing urbanisation and the escalation of internet dependence has created an increased need for utility infrastructure to match commercial and residential needs, notwithstanding the need to maintain and replace ageing Victorian utility infrastructure
The mean duration of works respective to the statutory undertakers (SUs) and Highway Authorities (HAs) models was the dependent variable, the permit scheme was the single intervention variable in the SU model and the permit scheme/JCB/direct labour organisation (DLO) package and works order management system (Woms) were the two separate intervention variables tested in the HA model
The model estimated that the permit scheme reduced works duration by −0·194 d per highway works activity, which is equivalent to 727 work days or 5·4% reduction per annum
Summary
Growing urbanisation and the escalation of internet dependence has created an increased need for utility infrastructure to match commercial and residential needs, notwithstanding the need to maintain and replace ageing Victorian utility infrastructure. Problems can (and often do) arise when utility companies, known as statutory undertakers (SUs), need to install/access/maintain utility assets (known as street works) or when a Highway Authority (HA) needs to repair the fabric or structure of its highway (known as road works); these practices can disturb and clash with society’s above-ground expectations for expeditious transportation. Other negative impacts of road works and street works include, among others, loss of trade for local businesses, increased accidents, increased vehicle operating costs, increased air pollution, frustration for drivers and aesthetic depreciation Published with permission by the ICE under the CC-BY license
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