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Traffic Management Act 2004
"Legislation will also be brought forward to improve traffic flows and manage road works more effectively."
The background notes to the Bill pledged to "enable local authorities to control street works to avoid disruption to road users".
It is expected that the Bill will empower local authorities to force utility companies to apply for lane rental permits before digging up roads, and face heavy penalties when work overruns.
A study, commissioned by the Department for Transport, estimated that 1.8 million street works were carried out in England in 2001/02 - one street work for every 170 metres of the road network.
Many observers feel that the current legislation is too weak with numerous loopholes giving utility companies too many ways round it.
The Traffic Management Bill will also deal with other causes of congestion, transforming the role of the Highways Agency from being primarily a road builder and maintainer and to becoming a network operator.
The Bill creates the role of new traffic officers who will work under the Highways Agency, tasked with the job of managing traffic flow on trunk roads and responding quickly to incidents.
This move is intended to free up 550 full time officers to concentrate on crime in England and Wales.
Progress
House of Commons
First reading: December 11 2003 (HC Bill 13)
Second reading: January 5 2004
Committee stage
Bill as reprinted (HC Bill 52)
Remaining stages: March 16 2004
House of Lords
First reading: March 17 2004 (HL Bill 47)
Second reading: April 1 2004
Grand Committee
Bill as amendeed in the committee (HL Bill 67)
Report stage: June 29 2004 (part 1)
June 29 2004 (part 2)
Bill as amended in the report HC Bill 95
Third reading: July 8 2004
House of Commons
Consideration of Lords amendments July 15 2004
House of Lords
Consideration of Commons amendments: July 20 2004
Royal assent on July 22 2004
Traffic Management Act 2004
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