60mph speed limit through roadworks

Organisation: Highways England
Date uploaded: 3rd September 2020
Date published/launched: August 2020

In 2016 Highways England committed to investigating the potential for higher speed limits in roadworks where they could be safely implemented. 

Highways England says its customers find a blanket approach to speed limits in roadworks inappropriate – and safely improving customers’ experience is a key part of its customer service strategy.

The first phase of the trials considered both 55mph and 60mph speed limits. The findings showed that safety wasn’t compromised and customers preferred driving at 60mph. 

Following the trials, Interim Advice Note (IAN) 182 (now known as GG182) was updated, asking schemes to consider their site-specific speed limit during the commissioning phase of their works. The full findings from the trials can be found on the link below.

The second phase of trials, which commenced on road in 2019, considered whether a 60mph speed limit in roadworks can safely be used in a wider range of roadworks scenarios, including:

• Permanent – 60mph running over 24/7 period

• Contraflow – design roadworks for 60mph using a contraflow arrangement and run at 60mph on the carriageway where main works activity is not taking place

• Dynamic – design roadworks to 60mph but only use 60mph during non-working days, that is, Sundays/Bank holidays/Christmas shutdown

The findings from the phase 2 trials can also be found on the link below.

External links: Access the findings from the Highways England website