ETON and NRSWA - A summary of the changes and challenges affecting street works

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, supported by relevant Codes of Pra ctice, provides a legislative framework for street-work activities by under takers (including public utilities), and works for road purposes, to the ex tent that these must be coordinated with street works. The aim is to balanc e the respective statutory rights of the highway authorities and undertaker s to carry out works in the street or highway, against the rights of road u sers to expect the minimum disruption from these works. This article gives an overview of the challenges BT, highway authorities an d industry have faced since the introduction of the Act.