A NEW league table has revealed the ten worst locations in the UK for drivers to be caught up in roadworks.

Motorists in Essex have been warned they are most likely to be affected by roadworks, according to the league table put together by motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk. Local authorities in Essex revealed that a staggering 77,423 roadworks were carried out in 2021 and 2022, making it the worst location for roadworks in the UK by almost 25,000.

Number of road and street works in UK local authorities from April 2021-March 2022.

1. Essex County Council 77,423

2. Staffordshire County Council 52,871

3. Cardiff Council 43,252

4. West Northamptonshire Council 34,557

5. East Riding of Yorkshire Council 32,420

6. Worcestershire County Council 31,105

7. Bradford City Council 27,301

8. Ealing Borough Council 25,593

9. Hampshire County Council 25,581

10. Leeds City Council 24,851

The location with the second highest number of roadworks was Staffordshire, with a total of 52,871, putting perspective on Essex’s enormous figures.Drivers in the Welsh capital can also expect delays as Cardiff had the third-highest amount

at 43,252.

Many of the roadworks being carried out across the top three roadwork hotspots were undertaken by utility companies providing essential services. In Cardiff, for example, Welsh Water accounted for over 17,000 of its jobs.

Data shows that over 12 billion pounds was spent on roads in the United Kingdom in 2021 and 2022. The data, which was collated following responses to a Freedom of Information request by local authorities, shows the allocated budgets for road improvements at each local authority. However, the experts are keen to stress that not all local authorities provided figures.

Areas that narrowly missed the top three spots include West Northamptonshire, which had 34,557 roadworks, and East Riding of Yorkshire, which had 32,420. Leeds City Council was the local authority that carried out the least roadworks in the

top ten list, with 22,851 throughout the year. The Northern city just fell behind Hampshire, which had over 25,000.

Worcestershire, Bradford, and London’s Ealing Borough also accounted for locations with some of Britain’s worst roadworks. Drivers who find themselves in roadwork-dense areas have been urged to add extra time to their commutes as they face traffic and potentially long delays.

Tim Alcock, from LeaseCar.uk, said: “Roadworks can be incredibly frustrating for drivers, especially when they are in a rush or on the way to work, as they often cause huge delays.

“Motorists should factor in extra time to their journeys if they are travelling through locations that are known to have a lot of roadworks, especially in places like Essex, Staffordshire, and Cardiff.

“If possible, we recommend drivers try to plan ahead and avoid them, which is easy to do with a sat nav with traffic alerts.

“If this isn’t possible, make sure to be extra cautious when travelling through them as slow-moving vehicles, traffic and speed cameras are common.”

“Try to remember that as much as they can be a nuisance, roadworks are ultimately carried out to improve our lives.

“Maintenance is crucial to improving current infrastructure and providing access to employment, education, health, and social opportunities.”