Charge Utilities Rent for Disrupting Traffic

London has a major problem with roadworks, apparently, and there are renewed calls to charge the offending utilities rent for any road lanes taken out of service while performing tasks underground. Christian Wolmar explains:

Back in the early 1990s I remember attending press conferences about
proposed new legislation that would make the utilities pay rent for the
lanes that put out of use, thereby inducing them to carry out the work
faster. To no avail: the utilities protested, blocking any attempt to
enforce the legislation.

Now we are back to the starting line on that idea, with the Government
consulting on “lane rental” and promising legislation. We’re told we might
have a system in place in London by next spring.

 This is an interesting idea that seems like it could generate high levels of popular support and real benefits in terms of less disruption and new revenue.