New traffic rules could be introduced to stop drivers facing delays on major roads due to utility works

Spencer presented his Transport (Duty to Co-operate) Bill to the House of Commons during his 10 Minute Rule, stating that it would ease disruption caused when different providers work on the same roads.

The bill aims to tackle what Dr Spencer described as roads being dug up "over and over again" by gas, electricity, water and broadband companies.

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Spencer told the Commons: "All too often in Runnymede and Weybridge, our transport infrastructure is brought to a halt due to multiple planned works happening at the same time."

The proposed legislation would create a new "duty to co-operate", forcing better communication between different agencies responsible for infrastructure works.

Under the plans, transport authorities would be required to assess the combined impact of different works taking place simultaneously.

This would address situations like "full M25 closures coinciding with mainline rail engineering works" that have plagued Spencer's Surrey constituency.

The bill would mandate that when utility companies dig up roads, they must check if anything else needs fixing at the same time, preventing repeated disruption.

"Disruption should be avoided and minimised by authorities and providers talking to each other and coordinating works," Spencer explained during his Commons speech.

He emphasised that while some disruption for infrastructure improvements is inevitable, better planning could prevent much of the chaos currently experienced.

The MP noted that Surrey County Council has already established a task force to drive better coordination of roadworks and has called on the Department for Transport to make changes to systems managing highway works.

However, the MP believes a statutory duty is necessary to achieve the level of coordination required across all transport networks.

He cited numerous examples from his constituency where coordination had failed "despite repeat assurances that authorities do coordinate and discuss". In Chertsey, roads have been "repeatedly dug up, often under the guise of urgent works from gas to water to electricity," he told MPs.

More shockingly, Spencer noted instances when "authorities or utilities haven't adequately staffed works or have left them unattended". He highlighted specific failures at Pains roundabout and in Maybridge, where signal problems "took hours to resolve as they didn't have the right equipment or staff on site".

Under the proposed rules, National Highways "could not inform me that they were unaware of the impact excess trains and the Chertsey branch line would have on level crossings" during a motorway closure weekend.

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Similarly, Network Rail wouldn't be able to claim they "forgot" to communicate with other authorities, as Spencer claimed had happened previously.

He cited how National Highways estimates that delays on their network alone cost £3billion each year. He said: "Add to that the cost of delays on local road networks, hours missing work, goods stuck in transit, the value of addressing this issue is clear."

The MP argued that the benefits would extend beyond local communities to boost the UK economy as a whole. The Transport (Duty to Co-operate) Bill received its first reading without opposition and will next be listed for debate on April 25.