The news comes soon after the Governments recent pledge to invest 1.7 billion into repairing local roads and speeding up work on major road networks.

The 60mphlimit in roadworks is likely to have the biggest impact in areas where smart motorways are being introduced. New safety measures, including the abolition of dynamic hard shoulder sections and an increase in the number of Highways England traffic officer patrols, have been introduced on smart motorways in response to concerns over their safety.

Jim OSullivan, chief executive of Highways England, said: All of our research shows that road users benefit from 60mph limits in roadworks. They have shorter journey times and feel safe.

Road users understand that roadworks are necessary, but they're frustrated by them. So testing 60mph has been about challenging the norm while ensuring the safety of our people working out there and those using our roads.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletterhere

Smart motorways are a response to increasing congestion on UK motorways; they use cameras and remotely-controlled speed limit signs to control the flow of traffic, and many allow cars to be driven on the hard shoulder either all or some of the time.

The thinking behind them is toadd an extra 33% of capacity to our motorway network at a fraction of the cost in money and to the environment of physically adding another lane to every stretch of motorway. They also improve traffic flow, helping to compensate for the 2 billion a year that the UKs economy losesdue to congestion caused by long-term underinvestment in roads and increased traffic volume.

Go here to see the original:

Motorway roadworks speed limit raised to 60mph - What Car?