Cadent has become the first utility company to join the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG).
The group brings together local authorities, government, the supply chain and other key organisations to “facilitate fresh thinking in innovation and collaboration” around the road network.
Cadent’s chief executive Steve Fraser said he hoped the company would be the “first of many” utilities to join.
He added: “As the UK’s biggest gas distributor, we manage a huge network of over 80,000 miles of gas mains and most of them run under the nation’s roads, across a wide area, from the Lake District to London. It’s great that we can bring our experience and expertise to LCRIG.
“It’s great too that we join a community that’s clearly keen to reap the many benefits of collaboration, through us finding innovative, cost-efficient ways to keep our highways in excellent condition as well as the essential utilities that run beneath them.”
Will Britain, president of LCRIG, added: “Our sector must work closely with utilities to ensure that there is the least possible disruption to customers when digging up roads. There needs to be more of a focus on the sharing of innovative technologies and solutions across both industries. We welcome Cadent into the LCRIG family and look forward to working with them in a collaborative way.”