A new trial is take place in three areas of Norfolk to try to stop roadworks from overrunning.
The trial aims to get county councillors involved in reporting instances where roadworks have gone on for longer than permitted - so action can be taken against the companies responsible.
Work being carried out by utilities companies on Norfolk's streets overran by a whopping 1,317 days in 2024, causing the equivalent of more than three-and-a-half years of disruption.
Norfolk County Council issued hundreds of fines for overrunning roadworks, some of which were simply because closure signs had not been taken down.
The county council is now trialling a new approach to make it quicker for its councillors to pass on complaints about overrunning work - and it could be rolled out across the county.
The trial was revealed at a recent meeting of County Hall's Conservative-controlled cabinet, after Green councillor Paul Neale raised the issue.
He said: "I am receiving reports across Norfolk of frustrations with contractors' road work signage being incorrect, misleading, and often not removed for several days after contracts are completed.
"Some are vague and unspecific signs for road closures, or diversions pointing in the wrong direction, or signage left in place after completion.
"This is frustrating and costly to our residents and businesses, in time and loss of earnings."
He asked what the council was doing to be "proactive", rather than "reactive".
Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said the council did issue fines to companies which breached permits.
He added: "A protocol for streetworks is currently being developed where councillors will be able to report streetworks issues such as incorrect / misleading signs and signs left on site.
"A trial is about to commence across three member divisions and if the trial is successful it is hoped to roll the protocol out across all divisions.
"This will assist the streetworks teams to focus resources to quickly resolve such issues."
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The council says it will not reveal the three divisions where the trial is being conducted because that could skew the results of the experiment.
The trial is about an enhanced process to received details from local members about streetworks activities on the network.
But a council spokeswoman said: "Members will be involved in flagging and evidencing where works may not be complying with permits.
"This will support highways in having the evidence required to fine utilities more quickly.
"It also means signage left at sites can be cleared more quickly – something which we know causes an inconvenience and confusion to members of the public."
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