ROAD chiefs are being forced to call in the police as motorists speed through major roadworks.

The Highways Agency this week admitted more people were speeding over the A66 Surtees Bridge, being rebuilt over the River Tees at Stockton, than they had anticipated.

From this week, registration details of speeding cars are being flashed up on pylons in a bid to shock motorists into slowing down. Persistent offenders could have their details passed to the police.

Highways Agency representatives are meeting police chiefs next week to discuss enforcement of the 30mph speed limit on the bridge.

An average of 55,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge, which is being demolished and rebuilt in a £14.3m, 70-week project which will not be completed before next September.

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency, said: "Analysis shows there are more people speeding than we initially thought, so it is a case of watch and see.

"If numbers continue increasing we are going to have to ask the police to do some enforcement.''

Concerns about the speeding have been heightened by the deaths of five highways workers across Britain last year, with 12 others seriously injured.

The spokeswoman said: "The only reason the speed limit is there is to ensure the safety of people working on the site and other road users. Part of the bridge has been taken down and you have a drop down to the river.

"Most people realise the speed limit is for safety and adhere to the limit and slow down, but others do not.''