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See here:
Road plates
Road plates may be required to bridge excavations in order to open the carriageway to traffic, e.g. during traffic-sensitive periods, at night or at weekends. The use of road plates should be planned in advance. An assessment will be required to identify the appropriate size and thickness of plate to be used. Consideration may also be given to the plating of open excavations within the works area.
Road plates must be made of suitable material with an appropriate skid-resistant surface. Their installation must not present a hazard to cyclists or motorcyclists. (pp. 99-100)
From p. 5:
Warning: Failure to comply with this Code is evidence of failing to fulfil the legal requirements to sign, light and guard works. Compliance with the Code will be taken as compliance with the legal requirements to which it relates.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d8038e5274a676d532707/safety-at-streetworks.pdf
Needless to say, the responsibility for ensuring safety lies with the contractor, but that doesn't mean they 'own' the carriageway. It's a lazy way of saying that the highway authority doesn't have a duty to inspect the works (although it is encouraged to do so). The legal framework for inspections is contained in this CoP:
Regardless of the role of the highway authority in this, it is clear that there is a failure on the part of the contractor to comply with the CoP.
Glad you're not injured worse, but obviously a very unpleasant experience.
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jmg412
Oliver Schick
@Ruserius
Not really a pothole but reported this after getting unlucky hitting this temporary ramp and landing perfectly at speed into this gap on Friars Lane in Richmond. Is this even a road defect? Besides skin, the worst thing I lost was the elbows from my beloved gabba.
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