Many firms are also more optimistic than they have been that the work rise will lead to a sustained increase in orders and activity.

The results of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association workload trends survey for the third quarter revealed 58% of firms seeing more work in the last 12 months than the same period a year ago.

Contractors expect these positive conditions to continue, with a balance of 40% predicting they will have more work in a year’s time than now.

There was a big jump in preliminary works, with the number of firms reporting an uplift, on balance, surging 30% compared to the preceding quarter.

Railways work activity recorded the largest increase, which, on balance increased by 54% compared to a year ago.

Electricity and water work was also strongly ahead. Only communications, gas and harbours and waterways saw a small fall in firms reporting on activity.

The majority of firms (72%) in Britain reported that costs had increased by up to 5% compared to 12 months earlier with 4% reporting increases of over 5%.

In England, on balance, almost two-thirds of all respondents expect employment of operatives and staff  to increase. Staff number in Scotland were expected to remain flat and fall in Wales which is still not reporting an upturn.

CECA director of external affairs Alasdair Reisner, said: “After the challenges of recent years it is encouraging to see some real growth in workload for the UK’s civil engineering contractors.

“We recognise that this growth has been supported by the actions of Government, which has worked with industry to unlock vital infrastructure investment projects across the country.

“However it is essential that as the wider economy returns to growth, there is no loss of focus on the continuing need to invest in our national transport and utility networks.

“A booming economy does not remove the need to tackle congestion and energy security – in fact it makes tackling these issues even more critical.”