Archived decisions

Contact: Brian Millen, tel 01256 764444

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the following issues:

(i) Bridge Works programme 2002/03;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems programme 2002/03;

(iii) Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST) schemes;

(iv) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme; and

(v) Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council capital programme.

2. The Bridge Works Programme

2.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for inspection and maintenance, load assessment and strengthening of all existing county highway structures, as well as new structures built as part of road improvements, housing schemes and industrial developments. This includes 1,400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures, such as retaining walls and gantries.

2.2 The majority of bridge maintenance, assessment and strengthening is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance, footbridges and environmental maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

2.3 Bridge maintenance covers regular routine items, such as vegetation and drainage clearance, repairs to accidental damage, major and minor structural maintenance identified from the annual cycle of bridge inspections and environmental maintenance of subways. The latter covers graffiti removal and cleaning under a three year term contract with a firm called Graffiti Solutions. Raynesway Construction Southern Limited carries out the majority of other maintenance, although some specialist or larger jobs go out to tender.

2.4 A programme of load assessment and strengthening was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on British roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete, and strengthening of substandard bridges is ongoing. About 50 bridges remain subject to interim measures, such as weight limits or monitoring, and will be strengthened over the next five or six years, funding permitting.

2.5 Following the 'Selby crash' in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, mainly bridges, are being evaluated and prioritised, with a view to establishing a rolling programme for protective measures.

2.6 The following schemes within Basingstoke are in the 2002/03 programme:

(i) Painting Contract

A painting contract for £70,000 by TI Coatings has just been completed. This included the parapet of the four Brighton Hill roundabout subways on the A30; Gresley Road footbridge over the slip road from the A339 and the parapets on Free Folk bridge on the B3400 in Laverstoke.

(ii) Ruckstall's Flyover over A30 Ringway South

The feasibility study and design of a strengthening scheme for this bridge is under way, with the intention to carry out the work in 2003/04. This scheme will involve extensive traffic management on the A30 Ringway South, and consultations are ongoing with the Police and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

(iii) Southington County Bridge, Overton

This bridge, carrying Southington Lane over the River Test in Overton, has recently been strengthened and refurbished by RCS, necessitating a road closure and diversion for seven weeks - estimated cost £20,000.

(iv) Broadford No. 1 Bridge, Stratfield Saye

The design of a replacement for this bridge which carries the C80 over the River Loddon near Stratfield Saye, is under way, with the work on site programmed for 2003/04. The bridge is subject to a temporary weight limit at present.

(v) Subway Refurbishment

Refurbishment, including new mural, of three subways - College Road, Winklebury Way/West Ham and Ashwood Training Centre - has recently been completed and two more in Winchester Road are programmed for this year. Repairs to murals in ten other subways have also been carried out. This is in addition to the regular programme for subway cleaning.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems Group Programme

3.1 The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group was formed in January 2000 and manages all aspects of traffic control and information systems throughout Hampshire. It is responsible for the policy, research, development, design, implementation and operation of all signals, traffic control and information systems in the county. This includes Pelican, Puffin and Toucan pedestrian and cycle crossings.

3.2 The Group is located in Monument House in Winchester which houses the Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system from where it coordinates and controls traffic signals in Winchester, Eastleigh, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Basingstoke through a central computer. This system not only controls traffic signals but also car parking information, priority facilities for emergency vehicles, and specific priority for other vehicles, such as buses. Remote monitoring is used to immediately detect faults in signal equipment in any part of the county, facilitating swift response times.

3.3 The ITS Group is also responsible for the operation, management and fault reporting for the traffic control elements of the Area 3 Commission for the Highways Agency. This work extends the area of responsibility for traffic systems management to include high profile sites on the motorway and trunk roads network in the Area 3 Super Agency.

3.4 The Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) at Monument House is directly linked to the original TTIC in Southampton (ROMANSE project) and collects, collates and disseminates information in a variety of ways. A number of individual systems have been developed and are currently in operation:

(i) STOPWATCH real-time bus passenger information system;

(ii) Variable Message Signs (VMS);

(iii) TRIPlanner information terminals for pre-trip planning; and

(iv) closed circuit television (CCTV) for network monitoring.

3.5 Traffic and Travel information is passed to the media, Police and motoring organisations, as well as disseminated through the ROMANSE on-line website (www.romanse.org.uk). Existing systems are being extended and new technologies and systems researched to ensure an efficient sustainable transport system for Hampshire.

3.6 Works identified for Basingstoke within the ITS programme for 2002/03 are listed in Appendix1.

4. Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport Report

4.1 The 2002/03 programme of BEST schemes included within the LTP is set out in Appendix 2.

A30 South West (Basingstoke to M3 Junction 7) Corridor

4.2 The attached report (Appendix 3) was to be submitted to the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport Members' Panel on 2 October 2002 which was cancelled. At an informal meeting in July local Members had the opportunity to discuss the proposals in detail and raise any additional matters for consideration, which are covered in the attached report. Members are now requested to consider the measures proposed for the A30 corridor and endorse their preferred options.

5. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme

Glebe Gardens, Basingstoke

5.1 This project continues the County Council's investment into this important historic town centre park, lying next to Festival Place. Plans are currently being finalised for two of the park entrances close to Timberlake Road, refurbishment of a bridge across the River Loddon and installation of a specially commissioned plaque commemorating local poet Thomas Wharton.

5.2 Officers are exploring the potential for improvements to the park entrance adjacent to St Michael's Church and Church Cottages. Discussions are also taking place with the Borough Council about the future of Chute House to secure an improved entrance at this corner of the park. Currently both these areas are blighted by car parking.

St Michael's Churchyard, Basingstoke

5.3 The objective of this project is the restoration and refurbishment of historic stone paving and boundary walling in the setting of the listed St Michaels Church. The church is an important landmark building and its paths are a popular shortcut for visitors to Glebe Gardens and Festival Place. Tew Brothers of Southampton have been appointed as contractors for brickwork repairs on the boundary wall and work commenced at the beginning of October.

5.4 Restoration work on stone paving to the churchyard paths is expected to start on site in March, following the completion of repairs to the church stonework.

6. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Capital Programme

6.1 The Borough Council's capital programme in 2002/03 includes the following schemes:

(i) Fairfields Area - traffic calming and 20 mph zone;

(ii) St Michaels Road - traffic calming and 20 mph zone;

(iii) Pack Lane - traffic calming;

(iv) Eastrop Park Link - traffic calming part of Festival Place;

(v) Eastrop Way - traffic calming (no vertical deflections);

(vi) major signage project;

(vii) Sullivan Road - traffic calming (no vertical deflections); and

(viii) Hackwood Road - possible dual puffin crossing (subject to approval of project appraisal).

Recommendations

1. That the report be noted.

2. That the Panel endorses the measures proposed for the A30 Basingstoke to M3 Junction 7 corridor.

7496/BGM

APPENDIX 2

Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport

Capital Programme Position (October 2002)