Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Chinn, tel 02380 427000

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the following issues:

(i) Bridge Works programme 2002/03;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems programme 2002/03;

(iii) New Forest Transport Strategy (NFTS) schemes;

(iv) Coastal Towns Transport Strategy (CTTS);

(v) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme; and

(vi) Hampshire Country Towns 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 Works identified for New Forest within the Bridge Works programmes for 2002/03 are listed in Appendix 1.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems 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 Motorway and Trunk Road network in Central Southern England, as part of the Area 3 Managing Agent Commission for the Highways 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 New Forest within the ITS programme for 2002/03 are listed in Appendix 2.

4. New Forest Transport Strategy

4.1 The 2002/03 programme of NFTS schemes included within the LTP is set out in Appendix 3.

5. Coastal Towns Transport Strategy

5.1 The 2002/03 programme of CTTS schemes included within the LTP is set out in Appendix 4.

6. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme

6.1 In partnership with New Forest District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council, the County Council has prepared long-term planning, design and management guidance for the regeneration of Totton town centre. The guidance covers land and buildings in both public and private ownership, and sets out a long term strategy for improving pedestrian, cycling, bus, rail and vehicular access throughout the town centre. The proposals were subject to a comprehensive public consultation process in September 2002.

6.2 The Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme is now seeking to implement a first phase of work in Rumbridge Street, Old Totton, where there is a particular need to carry out improvements to the streetscape. Proposals are currently being prepared for the complete replacement of the existing unsightly street lighting, with lantern-style fittings and new columns. The scheme will be designed to adoptable standards. Costs from both the County Council's term lighting consultant and contractor are currently being gathered and a Project Appraisal will be brought forward for approval in December, with a view to implementation in March 2003. Further project proposals, including for repaving works, will be brought forward after a final decision has been made to implement the traffic management scheme.

7. Hampshire Country Towns Initiative

7.1 In partnership with New Forest District Council, the Country Towns Initiative is promoting schemes of environmental enhancement, traffic calming and pedestrian safety in Fawley Square and at Hythe Promenade. The aim of the Initiative is to bring together conservation, pedestrian safety and economic regeneration objectives to create safer, more attractive areas which will contribute to the economies and well-being of each centre.

7.2 Works in Fawley Square will be managed by New Forest District Council. They will include traffic calming and environmental improvement works to the historic shopping core, and are planned to start in spring 2003.

7.3 Improvements to Hythe Promenade form part of a package of projects in central Hythe which includes repairs to the pier and improvements to the pier interchange. The renovation of this run-down and under-utilised area will focus on traffic calming, creation of pedestrian links to the pier, improved safety lighting, formation of a waterside boardwalk and creation of landscaped, public sitting out and events areas. The aim is for The Promenade to become an attraction to visitors and residents and an economic and social resource to the community. Public consultations are in progress and a start on-site is planned for autumn 2003.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7610/RC

APPENDIX 1

Bridge Works Programme 2002/03 - New Forest

Lepe Foreshore Sea Defence

Repairs to approximately 120 metres of the sea defences at Lepe, adjacent to the shore road, are currently being undertaken by contractor, Natta. Work started in September and is programmed for completion in December 2002.

Redbridge Rail Bridge, Totton

This bridge carries the A35 Totton Bypass over the main Southampton/ Bournemouth railway line. The parapets were damaged in a road traffic accident in February 2002 and the site is at present protected by temporary concrete barriers. Details of permanent repairs and protective measures are being investigated as part of an overall strategy for improvements to the cycle route alongside the A35, Totton Bypass.

Loperwood Bridge, Calmore

A feasibility study is underway concerning the installation of higher, anti-climb parapets on this bridge, that carries Loperwood Lane over the A326, Totton Western Bypass. This study was instigated following a request from the West Hampshire NHS Trust, responsible for the possible new mental health unit at Tatchbury Mount Hospital.

Manor Road East Bridge, New Milton

This bridge, that was subject to a temporary weight limit, has been replaced, by the County Council's term maintenance contractor Raynesway Construction Southern Limited. The work started in August and was completed in October 2002.

Jones Lane Footbridges, Hythe

These two footbridges, on either side of the Jones Lane railway bridge, have been given new anti-graffiti coatings as part of the environmental maintenance programme.

APPENDIX 2

Intelligent Transport Systems Programme 2002/03 - New Forest

Capital Programme Schemes

Refurbishment Programme

No refurbishments in the New Forest Area.

APPENDIX 3

New Forest Transport Strategy - Schemes

Capital Programme 2002/03 as at November 2002

APPENDIX 3 continued

APPENDIX 4

Coastal Towns Transport Strategy - Schemes

Capital Programme 2002/03 as at November 2002