Contact: Peter Bayless, ext: 6882 email: [email protected]

Michael Rolfe, tel: 01730 266 411 e-mail:[email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines progress with regard to other programmes and initiatives within the Environment Department.

2. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

2.1 The current situation with various schemes in the area is that there were four schemes, all of which have been completed:

(i) Toucan crossing at Butts Road, Alton.

(ii) Puffin crossing at Ramshill, Petersfield.

(iii) Toucan crossing at Whitedown Lane, Alton.

(iv) New traffic signal junction at supermarket, A325 Bordon.

3. Casualty reduction Programme

3.1 The 2003/2004 safety programme consists of 62 schemes throughout the county, totalling approximately £1,100,000. Appendix 1 shows the list of schemes with the current position for the East Hants area.

Hampshire Safety Camera Partnership

3.2 Installation of the first tranche of fixed speed cameras is progressing well, with cameras operational at the following sites:

(i) B3037 Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh;

(ii) Highlands Road, Fareham; and

(iii) A337 Setley, New Forest.

3.3 The sites at A32 Gosport Road, Fareham and A35 Totton Causeway are currently being installed, while a proposed site on the A325 at Holt Pound is still being investigated due to technical difficulties in finding an acceptable location.

3.4 Approval has been received from the Department for Transport for further fixed cameras and, subject to further analysis, these will be installed this financial year, at:

(i) A3090 Crampmoor, Romsey.

(ii) B3333 Marine Parade, Lee-on-the-Solent.

(iii) A36(T) West Wellow.

(iv) A339 North East of Wootton, Basingstoke.

3.5 This year, new mobile safety camera routes have been introduced at:

(i) A30 Blackwater.

(ii) A30 Hook.

(iii) A339 Lasham.

Further routes are proposed, subject to final approval by the Partnership, at:

(i) Grange Road, Gosport.

(ii) B3272 Yately.

(iii) B3272 Hawley Lane, Farnborough.

(iv) Petersfield Road, Havant.

(v) New Road, Havant.

(vi) A272 Privett.

(vii) A339 Wolverton.

(viii) A339 Kingsclere.

3.6 An analysis of accidents on existing Hampshire mobile safety camera routes for the year to the end of March 2003 showed a decrease of 11% in personal injury collisions. Similar reductions in speed-related accidents can be expected on the new routes when cameras are introduced.

4. Safer Routes to School Programme (SRTS)

4.1 Appendix 1 outlines the 2003/04 Safer Routes to School programme. A number of schemes were carried forward from the 2002/03 programme following the adjustments which were required to the capital programme to keep within the 2002/03 spending limits.

4.2 Following the capital programme moratorium of December 2002, the Safer Routes to Schools budget was reduced from £500,000 to £100,000. This made it necessary for a number of schemes that were still in the design stage to be carried forward to the 2003/04 financial year. These schemes are now being progressed alongside new schemes associated with School Travel Plans.

5. Hampshire Country Towns Initiative (HCTI)

5.1 The Country Towns Initiative is a County Council programme which carries out schemes of environmental enhancement in the county's rural centres to reinforce their environmental, social and commercial attractiveness. It focuses on highways and other public areas and works in partnership with local councils and representative organisations. It brings together funding from the County Council, District Council and local sources and links highways and environmental objectives and funding.

5.2 Progress on the current scheme in East Hants (Petersfield Town Centre) is reported on another panel paper.

6. 2003/04 Bridge Works Programme

6.1 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.

Funding

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

Maintenance

6.3 Bridge maintenance includes regular routine items, such as vegetation and drainage clearance; repairs to accident 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 (RCS) carries out the majority of other maintenance, though some specialist or larger jobs are awarded by tender.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

6.4 This programme was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on UK roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is ongoing. About 30 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.

Road/Rail Bridges

6.5 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, the majority of which are bridges, have been evaluated and prioritised, and a rolling programme for protective measures has been started. This will continue over several years, as funding is made available.

6.6 There are no works identified for East Hants within the Bridge Works programme for 2003/04.

7. A325 Major Maintenance Works

7.1 The first stage of the work to reconstruct the A325 from the B3004 Sleaford junction to the County boundary will commence at the end of October. Work will take place until the end of January on the section from Sleaford to Frith End, using temporary alternate-working traffic signals for most of the time. However, for a short period (about three weeks) the entire road will be closed overnight to allow work between the B3004 junction and the sand pit entrance. Traffic will be diverted via the A31 and the B3004.

7.2 Work on the other two sections - Frith End to Bucks Horn Oak, and from Bucks Horn Oak to the County boundary - will follow at the end of 2004 and in 2005.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8360/MR/PB

Safer Routes to School programme 2003/04 APPENDIX 2

Schemes within East Hampshire District Council area.