Contact: Colin Taylor, tel: 01730 266411 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Petersfield Town Centre

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems

(iii) Bridgeworks

(iv) A325 Major Maintenance scheme, and

(v) A3 Hindhead Tunnel.

2. Town Centre, Petersfield

2.1 The works to enhance The Square and High Street were successfully completed during 2003/04. The traffic calming alterations along Hylton Road have been finished and the 20mph speed limit is now in place covering the historic central part of Petersfield.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems

3.1 The Intelligent Transport Systems Group (ITS) of the Environment Department is responsible for feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control, and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. Most new implementation is funded through the Capital Programme or external funding, whilst the maintenance of the central systems and facilities on street are funded through the Revenue Budget. During 2003/04 the programme of ITS deployment throughout Hampshire has been significant and includes a large number of new traffic signals, pelican crossings, real time bus passenger information systems, car park information systems and bus departure information systems. This has resulted in a significant increase in the scope and geographic coverage of ITS facilities in Hampshire. This increase in the deployment of ITS will mean a greater traffic and travel information service can be provided and the dissemination facilities through the media and internet will be enhanced. Works within the current capital programme are referred to in the report entitled, Progress Update on Schemes in the Capital Programme elsewhere on the Agenda.

3.2 As an addition to the current information network, on the M27 motorway, between junction 9 and the A3(M)/A27, 19 Enhanced Message Signs (EMS), eight CCTV cameras and a series of vehicle detectors in the surface of the carriageway are being installed by the Highways Agency. The images from the cameras and the output from the monitoring equipment will be fed into the County Council's traffic and travel information centre (TTIC) and to the Police control room. The information collected will give the County Council the ability to set the messages on the EMS in conjunction with the Police, further extending the facilities available for the management of the transport network in the area.

Other Work in Progress 2004/05

3.3 Periodic maintenance, including a six-monthly bulk lamp change and annual electrical inspection of traffic signal junctions and pedestrians crossings, is undertaken throughout the year. Reactive maintenance is undertaken in response to reported faults, and further works may subsequently be carried out to prevent a recurrence of the fault. Obsolete and life-expired equipment is replaced, to improve the efficiency of the system or when it is no longer cost effective to repair.

4. Bridgeworks

General

4.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for inspection maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening of all existing County highway structures, together with new structures built as part of road improvements, housing schemes and industrial developments. This includes 1400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures such as retaining walls and gantries.

Funding

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

Maintenance

4.3 This 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) carry out the majority of other maintenance, though some specialist or larger schemes are awarded by tender.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

4.4 This programme was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on our roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is on-going. There remain about 25 bridges subject to interim measures, such as weight limits or monitoring, that will be strengthened over the next four or five years, funding permitting.

Road/Rail bridges

4.5 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.

Aluminium parapets

4.6 The Highways Agency have identified that aluminium vehicle parapets made by BACO, installed before 1994, are not to current standards. All such parapets on County bridges have been prioritised and a contract for their replacement or strengthening is being prepared. The timing and extent of work has not yet been finalised, but is expected the contract will be largely completed in 2004/05. Further information on individual bridges affected is given below.

2004/05 Schemes in East Hampshire

Aluminium parapets

4.7 The parapets will be replaced on Coldrey Lodge bridge on the A31 near Bentley and strengthened on River Slea bridge on the B3004, near its junction with the A325, at Sleaford. Overall contract preparation is underway and discussions with the relevant parties concerning programming and traffic management for individual bridges will follow.

5. A325 Major Maintenance Scheme

5.1 Work on stage 1, from Sleaford to Frith End, is proceeding at a satisfactory rate, and should be finished shortly.

5.2 Work on the second stage, from Frith End to Bucks Horn Oak, is programmed to start towards the end of 2004.

5.3 It is understood that the third and final stage, from Bucks Horn Oak northwards to the county boundary at Wrecclesham will be included in the 2005/6 financial year.

6. The A3 Hindhead Tunnel

6.1 The A3 Hindhead Tunnel Scheme refers to a Highways Agency proposal for a new trunk road and tunnel to bypass the village of Hindhead and to remove traffic from the present road which runs around the Devil's Punch Bowl. The majority of the published scheme (including the new grade separated junction and the twin tunnels) falls within Surrey. The only section of the scheme in Hampshire is the southern part of the route which involves new slip roads to connect to the new southern interchange. The implications for Hampshire will be the need to address the routeing of traffic to and from the southern interchange and to come forward with off-route traffic management proposals for the local roads in Grayshott Parish north and south of the scheme.

6.2 On 13 January 2004 the Executive Member for Environment agreed the following decisions. "That the Highways Agency be informed that the County Council:

(i) has no objection to the draft Orders for the A3 Hindhead bypass scheme for that part of the route which lies in Hampshire, subject to the agreement of any necessary off-route traffic management measures; and

(ii) will pursue with the Highways Agency the future of the A3 Harn Barn roundabout and welcomes the Highways Agency's assistance in designing and funding any necessary off-route traffic management measures.

6.3 The draft Orders for the scheme were published in October 2003 and a Public Inquiry will be held in commencing in June 2004 before the enquiry, the Highways Agency (HA) would like to agree in outline the off route traffic management measures to be incorporated as part of the overall scheme proposals. An officers working group (chaired by the HA consultants and others) is currently discussing the options before undertaking consultations with Members, local representatives and members of the public. It is proposed to hold local public exhibitions specifically on local road issues to gauge public opinion.

Hindhead Tunnel Diversion Routes

6.4 In the unlikely event that it is necessary to close one or both of the A3 tunnels, southbound vehicles would be diverted along the A31/A325 via Farnham. Surrey CC are concerned about the 13' 9" height restriction at the railway bridge over the Wrecclesham Road which may affect some diverted high sided vehicles. They are also worried about the impact on residential areas of volumes of HGVs.

6.5 Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Police have identified a route for such vehicles through Surrey, however Surrey County Council prefer the advisory route for large vehicles to be along A31/A32/A272 to the A3. This is felt by Hampshire County Council and the police to be of an unreasonable length for a diversion, through roads no more suitable than those recommended through Surrey. This matter is still unresolved and has been referred to the officers in our traffic management section who will meet with their Surrey counterparts.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8649/CT