Contact: Brian Millen, tel 01256 76444 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems; and

(iii) Bridgeworks.

2. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas

2.1 There are ROUA schemes taking place in Basingstoke, however they have minimal impact on the highway.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems Group

3.1 The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group 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, etc will be enhanced. Works within the current capital programme are referred to in Agency item 6A (Progress Update on Schemes in the Capital Programme).

Other Work in Progress 2004/05

3.2 Periodic maintenance, including a six-monthly bulk lamp change and annual electrical inspection of traffic signal junctions and pedestrian 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 1,400 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 Interfaces

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 has 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 it is expected the contract will be largely completed in 2004/05. Further information on individual bridges affected is given below.

2004/05 Bridgeworks Programme

4.7 This programme is still being finalised, particularly with respect to timing, and updated details will follow.

2004/05 Schemes in Basingstoke

Rucstalls Flyover, Basingstoke

4.8 This three-span reinforced concrete bridge carries Old Common Road/ Black Dam Way over the A30, Ringway South. A contract for strengthening the bridge has been awarded to Dyer and Butler and work started on site in January, with completion due in June 2004. The road over the bridge is closed to vehicles, with a signed diversion in place, but access for pedestrians and cyclists is being maintained. Temporary lane closures on the A30 are restricted to off-peak hours to minimise disruption.

Broadford No. 1 Bridge, Stratfield Saye

4.9 This bridge carries the C80 over the River Loddon near Stratfield Saye and is subject to a temporary weight limit. A contract for bridge replacement has been awarded to Rocon Construction, with work programmed for late February to May 2004. The road will be closed for the duration of the works, with a signed diversion in place.

Courseford Bridge, Plastow Green

4.10 This bridge carries the U3, Union Lane, over Kingsclere Brook at Plastow Green and is sub-standard for load carrying capacity. A contract for replacing this bridge has been awarded to Nuttalls; work started on site in January with completion due in May 2004. The road is closed for the duration of the works, with a signed diversion in place.

Knights Little Bridge, near Headley

4.11 This bridge carries the A339, which was detrunked in April 2003, over the River Enbourne near Headley on the Hampshire/Berkshire border. Following detrunking it was identified that the bridge was in need of repair and a successful bid for extra funding was made via the LTP. It is proposed to replace the verge sections of the deck, waterproof the whole deck and install new parapets and safety fences. Further details, particularly with regard to timing and traffic management, will follow as design and consultation progresses.

Ship Inn Footbridge, Ashford Hill

4.12 A new length of footpath is being provided on the east side of the B3051, between the Post Office and Ashford Hill village. This will include a new footbridge over the stream adjacent to the existing road bridge. Design and consultation is under way and it is hoped to start work on site in summer 2004.

Green Way Footbridge, Basingstoke

4.13 This footbridge crosses the B3400, Churchill Way West, between the West Ham and Worting Road roundabouts. The footbridge is not to current standards, particularly with respect to ease of access, and will need fairly extensive maintenance over the next few years. As part of the Gabriel Park to West Ham Leisure Centre cycle route, a Toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is to be installed on the B3400 adjacent to the footbridge.

4.14 It has therefore been decided to demolish the footbridge, once the Toucan crossing is in place. Consultations about the overall scheme are ongoing and it is hoped to start on site in spring 2004.

Aluminium Parapets

4.15 The parapets will be replaced on seven structures in the Basingstoke area; two bridges and four subways in Basingstoke Town and Long bridge on the A33 at Sherfield-on-Loddon. Overall contract preparation is under way and discussions with the relevant parties concerning programming and traffic management for individual bridges will follow.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8601/BGM