Contact: Chris Lait, tel 01329 824485 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

North Access to Havant Railway Station

2.1 As previously reported, after a period of some uncertainty about the availability of external funds, a partnership approach to environmental improvements on the north side of the station is again being discussed with South West Trains. Discussions include consideration of the emerging options for refurbishment of the public footbridge, completion of cycling facilities at the station and town centre enhancements in an effort to secure a comprehensive improvement of the area agreed by the key stakeholders.

Town Centre, Havant

2.2 The Regeneration of Older Urban Areas 2003-2005 programme includes a budget allocation of £50,000 for technical studies in Havant town centre. The town centre is also highlighted in the recent award of Government's Liveability Bid funding to the Borough Council. A series of stakeholder workshops is now being planned with the Borough Council to clarify the scope of these, and other, initiatives in the town centre, the area of focus, and the full range of issues and priorities. The intention remains to provide a long term planning and design framework that will support social, economic and environmental regeneration of the town centre. The Liveability Bid award will now allow those environmental improvement projects in support of the framework to come forward more quickly.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems

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 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.

Capital Programme 2004/05

3.3 (i) Havant Bus Station already has the core of the Bus Departure

Information system installed and the information display screens will be installed in 2004;

(ii) Stakes Road Puffin Crossing is in the design stage; and

(iii) Petersfield Road, Havant is in the design stage.

Other Work in Progress 2004/05

3.4 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 1,400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures such as retaining walls and gantries.

Funding

4.2 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.

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 jobs 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 five or six 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 commenced. 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 that the contract will be largely completed in 2004/05. Further information on individual bridges affected is given below.

2004/05 Schemes in Havant

Havant North Street Bridge

4.7 This culvert, of varying types of construction, runs for approximately 260 metres under Prince George's Street, North Street and Elm Lane in Havant town centre. An inspection by the `confined spaces' team identified some areas in poor condition and it is planned to repair these in summer 2004. This will avoid clashing with the bus diversions associate with refurbishment of Havant Bus Station. Extensive consultations are ongoing and further details, such as timing and traffic management, will follow.

Park House Farm Way Bridge

4.8 This bridge carries Park House Farm Way over the Hermitage Stream near the two schools. It is sub-standard for load carrying capacity and design of a replacement is underway. Works are planned to start on site at the end of July 2004, to take advantage of the school holidays. Details of traffic management are still to be discussed and finalised but it is possible single land traffic controlled by signals will be required.

Farringdon Road Bridge

4.9 This bridge carries Farringdon Road over the River Lavant near the Marsh Plant depot. It is sub-standard for load carrying capacity and a deck replacement has been designed, with work on site planned for April to August 2004. The scheme will be built by RCS, maintenance contractor, and will require a road closure with a signed diversion.

Aluminium Parapets

4.10 Two bridge in Havant are included in the programme for aluminium parapet replacement, Hambledon Road Subway under A3 near Waterlooville town centre and Hermitage East bridge that carries the B2149, West Street over the Hermitage Stream. Contract preparation is underway and discussions with the relevant parties concerning timing and traffic management will follow.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8686/CL