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

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Hampshire Villages Initiative;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(iii) Bridgeworks;

(iv) Development Related Works; and

(v) Recreational Cycling.

2. Hampshire Villages Initiative

2.1 There are two schemes in the Winchester City Council area programmed for 2004/05:

(i) Easton - improvements to road junction at centre of village. Initial design currently in preparation; anticipated completion - this financial year.

(ii) Hursley - improvements to the war memorial. Scheme designed and organised by the Parish Council; start imminent; anticipated completion - six weeks.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

3.1 The 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.

3.2 During 2004/05 the deployment of ITS continues to be significant and includes a large number of new traffic signals, pelican crossings, cycle crossings, real-time bus passenger information systems, car park information systems, variable message signs, bus departure information systems, etc. This has resulted in a significant increase in the scope and geographic coverage of ITS facilities in Hampshire. The increase in the deployment of ITS will mean increased traffic control facilities, and an enhanced traffic and travel information service can be provided and disseminated through the media and internet. This aspect of traffic and travel information will be further enhanced and integrated locally on a sub-regional basis through close working with the City Councils on the Solent Transport Initiative.

3.3 An important role of the ITS Group is the maintenance and operation of the traffic control and other associated on-street ITS equipment. The majority of the traffic signals and pelican crossings report faults automatically through to the traffic and travel information centre in Winchester and all sites are visited regularly to inspect the condition of the equipment. Any faults are then reported to the appropriate maintenance contractor for remedial action and repairs. Sites are refurbished or replaced through the revenue budget to ensure that equipment is operating in a safe and effective manner and complies with currents standards and regulations.

3.4 It is likely that the provisions contained in the secondary powers of the Traffic Management Act will place greater emphasis on the role of the ITS Group, as the requirements for monitoring and improving the operation of the highway network will place greater responsibilities on the County Council.

3.5 Schemes proposed for implementation during 2004/05 within Winchester are discussed in other papers presented at this meeting. No major maintenance works are planned in Winchester for 2004/05.

4. Bridgeworks

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. Raynesway Construction Southern (RCS) carry out the majority of maintenance through a term maintenance contract. Some specialist works, such as graffiti removal, and larger schemes, such as bridge replacements, are awarded by tender.

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.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

4.3 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.

Road/Rail Interfaces

4.4 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

4.5 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 has just started. Further information on individual bridges affected is given below.

2004/05 Schemes in Winchester

4.6 Garnier No. 1 Bridge, Winchester

This bridge, which carries Garnier Road over a branch of the River Itchen, is severely corroded and is at present over-spanned by a temporary structure. This allows access to the existing Hampshire Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), avoiding the low headroom of the disused railway bridge at the east end of Garnier Road. Design and consultation for a replacement bridge is under way, but construction cannot start until after the opening of the new HWRC at Bar End, programmed for 1 December 2004. The earliest date for start on site is therefore January 2005, after the Christmas/New Year break.

4.7 Ludwells Bridge, Waltham Chase

This bridge carries the C118, Lower Chase Road, over a tributary of the River Hamble, between Waltham Chase and Swanmore. It is sub-standard for load carrying capacity and design of a replacement is under way. A road closure will be needed for the works and further details, particularly with regard to timing and traffic management, will follow as the scheme develops.

4.8 Maddoxford Bridge, Boorlev Green

This bridge carries the U198, Maddoxford Lane, over Ford Lake between Boorley Green and Curdridge. It is sub-standard for load carrying capacity and a strengthening scheme is being prepared. A road closure will be needed for the works, which are programmed for this financial year, and further details will follow as design and consultation progresses.

4.9 Bowlake No. 1 Bridge, Stoke Common

This bridge carries the C117, Bishopstoke Lane, over Bow Lake between Bishopstoke and Brambridge. The existing reinforced concrete arch is in very poor condition, with severe corrosion and spalling, and it will be replaced with a new brick arch. A road closure will be needed for the works, which are programmed for later this financial year, and further details will follow as they are finalised.

4.10 St Cross Tunnel, Winchester

This bridge carries the B3335, St Cross Road, over the Southampton/Waterloo railway line, just north of Bushfield roundabout. Following the Selby accident in 2001, all road/rail interfaces in Hampshire have been assessed and prioritised, in accordance with Central Government guidance. This has shown that the potential risk to safety at St Cross tunnel is amongst the highest in the county. To address this issue, safety fencing will be installed in front of the existing parapets, together with minor realignment of the carriageway and eastern footway. Work on site started on 26 July and is due to finish in October 2004. Single lane traffic controlled by signals is in operation 24 hours a day during the works.

4.11 Aluminium Parapets

The parapets will be replaced on six structures in the Winchester area: five bridges on the A31, Alresford and Bishop's Sutton bypass and Ridgeway subway, Badger Farm, Winchester. Work on the Alresford bypass is programmed for 27 September to 1 November 2004 and Ridgeway subway will be programmed for later in 2004/05. Single lane traffic controlled by temporary signals will be in operation during the works.

4.12 The parapets were due to be strengthened on the Battery subway under the A3090, Badger Farm Road, Winchester. However, the Highways Agency has advised that strengthening is no longer an approved option and therefore complete replacement will be needed. Due to the extra costs involved this has been deferred to the next financial year.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Works within Winchester currently being carried out under Section 38 Agreements are detailed in Appendix 1.

5.2 External funding and schemes relevant to that funding are detailed in Appendix 2.

6. Recreational Cycling

6.1 The Environment Department, in partnership with the Recreation and Heritage Department, administers the county-wide Recreational Cycling infrastructure programme, which currently has an allocation of £100,000 from the Transport Capital programme. The principle of supporting the programme has been approved by the Executive Member for Environment, resulting from an earlier review of the Recreational Cycling Strategy (2002-06). This concluded that the prioritisation of the Strategy's delivery in both cycling promotion and facility delivery has considerable potential to assist the implementation of the County Council's Local Transport Plan and Road Traffic Reduction cycle use targets (now under review). The infrastructure programme concentrates on the delivery of important links in the county-wide recreational network. The programme also aims to contribute to the delivery of the National Cycle Route (NCN) and the National Byway, thus giving increased opportunities for cycle use both within Hampshire and linking to strategic networks developed by neighbouring authorities.

2004/05 Schemes in Winchester Area

National Cycle Network Route 12 - Basingstoke to Alton and New Alresford

6.2 This project proposes to extend the existing NCN south from Basingstoke to Alton and New Alresford. This will provide opportunities for an increase in cycling in this area, leading to increased cycle trips to school, work and for leisure.

6.3 The overall project comprises three separate schemes, all of which are budgeted for in the 2004/05 recreational cycling budget. These are as follows:

(i) Chawton Park Wood, improvements to bridleway - estimated cost £40,000;

(ii) Hatch Warren Lane/Woods Lane link scheme, Basingstoke - estimated cost £16,000; and

(iii) scheme signing - estimated cost £12,000.

6.4 These proposals have been developed in partnership with Winchester City Council, East Hampshire District Council, Forest Enterprise, Sustrans and local cycle user groups, including Hampshire Cycling and the East Hampshire Cyclists Forum.

6.5 Public consultation on the proposals has been completed. All responses to the consultation have been generally supportive. One specific objection relating to the routeing of the NCN through Chawton Park Farm and Wood was addressed by the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage at his decision day meeting on 15 June 2004. A joint Project Appraisal report was presented to the Executive Members for Environment and Spatial Strategy on 12 October 2004. The proposed delivery date is February/March 2005.

Other Recreational Cycling Schemes

6.6 Other recreational cycling schemes in the current year's programme of benefit to cycling in the Winchester district are:

(i) National Byway Route (Winchester to Cirencester)

The National Byway is a signed leisure cycle route around Britain focusing on places of interest and heritage. In 1999, the first National Byway route in England was opened forming a 153 miles route between Winchester-Shaftesbury-Winchester. Since then, the network has grown to some 4,000 miles across the country. In partnership with the National Byway, Wiltshire County Council and South Gloucestershire Council, a new National Byway route is proposed for opening between Winchester and Cirencester in 2004/05. Much of this route is already signed in Hampshire by the existing route, and so additional signing will be kept to a minimum. The proposed route follows the existing signed Winchester-Shaftesbury route, via Kings Somborne and Stockbridge to Houghton. The new route will then head through Broughton, the Wallops, Grateley and Fyfield before meeting the Hampshire/Wiltshire border just north of Appleshaw.

Cost of Scheme: £5,000 (from the 2004/05 recreational cycling budget)

Expected construction start date: February/March 2005.

(ii) Wickham to Fareham Phase 1 (improvements to bridleway 82)

Bridleway 82 forms an important link of an off-road recreational route between the Wickham to Fareham disused railway line and the Henry Cort School. Although usage is high, the current condition of this bridleway is poor, the upper flat section is frequently muddy, and the sloped section can be particularly slippery in wet weather for all user groups - walkers, cyclists and horseriders. The proposed scheme at a cost of £6,000 will upgrade the facility and is expected to start construction before the end of 2004.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8978/CT