Archived decisions

Contact: Brian Millen, tel 01256 764444 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

This report details the programme for:

(i) Bridgeworks;

(ii) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas;

(iii) Street Lighting;

(iv) Development Related Works; and

(v) Intelligent Transport Systems.

2. Bridgeworks 2004/05 and 2005/06

Scope

2.1 This programme summarises:

(i) schemes completed in 2004/05;

(ii) schemes started in 2004/05, but carrying over into 2005/06; and

(iii) schemes due to start in 2005/06.

Introduction

General

2.2 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for all existing County highway structures, together with new structures built as part of road works, housing and industrial schemes. This covers inspection, maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening.

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

Funding

2.4 Most work on bridges 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

2.5 This programme was brought about by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is on-going.

Road/Rail Interfaces

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

Aluminium Parapets

2.7 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 has been awarded for their replacement to RCS. Work started in September 2004 and is due to be completed in March 2005. Details for individual bridges are given below.

Structural Painting

2.8 A contract is being prepared for structural painting and details on bridges affected will follow, as they are finalised.

Malthouse Bridge, Church Crookham

2.9 This Grade II listed brick arch, that carries The Street over the Basingstoke Canal at Church Crookham, has a 7.5 tonne weight limit and restricted width, particularly for pedestrians. In April 2004 a handrail was provided on the north parapet of the bridge and a contract has just been awarded to Mildren Construction for a new steel footbridge to the south of the road bridge. Work commenced in February and is due to finish in April 2005. The road over the bridge and the towpath under the bridge will be closed during the works, with signed diversions in place.

Crondall Road Retaining Wall, Crookham

2.10 This retaining wall supports the C46 Crondall Road on the west side of a branch of the River Hart, just north of the A287. The wall has been undercut in several areas and an order has been placed for repairs with a specialist contractor, SSE Limited. Work was due to be completed early March 2005.

Road/Rail Interfaces

2.11 Protective measures are being considered for the lengths of Elvetham Road, C401, that run close to the Southampton/Waterloo railway line, west of Fleet Station. Network Rail and other interested parties are being consulted, and details of timing and traffic management will follow.

Aluminium Parapets

2.12 RCS replaced parapets on four bridges in the Hart area during November and December 2004: Coxheath Road bridge over the Basingstoke Canal in Church Crookham, and three bridges on the A287 Odiham Bypass.

3. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas

Town Centre, Yateley

3.1 Detailed proposals are now under development for a first phase of improvements in Yateley, utilising funding from the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas 2003/05 programme, the Local Transport Plan and other sources. The scheme is integral to the emerging Yateley Village Design Framework.

3.2 The scheme for the Church End Green area of Yateley town centre was displayed at consultation workshops in November 2003 and September 2004. The proposals received a good level of support. Further consultation on the construction details will be undertaken during the spring with an anticipated start date of autumn 2005.

4. Street Lighting

Maintenance

4.1 The maintenance contract continues to provide over 99% of all street lights on at any one time with performance levels improving since the change to "working days". The maintenance contract was originally measured in calendar days and this has been changed to Monday to Friday, or `working days'. Further improvements are anticipated when the `Working Closer Together' project commences in early March 2005. This project will see the present street lighting team being split into two new sections: Corporate and Contract Delivery. The Contract Delivery team will be embedded with the Contractor, Southern Electric Contracting, at its offices in Cosham and Basingstoke.

Column Replacement

4.2 There are no schemes scheduled for completion in 2005/06 in the Hart area.

Community Safety Initiative (CSI)

4.3 The CSI programme for 2004/05 is nearing completion but has been affected by a number of late withdrawals. The present status of the programme in the Hart area is as follows:

Potley Hill Phase 2, Yateley - scheme withdrawn by Town Council.

The draft 2005/06 programme for the Hart area is as follows, subject to Executive Member approval:

Potley Hill Phase 2.

Energy

4.4 Following the start of the new supply contract in April 2004, consumption has tended to rise at a higher rate than expected. The reason for the unexpected rise in the early part of the year has been investigated but no clear explanation has arisen. However this trend has now reduced and energy is expected to be contained within the readjusted budget.

New Computer System

4.5 The new street lighting computer management system, Deadsure, designed to monitor the street lighting maintenance contract, became operational on 10 February 2005. The new system was required as the previous system, SLIMs, was mainframe-based and the mainframe is due to be switched off at the end of March 2005. There are still a number of problems to resolve but the inclusion of the street lighting GIS database and the expectation of the web browser and mobile field based operational returns make this an innovative system for the future.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Development related works carried out within the Hart District Council area by Hampshire Highways are set out in Appendix 1. Details of external funding and schemes relevant to that funding held by the County Council's Development Control section are detailed in Appendix 2.

6. Intelligent Transport Systems Group (ITS)

6.1 The ITS Group of the Environment Department manages the feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. In 2004/05 ITS deployment has reached significant levels, increasing the amount of on-street ITS equipment operated and maintained by the Group. The Traffic Management Act and the Local Transport Plan have placed further responsibility on the Group for the monitoring of, and improvement to, the operation of the highway network.

6.2 Progress on schemes during 2004/05 within Hart is as follows:

(i) As part of environmental improvements in Fleet town centre, the three existing Pelican crossings are to be relocated and changed to Puffins, with one additional Puffin crossing to be located near Church Road. The detailed designs are ongoing and the scheme will be delivered in 2005/06.

(ii) New Puffin crossing at Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney. This scheme, which had been delayed due to complications relating to Common Land issues, is now expected to be progressed during 2005/06.

(iii) The CCTV installation in Blackwater became operational in January 2005. A camera located on the A30 London Road, opposite the junction with Vicarage Road, is now being used for monitoring traffic conditions on the A30 and will form part of the Hampshire ROMANSE network.

(iv) Modifications to the traffic signals at the Hawley Lane, Fernhill crossroads near Blackwater to provide a separate right turn stage for traffic turning south into Fernhill Road. Anti skid surfacing will also be provided as part of these works, which are being carried out in response to a deteriorating accident record at the junction. These works are scheduled for completion during March 2005.

6.3 The following schemes are proposed for implementation during 2005/06:

(i) new, externally funded Toucan crossing at Dunleys Hill, North Warnborough; and

(ii) part of the traffic signal junction at Blackwater requires minor works to repair the no right turn signal. This work will require the repair of a duct.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

236/BGM