Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 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 on site started in September 2004 and is due for completion 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.

Wharf Bridge, Aldershot

2.9 Two bridges carry the A325, Farnborough Road, over the Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot. Dean & Dyball completed repairs to the older bridge, a single brick arch, in May 2004. The canal, closed during the works to allow for temporary propping of the arch, was re-opened in April 2004.

Aluminium Parapets

2.10 RCS will be replacing the parapets on 11 structures in Rushmoor: six bridges and two retaining walls on the A331, northern Blackwater Valley Route, Farnborough during February to April 2005; Willems Park and Wellington Avenue subways, under the A323 in Aldershot during March 2005; and Norris (Old) bridge over the Basingstoke Canal at the Ively Road/Fleet Road roundabout during March to May 2005. The work at each site will require lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals.

2.11 For Norris bridge, as well as the replacement of the parapets, edge strengthening is needed. Discussions concerning traffic management are still on-going and further details will follow as they are finalised.

3. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme (ROUA)

North Camp, Farnborough

3.1 County Council and Rushmoor Borough Council officers are working together to develop proposals for North Camp that accord with the Local Transport Plan objectives.

3.2 The latest phase of improvements to pavements in Lynchford Road and Camp Road is complete. Detailed plans are now being finalised for the southern end of Camp Road and the well used route across the adjacent public open space. The scheme will utilise the balance of the ROUA 2001/03 programme funding for this project and will go out to tender in the summer.

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 as a result of the "working closer together" project which commenced 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 The column replacement programme for the 2004/05 year was completed by the end of February. The status of the programme for the Rushmoor area is as follows:

Denmark Square, Aldershot - works completed 14 December 2004

Rowhill Avenue, Aldershot - works completed 13 August 2004

Deadbrook Lane, Aldershot - works completed 14 December 2004

York Road, Aldershot - works completed 14 December 2004

Rowhill Crescent, Aldershot - works completed 13 August 2004

Queens Road, Farnborough - works completed 29 October 2004

Beta Road, Farnborough - works completed 29 July 2004

Pinewood Park, Farnborough - works completed 5 November 2004.

4.3 A £1.6 million programme for 2005/06 is scheduled to commence in April subject to confirmation of funding. The proposed programme for the Rushmoor area is as follows, start dates are currently being finalised:

Eastern Road, Aldershot

Farm Road, Aldershot

Blunden Road, Farnborough

Hanover Gardens, Farnborough

Brookhouse Road footpath, Farnborough

Hornbeam Close, Farnborough

Holmbrook Gardens, Farnborough

Cromwell Way, Farnborough

Fairfax Road footpath, Farnborough

Brookwood Road, Farnborough

Fernhill Lane, Farnborough

Randell Close, Farnborough

Pennine Way, Farnborough

Pentland Place, Farnborough

Mendip Road, Farnborough

Snowdon Road, Farnborough

The Findings, Farnborough

Pennine Way footpath, Farnborough.

Community Safety Initiative (CSI)

4.4 There is no CSI work being undertaken in the Rushmoor area for 2004/05 or planned for 2005/06.

Energy

4.5 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 costs are expected to be contained within the readjusted budget.

New Computer System

4.6 The new street lighting computer management system, Deadsure, became operational monitoring the street lighting maintenance contract 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 input of data make this an innovative system for the future.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Development related works carried out within the Rushmoor Borough 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 Rushmoor is as follows:

(i) A323 Ash Road near Herrett Street, Aldershot. Conversion of existing Zebra crossing to a Puffin. Works expected to start in March 2005.

(ii) New Toucan crossing at Lynchford Road, Farnborough now operating.

(iii) Refurbishment of the existing traffic signals at the junction of Queens Road and Grosvenor Road in Aldershot is to upgrade the existing pedestrian facilities. These works have been funded by Rushmoor Borough Council and will be completed by the end of March 2005.

(iv) Real-time bus passenger information (RTPI) system. The entire fleet of 84 buses in Rushmoor will be fitted with automatic vehicle location equipment and initially 22 signs installed at the bus stops along route 1. Further work will be undertaken on developing web based and mobile phone dissemination facilities. Discussions are taking place on integrating information between the Hampshire and Surrey RTPI systems.

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

(i) externally funded Puffin crossing at Minley Road, Cove; and

(ii) externally funded Puffin crossing at Solartron Road, Farnborough.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

237/BGM

APPENDIX 1

SECTION 38 WORKS