How do we prioritise structural maintenance works?
Surveys
We carry out regular inspections of the whole network using technical surveys. Machine based surveys are now used on ‘A’ class (principal) roads and 'B' and 'C' class classified roads. The SCANNER machine that does these surveys travels at the speed of normal traffic. On the unclassified network we use a survey method called Coarse Visual Inspection (CVI). All surveys are carried out to Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines and measure surface defects such as rut depth, cracking, profile and texture depth.
How do we use the information?
We use the data to identify the worst sections of road and then carry out further visual assessments to prioritise works. This may result in a cheaper maintenance method such as surface dressing being used at an early stage when defects are less obvious.
Why prioritise at all?
The amount of structural maintenance work that needs to be done over the network exceeds the funding available.
How do we decide what treatment is appropriate?
Much of the information comes from the technical surveys. For example, if wheel rutting is the main problem then the solution will need to be either reconstruction or more likely resurfacing. Surface dressing will only solve minor carriageway cracking and texture depth problems.
Where does the money come from for this work?
The council receives a capital settlement from the Department for Transport (DfT) every year. This sets out the amount the council can spend on improvement (integrated transport) and maintenance work. The DfT identifies amounts against both of these blocks although the council does not have to follow this split or spend all the settlement amount. The settlement is a mixture of grant and authorised borrowing. The borrowing has to be paid back over a number of years and the cost of this is included in the council’s budget.
What are the different treatments that we use?
Because this is structural maintenance the treatments need to extend the life of the road or footway. The treatments we use are:
- Reconstruction work (rebuilding from bottom up).
- Resurfacing (planing off and replacing surfacing - often 40mm or 100mm depth).
- Overlay (laying another layer on top of existing- again often 40mm or greater).
- Thin surfacing, usually surface dressing, but there are other thin proprietary treatments.
How can you get works done to your road?
Ring the Highways Hotline (0845 609 6609) providing details and location of the works you think are required.