Roads and Highway Maintenance - Programme of Structural Surveys

Description

The Council are responsible for the maintenance of safe carriageways and footways in its area, with the exception of some trunk roads and all motorways, which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency, and privately maintained streets.

Highways and Engineering Inspectors carry out regular safety inspections in accordance with a National Code of Practice to all the roads and footways for which it is responsible.

Identified safety defects are repaired on a reactive basis and on a planned basis. Safety related repairs (such as potholes) are done reactively from calls to the highways "defect hotline" and on a planned basis following monthly and annual inspections. The Council's "in-house" contractor - Engineering Services, undertakes this work. Where a road or footway reaches a state where it is uneconomical to approach repairs in this way, a more significant repair may be done, such as, large areas of patching. If the state of the road or footway is such that this secondary treatment equally becomes excessive the location is referred to engineers in the Council's Network Management department for full assessment.

This detailed inspection establishes the treatment required and it's ranking for programming purposes. This is done by use of a borough-wide scoring mechanism. This put's each location in context with other roads and footways referred on a Borough-wide basis. Works can then be prioritised into "Worst First" and the programme subject to appropriate funding is submitted and approved by the Council's cabinet on an annual basis.

The information is then relayed to the public at area forum meetings informing them of what, where and how much is to be done each year.

Eligibility

All road users, may refer streets for inspection or to report a defect.

Procedure

Defects in the highway should be reported as soon as possible to Highways and Engineering to enable action to be taken to rectify defects that may cause accident or injury.

Helplines

Highways and Engineering General Enquiries, telephone: 01226 773555.

Highways Agency roads (Consulting Engineers acting on their behalf) - Carillion WSP, telephone: 01924 224 124.

Opening Times/Locations

Opening Times and Locations

How can the customer help

We require as much of the following information as possible to respond to your request:

• Street name and locality
• Location of defect on street for example, is it near a house or numbered lighting column or road junction?
• Description and detail of defect, is it footway or road?
• Your name and contact number
• Date defect first noticed

Application form references

Information on Roadworks

Leaflets

An information leaflet 'Statement of Service Standards' has been prepared by the Highways and Engineering Service.

Legislation

Highways Act 1980.

Response Times/Next Steps

Should the road or footway have deteriorated since the last routine inspection, temporary repairs will be carried out and the location referred back for assessment as described above.

The Council will endeavour to carry out temporary repairs for safety related defects within 48 hours of receipt of a report, with access to any potentially dangerous sites sealed off if a temporary repair cannot be completed.

Out of Hours Procedure

The Highways and Engineering Helpline number is available 24 hours a day.

Owner Officer Contact Details

Highways and Engineering General Enquiries, telephone: 01226 773555.

Highways Agency roads (Consulting Engineers acting on their behalf) - Carillion WSP, telephone: 01924 224 124.