Outline of-the Management of Bridges and other Highway Structures

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Inspections
3. Data Storage and the Bridge Management System (BMS)
4. Maintenance
1. Programming Maintenance Works
2. Minor Maintenance
3. Reactive and Emergency Works
4. Major Maintenance, Strengthening and Replacement
5. Highay Structures !ned and Maintained "y #hird $arties
1. The Load earing !"ligations o# $et%ork Rail and ritish Water%ays
%. Managing Structures that &ause 'estrictions on the Highay
1. Weight Restrictions
&. 'eight Restrictions
(. Width Restrictions
(. #echnica) *ppro+a) and &ommuted Sums
1. Technical )pproval
&. *omm+ted S+ms
,. *"norma) -oad Mo+ements and the *ssessment o. Structures.
1. )"normal Load Movements
&. ES,)L
(. The )ssessment o# Str+ct+res
/. #he Management o. Bridges !n and 0ear the District Boundaries
11. 2uture Bridge Management 'e3uirements
1
1. Introduction.
#here are in e4cess o. one thousand highay structures in the District. #hese inc)ude
"ridges5 retaining a))s5 cu)+erts5 sign ganrtries and pedestrian su"ays.
0ot a)) o. these structures are oned "y the &ounci)5 some are oned "y other
organisations such as 0etor6 'ai) and British 7aterays hoe+er as the Highay
*uthority the &ounci) has a duty to ensure they are a)) maintained in a sa.e and .unctiona)
condition.
#his the &ounci) achie+es "y emp)oying the .o))oing procedures.
8nderta6ing routine inspections to ensure pu")ic sa.ety and identi.y maintenance
needs.
8nderta6ing minor maintenance or6s identi.ied "y routine inspections.
$rogramming and e4ecuting maintenance or6 to minimise incon+enience to the
tra+e))ing pu")ic.
8nderta6ing reacti+e and emergency repairs resu)ting .rom tra..ic accidents and
+ehic)e damage.
8nderta6ing ma9or maintenance and rep)acement or6s here structures ha+e
reached the end o. their ser+ice )i.e.
Imposing protection measures such as eight restrictions and tra..ic signa)s on
ea6 or impaired "ridges.
'etaining structures data and in.ormation on a comprehensi+e computerised
data"ase.
&hec6ing the suita"i)ity and construction o. a)) ne highay structures through
the #echnica) *ppro+a)s process.
:nsuring "ridges oned "y other organisations are maintained in a sa.e condition.
Managing the sa.e mo+ement o. o+ersi;ed or o+ereight +ehic)es 6non as
<a"norma) )oads= through the district.
$redicting .uture aspirations .or highay structures through consu)tation and
.easi"i)ity studies.
2
2. Insections
Highay Structures are routine)y inspected to ensure they remain sa.e .or pu")ic use. #he
inspections a)so pro+ide the data re3uired to support good management practice in
accordance ith the 'oad -iaison >roup=s document? Management o. Highay
Structures5 * &ode o. $ractice.
Maintenance or6 to &ounci) oned structures is identi.ied "y inspection and p)aced in
the or6s program according to priority.
Structures oned and maintained "y other organisations such as 0etor6 'ai)5 and
British 7aterays are a)so inspected and any outstanding maintenance or6s noti.ied to
the organisation concerned.
*)) highay structures are routine)y inspected in the .o))oing cyc)e?
$rincipa) Inspection carried out not at inter+a)s not greater than si4 years.
* c)ose e4amination ithin touching distance o. a))
accessi")e parts o. the structure. Specia)ised access
e3uipment may "e re3uired.
>enera) Inspection carried out not more than 2 years .o))oing the pre+ious
>enera) or $rincipa) Inspection.
* +isua) e4amination o. a)) parts o. the structure here
specia) access e3uipment is not re3uired.
Super.icia) Inspection carried out not more than 2 years .o))oing the pre+ious
Super.icia) on a)) pri+ate structures.
* +isua) e4amination o. a)) parts o. pri+ate structures here
specia) access e3uipment is not re3uired.
'outine Sur+ei))ance genera) sur+ei))ance "y Highays Inspectors as part o.
regu)ar Highay Sa.ety Inspections.
* +isua) e4amination identi.ying o"+ious de.ects re3uiring
urgent attention e.g. damage to parapets5 superstructure5
9oints.
#he .o))oing inspections are carried out a.ter one o. the a"o+e inspections has identi.ied
certain de.ects?
Sa.ety Inspections carried out a.ter routine sur+ei))ance or a.ter in.ormation is
recei+ed that indicates the structure is damaged.
3
Inspections .or *ssessment carried out a.ter a particu)ar de.ect is identi.ied in a
pre+ious inspection that may a..ect the structures )oad
carrying capacity.
Specia) Inspection carried out a.ter a particu)ar de.ect is identi.ied in a
pre+ious inspection or e+ent e.g. .)ooding5 scour5 +ehic)e
impact damage.
*cceptance Inspections carried out due to a trans.er o. responsi"i)ity.
4
!. "ata Storage and the Bridge Management System
* computerised data"ase is maintained hich contains in.ormation a"out "ridges and
other highay structures inc)uding in.ormation a"out their condition at the time o. their
)ast inspection. #he data"ase i)) a)so compare the condition o. any one structure to the
condition o. the other structures there"y ena")ing maintenance or6s to "e prioritised and
target the structures in the poorest condition.
Stri+ing to achie+e the standards o. *sset Management and $er.ormance Measurement o.
Highay Structures recommended in the recent)y pu")ished &ode o. $ractice and
re.erred to in the &ounci)=s -#$2 document is essentia).
5
#. Maintenance
4.1. Programming Maintenance Works.
7hen programming maintenance or6 care is ta6en to minimise incon+enience to the
tra+e))ing pu")ic "y?
Se)ecting a repair method or techni3ue that i)) cause minima) o"struction o. the
highay.
$ro+iding tra..ic management appropriate to the type o. road and e4pected tra..ic
.)os.
$rogramming or6s ith regard to other road or6s in the area and the
a+ai)a"i)ity o. di+ersion routes.
4.2. Minor Maintenance
#he "ridge inspection regime is the main source o. in.ormation identi.ying the routine
maintenance re3uirements o. the structures stoc6.
#here are comp)e4 .ormu)ae ithin the Bridge Management System that prioritise the
maintenance or6s identi.ied "y the routine inspections and .rom this an annua)
programme o. maintenance or6 is dran up. #ypica) minor or6s are repointing and
"ric6or6 repairs5 the repair and rep)acement o. handrai)s and parapets5 repairs to
protecti+e coatings and the repair or rep)acement o. e4pansion 9oints.
>ra..iti is remo+ed .rom structures i. it is considered to "e o..ensi+e or unsight)y.
Su"ays most common)y .a)) +ictim to gra..iti and to counter this most o. them ha+e
"een painted ith anti@gra..iti paint and are inspected and c)eaned on a month)y "asis.
4.3. Reactive and Emergency Repairs.
Aehic)e co))isions can se+ere)y damage highay structures and )ea+e them in an unsa.e
condition. In the orst cases this resu)ts in temporary road c)osures and di+ersions unti)
the necessary repairs can "e made.
4.4. Major maintenance, Strengthening and Repacement.
*s a structure approaches the end o. its design )i.e or ser+ice )i.e it i)) usua))y "ecome
uneconomica) to repair and i)) re3uire rep)acement. * structure may a)so "ecome due
.or rep)acement i. it represents a restriction to the highay through "eing5 .or e4amp)e5
too narro5 under strength or unsuita")e .or disa")ed use.
'ecent)y &omp)eted Bridge 'ep)acement and Strengthening Schemes?
!ngoing Bridge 'ep)acement and Strengthening Schemes?
%
$. Highway Structures Owned and Maintained %y &hird 'arties.
Structures on highays may "e oned and maintained "y third parties. 0etor6 'ai)5 the
Highays *gency5 the :n+ironment *gency5 British 7aterays5 )oca) )and oners and
"usinesses a)) on "ridges and structures that a..ect the highay in some ay.
'outine <Super.icia)= inspections o. these structures are underta6en to ensure they are
maintained in a condition that i)) not endanger the tra+e))ing pu")ic. #he &ounci) i))
noti.y the "ridge oner i. a "ridge is .ound to "e in a dangerous condition and ta6e
en.orcement action i. the oner .ai)s to ta6e remedia) action.
!.1. "he oad #earing o#igations o$ %et&ork Rai and 'ritish Water&ays.
Most o. the "ridges that ha+e eight restrictions are oned "y either 0etor6 'ai) or
British 7aterays. Due to an anoma)y in highay )egis)ation these organisations ha+e a
)ega) o")igation to maintain their "ridges to 24 tonnes to an o)d assessment standard
6non as B:4. Hoe+er the permissi")e ma4imum eight o. +ehic)es using the highay
is current)y 41 tonnes. #he Highay *uthority is re3uired to assess the strength o.
"ridges to a more modern standard than B:4 6non as BD21B11. #his is more onerous
than B:4 hence some 0etor6 'ai) and British 7aterays "ridges ha+e eight
restrictions on them )ess than 24 tonnes.
0etor6 'ai)=s "ridges ere recent)y assessed 9oint)y ith 0etor6 'ai) in accordance
ith a protoco) agreed nationa))y "eteen #he &ounty Sur+eyorCs Society and 0etor6
'ai) .or the protection o. 0etor6 'ai)=s "ridges.
!nership strengthening o. strategica))y important "ridges has "een ta6en o+er "y the
)oca) authority.
(
(. Managing Structures that cause )estrictions to the Highway
#here are three ays in hich "ridges can restrict or impair highay usage5
eight restrictions5 height restrictions5 and idth restrictions.
(.1. Weight Restrictions
#here are to types or eight restriction5 en+ironmenta) and structura). :n+ironmenta)
restrictions are app)ied to )engths o. road that are unsuita")e to carry hea+y +ehic)es and
are not re)ated to "ridges. Structura) eight restrictions are app)ied speci.ica))y to protect
ea6 "ridges.
Most o. "ridges ith eight restrictions are oned "y 0etor6 'ai) and British
7aterays. #his is .or the reasons e4p)ained in paragraph !.1. "he oad #earing
o#igations o$ %et&ork Rai and 'ritish Water&ays. #hese "ridges are a)) on minor roads
and the eight restrictions ha+e no signi.icant a..ect on +ehic)e mo+ements and ou)d "e
o. no "ene.it to strengthen due to the restriction on the sing "ridge.
(.2. )eight *or )eadroom+ Restrictions
#he standard minimum c)earance o+er e+ery part o. the carriageay o. a pu")ic highay
is 1% .eet si4 inches (5.13 metres). Height restrictions are managed "y the pro+ision o.
ad+ance arning signs on routes )eading to the "ridge and statutory signs at the "ridge.
#here are more technica))y ad+anced arning methods a+ai)a")e .or "ridges that are
repeated)y struc6 "y high +ehic)es. #hese are usua))y insta))ed at the "ehest o. 0etor6
'ai)5 hoe+er they can "e pro")ematic and there are current)y no "ridges in 7est
Ber6shire that arrant their use.
>enera))y the cost inhi"its raising the headroom under any o. the 0etor6 'ai) oned
structures. #here has5 in the past5 "een re3uests .or the demo)ition o. "oth &ompton and
Marston 'oad disused "ridges hoe+er pu")ic opinion is current)y opposed to this as the
"ridges are no percei+ed to "e per.orming important tra..ic management .unctions.
(.3. Width Restrictions
#here are +arious ays o. managing idth restrictions to the highay caused "y narro
"ridges. #he most suita")e method i)) depend on +arious site conditions such as the
se+erity o. the restriction5 tra..ic .)os and sight )ines. 0arro "ridges may restrict either
the carriageay idth or .ootay idths. I. tra..ic .)os and sight )ines a))o priority
tra..ic signs are usua))y the pre.erred option. !n "usier roads or here sa.ety is a concern
tra..ic signa)s are used.
.
,
*. &echnical +ro,al and Commuted Sums
,.1 "echnica -pprova
#he Highay *uthority ensures that a)) structures hich are constructed o+er5 under or
ne4t to the pu")ic highay are constructed to an accepta")e standard "y re3uiring them to
achie+e <#echnica) *ppro+a)=. Some highay structures may remain in pri+ate onership
"ut in most cases the highay aut9hority i)) <adopt= or ta6e onership o. the ne
structures. In either instance #echnica) *ppro+a) is re3uired.
In norma) circumstances on)y structures that are a necessary part o. the highay and
constructed on highay )and i)) "e considered .or adoption. #hese may inc)ude road
"ridges5 pu")ic .oot"ridges5 cu)+erts5 retaining a))s that support the highay and sign
gantries. 7hen the highay authority agrees to adopt a structure an adoption *greement
i)) "e dran up.
Structures that remain in pri+ate onership re3uire #echnica) *ppro+a) on)y. #hese may
inc)ude pri+ate road "ridges and .oot"ridges o+er the highay5 retaining a))s more than
1.5 metres high a"o+e ground )e+e) that support property or )and ad9acent to the highay5
support structures .or pipes and con+eyers hich cross the highay5 "asements hich
support the highay5 parts o. "ui)dings hich cross or o+erhang the highay5 temporary
structures intended .or pu")ic use etc. $ri+ate structures hich cross the highay a)so
re3uire a )icence hich i)) "e dran up "y the highay authority.
,.2 .omm/ted S/ms
7hen the highay authority is re3uired to adopt a ne structure .rom a pri+ate enterprise
or de+e)oper it i)) usua))y re3uire them to pay a <&ommuted Sum=. #he commuted sum
is e3ua) to the costs the authority may e4pect to incur .or maintenance5 inspection and
renea) o. the structure and is usua))y ca)cu)ated o+er a period o. one hundred and
tenty years.
/
-. +%normal .oad Mo,ements
0.1 -#norma 1oad Movements
*n a"norma) )oad is a +ehic)e that is outside the c)assi.ication o. norma) permitted tra..ic
"y +irtue o. its gross eight5 )ength5 idth or a4)e con.iguration according to current road
+ehic)e regu)ations. In accordance ith #he 'oad Aehic)es (*uthorisation o. Specia)
#ypes) >enera) !rder 2113 the mo+ement o. a"norma) or S#>! )oads shou)d "e noti.ied
to the re)e+ant Highay *uthority or *uthorities.
#he appointed agent recei+es noti.ications .or the mo+ement o. a"norma) )oads and
S#>! +ehic)es on non@trun6 roads.
#he mo+ement o. a"norma) )oads needs to "e care.u))y managed so that )arge and hea+y
+ehic)es on)y use those parts o. the road netor6 that can sa.e)y accommodate them.
Hau)iers o. a"norma) )oads are re3uired to noti.y the appointed *"norma) -oads !..icer
at Daco"s. #he "ridges on the noti.ied route are then assessed in accordance ith the
current re3uirements o. the Design Manua) .or 'oads and Bridges (BD ,%B11) and the
code o. $ractice .or the Management o. Highay Structures. I. any o. the "ridges on the
route are considered too ea6 to "ear the a"norma) )oad it i)) "e re@routed. I. no suita")e
a)ternati+e route is a+ai)a")e specia) measures to increase the )oad "earing capacity o. the
"ridge may "e considered.
0.2 ES2-1
:SD*- stands .or E:)ectronic Ser+ice De)i+ery .or *"norma) -oads $ro9ectE. !nce .u))y
imp)emented :SD*- i)) "e a nationa) one@stop e"@"ased porta) to assist route
p)anning and automated noti.ication o. a"norma) )oad mo+ements.
*t present5 "e.ore mo+ing an a"norma) )oad5 hau)iers must noti.y a num"er o. authorities5
inc)uding the Highays *gency5 *gents5 -oca) *uthorities5 pri+ate "ridge oners and the
$o)ice. #his is a )engthy process and is entire)y manua)5 "ased on the use o. .a4es to
e4change and agree in.ormation.
#he :SD*- pro9ect i)) simp)i.y this process5 signi.icant)y reducing the amount o. time
it ta6es .or e+eryone in+o)+ed in the process to p)an5 noti.y and appro+e the mo+ement o.
an a"norma) )oad.
11
0.3 "he -ssessment o$ Str/ct/res
Highay structures are assessed to esta")ish their a"i)ity to carry the )oads hich are
imposed upon them. #he assessment pro+ides +a)ua")e in.ormation .or managing the
sa.ety and ser+icea"i)ity o. highay structures.
#he road "ridges in the area ere )ast assessed under a nationa) programme o. assessment
underta6en in the mid 1/,1s.
In accordance ith the recommendations o. the ne &ode o. $ractice the highay
authority is current)y undergoing a Structura) 'e+ie. #his in+o)+es re+isiting the
e4isting assessment in.ormation and .rom this de+e)oping a prioritised reassessment
programme.


11
/. &he Management of Bridges On or 0ear "istrict Boundaries.
#o a+oid any con.usion "ridges near to or on the "oundaries are su"9ect to Maintenance
*greements here"y the maintenance o. the "ridge is de)egated to one or other o. the
*uthorities.. #he authority remains in c)ose consu)tation ith a)) neigh"ouring
*uthorities regarding "ridge restrictions and maintenance or6s that may a..ect the
highay netor6 "eyond its "oundaries.
.
.
12
11. 2uture Bridge Management )e3uirements.

In Septem"er 2115 #he 'oads -iaison >roup )aunched a &ode o. $ractice .or the
Management o. Highay Structures. $rior to the pu")ication o. the &ode o. $ractice there
as no o+erarching document a+ai)a")e to guide "ridge oners on good maintenance
practice and this has )ed to di..ering practices across the country. #he purpose o. the code
is to standardise practice there"y pro+iding "etter in.ormation regarding the condition o.
"ridges across the county and so determine .uture .unding re3uirements.
#he authority=s current practice genera))y a)igns +ery e)) ith the "asic
recommendations made in the ne code o. practice. It is the authority=s intention to
"ecome .u))y comp)iant ith the code ithin the recommended time .rame o. 5 years "y
the de+e)opment o. asset management princip)es set out in the ne code.
13