040613 intervention levels and response times - appendix a

Appendix A – Intervention Levels and Response Times Safety Defect response Categories and Repair Times Key Timescale for the repair of safety defects

R1e Temporary repair or make safe within 2 hours

R1 Temporary repair or make safe within 24 hours

R2 Permanent repair within 28 days and/or sign and guard

R3 No immediate action required. Review condition at next inspection and/or

R3 Highlight for permanent repair*

* Carriageway will be assessed and prioritised for permanent repair in accordance with

the Council’s Highway Asset Management Plan. General Defect Matrix

Probability

Very Low Low Medium High

Local Access

Roads

(Cat 4b)*

Link Roads

(Cat 4a)*

Main & Secondary

Distributors

(Cats 3a & 3b)*

Strategic Routes

/Town Centres

(Cat 2)*

(Annual) (Quarterly) (Monthly) (Monthly)

High (R1e response) Defects that following a risk assessment are deemed to be an immediate danger .

Medium (R1 response) Defects that following a risk assessment are deemed to be an immanent danger .

Low (R2 response) Defects that following a risk assessment are deemed not to represent an immanent danger or risk of short term structural deterioration .

Impa

ct

Non Safety Related Defects (R3 response) Defects that following a risk assessment will be monitored at the next inspection and/or are worthy of note for future programmed permanent repair.

* Road Classifications and Inspection Frequencies are defined within the Code of Practice Where two intervention levels are shown the inspector has discretion to determine which level of response is appropriate.

CARRIAGEWAYS Carriageway Potholes A pothole is a sharp edged depression anywhere in a carriageway where part or all of the surface layers have been lost. A pothole will be classed as a safety defect when its maximum horizontal dimension is greater than 300mm in any direction and is equal or more than 50mm deep . At controlled pedestrian crossing or other defined crossing points, e.g. at junctions or dropped crossings, footway intervention levels will be applied.

Local

Access Link Roads Strategic &

Secondary Town

Centres

Less than 50mm (R2, R3)

50 to 75mm (R1, R2) # # #

Dep

th

Greater than 75mm (R1, R2) # #

# Sign and Guard Abrupt Level Differences

An abrupt level difference in the carriageway will be classed as a safety defect when it has a vertical displacement of greater than 50mm over a distance of 300mm.

Local Access

Link Roads Strategic & Secondary

Town Centres


50 to 75mm (R1, R2) # # #

Dep

th

Greater than 75mm (R1, R2) # #

# Sign and Guard

Cracks or Gaps A longitudinal and transverse crack or gaps in the carriageway will be classed as a safety defect when it is greater than 20mm wide over a continuous length of 2m (1m in town centres) and 50mm deep.

Local Access


Town Centres

Less than 20mm (R3)

20mm to 50mm (R2, R3) # # #

Wid

th

Greater than 50mm (R1, R2) #

#

# Sign and Guard Crowning, Rutting & Depressions Crowning, rutting and depressions will be classed as safety defects when the vertical level difference is greater than 50mm over an area greater than 2m 2 or a minimum distance of 2m .

Local Access


Town Centres

Less than 50mm (R3)

50 to 100 mm (R2, R3) # # #

Hei

ght/D

epth

Greater than 100mm(R1, R2) # #

# Sign and Guard

Edge Deterioration Edge deterioration of the carriageway will be classed as a safety defect when the edge of the surfaced carriageway breaking up is over 300mm into the carriageway, 2m in length and greater than 50mm deep .

Local Access


Town Centres

Less than 50mm (R3)

50 to 75 mm (R1, R2) #

#

#

Dep

th

Greater than 75mm(R1, R2) #

#

# Sign and Guard Over-Riding Over-riding of the verge in the highway will be classed as a safety defect when the length of the over-riding is greater than 2m in length and has an abrupt vertical edge adjacent to the surfaced carriageway that is greater than 50mm deep.

Local Access


Less than 50mm (R3)

50 to 150 mm (R1, R2, R3) #

#

#

Dep

th

Greater than 150mm (R1, R2) #

#

# Sign and Guard

Kerbing & Channels

Abrupt changes in level between kerbs, setts, channels and adjacent gullies etc will be classed as a safety defect when: - the vertical level difference between adjacent

kerbs, setts, channels, channel/gully is greater than 20mm

- the horizontal displacement between adjacent

kerbs/setts is greater than 20mm .

Local Access


Town Centres

Less than 20mm (R3)

20 to 50 mm (R1, R2)

Dep

th

Greater than 50mm (R1, R2)

Note: permanent repairs will require utility record s and therefore should be recorded as

programmed works

FOOTWAYS Potholes and Edge Deterioration A pothole is a sharp edged depression anywhere in a footway where part or all of the surface layers have been lost including footway collapses and surrounds to ironwork. A pothole will be classed as a safety defect when it is greater than 20mm deep and its maximum horizontal dimension is greater than 100mm .

Local Access

Link Footway

Secondary Footway

Town Centres

Less than 20mm (R3)

20 to 50mm (R1, R2, R3)

Dep

th


Abrupt Level Difference An abrupt level difference in the footway will be classed as a safety defect when the vertical displacement is greater than 20mm over a continuous length of 100mm .

Local Access

Link Footway

Secondary Footway

Town Centres


20 to 50mm (R1, R2)

Dep

th

Greater than 50mm (R1)

Cracks or Gaps Longitudinal or transverse cracking or gaps in the footway will be classed as safety defects when they are greater than 1m in continuous length, 40mm wide and 20mm in depth .

20mm deep

Local Access

Link Footway Secondary Footway

Town Centres

Less than 20mm (R3)

20 to 50mm (R1, R2)

Dep

th


Crowning, Rutting & Depressions Crowning, rutting and depressions will be classed as safety defects when the vertical level difference is greater than 25mm over an area greater than 1m 2

or a minimum depth distance of 1m. All measurements will exclude footways adjacent to the bases of trees.

Local Access

Link Footway

Secondary Footway

Town Centres

Less than 25mm (R3)

25 to 100mm (R1, R2, R3)

Dep

th


Rocking or Unstable Slabs A rocking or unstable slab will be classed as a safety defect when the vertical displacement is 20mm or greater in height or depth . Inspection records should record the material type. In amenity areas with no footfall, the general defect matrix should be used.

Local Access

Link Footway

Secondary Footway

Town Centres

Less than 20mm (R3)

20 to 50mm (R1, R2, R3)

Dep

th


Kerbing Defects Cracked, chipped or missing kerbs will be classed as safety defects where they represent a tripping hazard, are greater than 50mm deep and 100mm in length.

Local Access Link Footway Secondary Footway

Town Centres

less than 50mm (R3)

Greater than 50mm (R1, R2, R3)

Dep

th

Missing (R1, R2, R3)

Cycleways Where cycleway forms part of the carriageway – appl y carriageway criteria Where cycleway forms part of the footway or is off road – apply footway criteria

OTHER INSPECTION ITEMS Covers, Gratings and Frames A cover, grating or frame in the carriageway, footway, cycle route or verge that is significantly damaged, dislodged, missing or not seated correctly will be classed as a safety defect. Highway Authority apparatus including covers and frames that are significantly damaged, dislodged, missing or not seated correctly will be reported as soon as is practicably possible to the Highways Team who will make safe and arrange for permanent repairs to be carried out within appropriate timescales. Privately owned and Utilities apparatus including covers and frames that are significantly damaged, dislodged, missing or not seated correctly will be reported to the Highways or Street Works Team as appropriate who will notify as soon as is practicably possible the private owner/Utility Company. Where necessary, the Highway Authority will make safe and recharge its costs to the private owner/Utility company. INTERVENTION LEVELS AND DEFECT REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

A cover, grating or frame that is higher or lower (50mm carriageways and 20mm footways) than the adjacent carriageway or footway will be classed as a safety defect. Privately owned apparatus including Utility covers will be actioned as detailed above. INTERVENTION LEVELS AND DEFECT REPAIR PERIODS FOR CARRIAGEWAYS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE POTHOLE DEFECT MATRIX. FOOTWAYS, CYCLE ROUTES AND DEFINED CARRIAGEWAY CROSSING POINTS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE ROCKING AND UNSTABLE SLABS DEFECT MATRIX .

Embankments and Cuttings Where a safety inspection identifies an embankment or cutting that is apparently unstable and represents an immediate or imminent hazard or there is a risk of short-term failure, the hazard will be reported as soon as is practicably possible to the Bridge Maintenance Team who will arrange for the hazard to made safe and for further investigation and repair. Overgrown Vegetation Hedges, shrubs and trees that encroach within the envelope described below will be identified as a safety defect. Clearance envelope: 5.5m over carriageways 2.5m over footways, cycle routes and verges. Please refer to the table overleaf for responsibilities, actions and timescales. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

Table 1: Vegetation, Shrubs and Trees – Responsibil ities and Actions

Growth Issue Location Responsibility and Action HA Section Response Time

Within the highway boundary Works to be carried out by Planning & Countryside Ground Maintenance Contractor

14 days Causing an nuisance and obstruction to users (N&O)

Within private land adjacent to highway

Highways team to serve N&O letter. S154 14 days

Obscuring sight lines at junctions

Defined locations at junctions Works to be carried out by Planning & Countryside Ground Maintenance Contractor

24 hours


14 days

Grass, Weeds, Saplings and Small Shrubs

Obscuring sight lines to road signs, traffic signals, safety cameras, light columns etc Within private land adjacent to

highway Highways team to serve N&O letter. 14 days


S154 14 days Hazardous branches, dead trees etc likely to fall on the highway or impact vehicles/users Within private land adjacent to

highway Works to be carried out by Planning & Countryside Ground Maintenance Contractor

S154 14 days

Obscuring sight lines at junctions

Defined locations at junctions Works to be carried out by Planning & Countryside Ground Maintenance Contractor

24 hours


14 days Obscuring sightlines to road signs, traffic signals, speed cameras, light columns etc Within private land adjacent to

highway Works to be carried out by Planning & Countryside Ground Maintenance Contractor

14 days


14 days

Large Shrubs and Trees

Causing an nuisance and obstruction to users (N&O)

Within private land adjacent to highway

Highways team to serve N&O letter. Contact officer: Grounds Maintenance Manager

S154 14 days

Fences and Barriers Safety fencing, pedestrian guardrails or boundary fencing which is significantly damaged or protruding into the footway or carriageway will be classed as a safety defect. Defects that present an immediate or imminent dange r will be made safe within 2 and 24 hours respectively. Permanent repairs carried out as programmed work. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

Road Markings White line markings on strategic and main distributor roads of high safety risk or with a relevant accident record should be renewed when they are no longer fit for purpose. ACTIONS AND DEFECT REPAIR PERIODS FOR WORN ROAD MARKINGS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

Traffic Signals, Illuminated Bollards, Pelican Cros sing Lamps & Street Lighting Damaged, missing or dirt obscuring any of the above that represents a significant or major hazard will be classed as a safety defect. Defects will be reported as soon as is practicably possible to the Traffic Services or Street Lighting Teams. Where required, the Highway Authority will take action and make the hazard safe. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX Gullies, Drains and Grips Damaged gullies, drains or grips that represent a significant or major hazard will be classed as a safety defect. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

Illegal Signs, Advertising Boards, Fly Posters, Tra iler Adverts, Car for Sale Illegal signs, fly posters or advertising boards that represent a significant or major hazard will be classed as a safety defect. No sign shall be allowed to cause a nuisance and obstruction to users. In town and large village centres, the minimum clear distance between the edge of a sign and the kerb will be 1.8m. In residential and rural areas, this may be reduced to 1.5m. Please refer to the Table 1 for responsibilities, actions and timescales.

Table 2. Illegal Signs, Advertising Boards, Fly Pos ters, Trailer Adverts, and Cars for Sale on the Pub lic Highway

Item Responsibility HA Section

Less than 0.5m2 Highways Team. Highways Act 1980 Stickers , Posters etc

Greater than 0.5m2 Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Advertising Regulations

‘A’ Frames Less than 1.8m clearance around sign.

Highways Team. Highways Act 1980

Adverts Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Advertising Regulations Banners

Birthdays etc Highways Team. Highways Act 1980

Trailer Adverts Parked in the Highway Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Advertising Regulations

Direction Signs Highways Team. Highways Act 1980 Developer Signs

Information Signs Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Advertising Regulations

On the Highway Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Advertising Regulations Election Signs

Off the Highway Planning, Development Control, Enforcement Team Limited Powers

On the Highway and causing a nuisance and/or obstruction

Thames Valley Police Road Traffic Act 1988

Road Traffic Regulation 1984

Cars for Sale

Parked on the Highway Trading Standards. Cleaner Neighbourhood Act

Unsafe Structures Highways inspections will only be required to identify significant or major defects that can be identified visually during the normal course of inspections e.g. damage to the superstructure or supports of over-bridges, parapets and expansion joints. Significant or major defects will be reported to the Bridge Maintenance Team immediately who will arrange for the appropriate action to be taken.

Traffic Signals and Bollards (illuminated and non i lluminated), Pelican Crossing Lamps & Street Lighting Graffiti Graffiti that represents a significant or major hazard that could result in a serious danger/hazard or deemed offensive will be classed as a safety defect. Stop, give way and chevron signs that are ineffective and presenting a hazard to highway users will be cleansed within 24 hours and permanently replaced if required within 28 days. Graffiti on other signs will be cleansed as programmed work. Offensive graffiti on signs shall be reported to Customer Services. All other graffiti on signs shall be reported to Customer Services.

Type Local

Access Link

Roads Secondary

Routes Strategic Routes

Directional and Other Signs

Warning Signs

Stop, Give Way & Chevron Signs

A significant or major hazard that could result in a serious danger/hazard or deemed offensive.

Illuminated Traffic Signs and Bollards – Electrical An illuminated sign or bollard that has damaged or exposed electrical components will be classed as a safety defect. Damaged or exposed electrical components will be reported to the Street Lighting Team who will arrange for it to be made safe and for it to be permanently repaired.

Non-illuminated - Traffic Signs (including posts an d plates)

Significant or major defects caused by damage to traffic signs will be classed as a safety defect.

Stop, give way and chevron signs that are significantly damaged, missing and/or ineffective and presenting a hazard to highway users will be temporarily replaced within 24 hours and permanently repaired within 28 days.

Other repairs will be carried out as programmed work.

Type Local

Access Link

Roads Secondary

Routes Strategic Routes

Directional and Other Signs

Warning Signs

Stop, Give Way & Chevron Signs

A significant or major hazard that could result in a serious danger/hazard or deemed offensive.

Non-illuminated Bollards A bollard that is significantly damaged or missing such that it presents a hazard to highway users will be classed as a safety defect. Where required, the Highway Authority will take action and make the hazard safe. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

Street Furniture Damage to street furniture that represents a significant or major hazard will be classed as a safety defect. Damage to street furniture will be reported to the appropriate owner/authority promptly. Where required, the Highway Authority will take action and make the hazard safe. ACTIONS AND REPAIR PERIODS WILL BE IDENTIFIED USING THE GENERAL DEFECT MATRIX

040613 intervention levels and response times - appendix a

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