FIFE COUNCIL
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
ROADS MAINTENANCE POLICIES AND STANDARDS
(Revised Hierarchyand Inspection Frequencies)
INTERIM
October 2011
INDEX
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1.0Introduction5
1.1Maintenance Hierarchy of Roads, Footways and Cycle Routes5
a)Road Hierarchy5
Table 1Road Hierarchy6
b)Footway / Footpath Hierarchy6
Table 2Footway / Footpath Hierarchy6
c)Cycle Route Hierarchy6
Table 3Cycle Route Hierarchy6
1.2Road Maintenance Activities7
Table 4 - Road Maintenance Activities7
1.3Standards for Road Maintenance with Warning andIntervention Levels7
2.0Inspections & Surveys7
a)Safety Inspections7
b)Detailed Inspections8
Table 5- Safety Inspection Frequencies8
Table 6 – Safety Inspection Defect Categories and Response Times8
3.0Risk Assessment9
Table 7 – Risk Matrix for Safety Inspection Response Times10
Table 8 - Carriageways Risk Register – Immediate Risk10
Table 9 - Carriageways Risk Register – Moderate Risk11
Table 10 - Carriageways Risk Register – Low Risk11
Table 11 - Footways / Footpaths Register - Immediate Risk12
Table 12 - Footways / Footpaths Register - Moderate Risk12
Table 13 - Footways / Footpaths Register - Low Risk12
4.0Structural Maintenance13
4.1Carriageways and Hard Shoulders13
4.2Footways, Footpaths and Paved Areas13
INDEX (continued)
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Table 14 - Carriageway Intervention Levels14
Table 15 – Footway / Footpath Intervention Levels15
4.3Cycle Routes15
Table 16 – Cycle Route Intervention Levels16
4.4Kerbs16
Table 17 - Kerb Intervention Levels17
4.5Drainage Ironwork17
Table 18 - Ironware Intervention Levels18
4.6Road Structures18
Table 19 - Inspection Regime19
4.7Fences, Guardrails and Safety Barriers19
5.0Routine Maintenance20
5.1Sweeping, Cleansing & Scavenging20
5.2Grass, Tree and Hedge Cutting; Weedkilling andLandscapedAreas20
a)Grass Cutting Standards20
b)Trees and Hedge Cutting21
c)Weedkilling21
d)Landscaped Areas22
e)Verges22
f)Scavenging22
5.3Drainage System Maintenance23
Table 20 - Detail Drainage Inspections23
a)Gully Emptying23
b)Grips (Offlets) and Ditches23
c)Culverts, Manholes and Piped Systems23
5.4Traffic Signals and Pelican Crossings24
Table 21Fault Response Times24
5.5Traffic Signs24
5.6Maintenance of Road Markings and Reflective Studs25
INDEX (continued)
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5.7Maintenance of Pedestrian Crossings (Zebras)25
5.8Maintenance of Street Lighting26
6.0Winter Service Priorities and Standards26
1.0INTRODUCTION
Road maintenance must now be seen in the context of an asset management approach which:-
•is focussed on, and reflects the expectations and needs of, the users of the assets;
•considers the whole of the life of the asset, identifying the optimum times for maintenance action;
•has a strategic plan. Asset management planning is a systematic process which takes a long term view;
•allocates resources based on an assessment of needs;
•develops an optimised programme of work.
The principal objectives of road maintenance are to ensure that:-
•The safety of the public will not be jeopardised.
•The asset value of the road network is maintained at minimum cost.
•The environmental contribution made by the road is recognised and enhanced where appropriate e.g. landscaping and grass cutting/verge maintenance and weedkilling policies.
•The control, protection and aid to the movement of traffic is given sufficient priority.
1.1Maintenance HierarchyofRoads, Footways, Footpaths and Cycle Routes
It is sufficient to note that it is not necessary to maintain all roads, footways and cycle routes to the same standard and consequently the following hierarchy for maintenance has been identified.
a) Road Hierarchy
1. Motorways: Managed and maintained by the Scottish Executive.
2. Strategic Route: Trunk and some Principal ‘A’ roads between Primary Destinations (Trunk Roads are managed and maintained by the Scottish Executive).
3a.Main Distributor Roads: Major urban network and inter-primary links.Short – medium distance traffic
3b.Secondary Distributor Roads: Classified Road (B and C Class) and unclassified urban bus routes carrying local traffic with frontage access and frequent junctions
4a.Link Roads: Roads linking between the Main and Secondary Distributor Network with frontage access and frequent junctions
4b.Local Access Roads: Roads Serving limited numbers of properties carrying only access traffic
5.Private Roads: As defined in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The roads authority has no statutory responsibility to maintain these roads. They are normally the responsibility of the owner or the adjoining proprietor, although the roads authority has optional powers to assist.
Description / CategoryMotorways and Trunk Roads / 1
Strategic Roads / 2
Main Distributor Roads / 3a
Secondary Distributor Roads / 3b
Link Roads / 4a
Local Access Roads / 4b
Private Roads / 5
Table 1Road Hierarchy
b)Footway / Footpath Hierarchy
1aPrestige Walking Zone: Very busy areas of towns and cities with high public space and streetscene contribution
1Primary Walking Route: Busy urban shopping and business areas and main pedestrian routes
2Secondary Walking Route: Medium usage routes through local areas feeding into primary routes, local shopping centres etc.
3Link Footways / Footpaths: Linking local access footways / footpaths through urban areas and busy rural footways
4Local Access Footways / Footpaths: Footways / footpaths associated with low usage, short estate roads to the main routes and cul-de sacs
Description / CategoryPrestige Walking Zone / 1a
Primary Walking Routes / 1
Secondary Walking Routes / 2
Link Footways / 3
Local Access Footways / 4
Private Footways / 5
Table 2Footway / Footpath Hierarchy
c)Cycle Route Hierarchy
ACycle lane forming part of the carriageway, commonly 1.5 metre strip adjacent to the nearside kerb. Cycle gaps at road closure point (no entries allowing cycle access).
BCycle track, a highway route for cyclists not contiguous with the public footway or carriageway. Shared cycle/pedestrian paths, either segregated by a white line or other physical segregation, or un-segregated.
CCycle trails, leisure routes through open spaces. These are not necessarily the responsibility of the highway authority, but may be maintained by an authority under other powers or duties.
Description / CategoryCycle lane forming part of the carriageway / A
Cycle track not contiguous with the carriageway / B
Cycle trails through open spaces / C
Table 3Cycle Route Hierarchy
1.2Road MaintenanceActivities
The three main categories for describing Road Maintenance are Structural, Routine and Winter. These headings can be sub-divided into the activities shown in Table4.
Structural Maintenance / Routine Maintenance / Winter MaintenanceWorks Programme / General / General / Lighting / Carriageways / Carriageways, Footways and Car Parks
Carriageways, Footways, drainage, Embankments and Walls / Surface Dressing / Drainage and Flooding / Planned Routine Maintenance / Planned Pre-gritting / Emergency Gritting & Snow Clearing
Patching Programmes / Verge Maintenance / Painting / Grit Bins
Category A and B Repairs / Road Markings and Studs / Lamp Replacement
Embankments, rock cuts, and walls <1.8m / Gully Emptying / Minor Repairs
Boundary Fences, Rails and Barriers / Traffic Signs and Bollards / Emergency Callout
Minor Schemes / Traffic Lights / Routine Repairs
Structures / Weed Control (enabling) / Column Replacements
Facilities for Disabled People / Street Nameplates
Table 4Road Maintenance Activities
1.3Standards for Road Maintenance with Warning and Intervention Levels
A standard is a measure against which the condition of a road or footway is compared in order that relative need can be assessed, priorities determined, funds allocated and performance measured.
A warning level is that which prompts further investigation of the carriageway or footway condition and promotes a planned and considered maintenance response.
The intervention level is where action must be taken to remedy a defect within the road or footway with the interests of safety in mind.
2.0INSPECTIONS AND SURVEYS
The objective of undertaking inspections and surveys is to ensure that roads, footways, cycle routes, car parks and footpaths are maintained in good order, that the available finance is spent at the most appropriate parts of the network and that safe passage is consistently maintained.
a) Safety Inspections
These inspections are designed to identify those defects likely to cause a danger or serious inconvenience to the public and therefore require immediate or urgent attention. Although there are standards set for defects and response times, inspectors must be aware of the safety implications of any defect and where necessary they should guard a defect and call for immediate attention.
This includes contacting Statutory Undertakers directly if the defect is related to their apparatus.
These inspections are normally undertaken from a slow moving vehicle with the occasional need to proceed on foot. All safety inspections of footways in main shopping areas should be undertaken on foot, as should footpaths remote from the carriageway and footways which are substantially obscured by parked vehicles.For cycle routes, Cat A safety inspections of cycle routes forming part of a carriageway should be undertaken from a slow moving vehicle and Cat B and C inspections should be undertaken on a cycle or on foot.NB: A localised safety inspection should be instigated following a notice of a defect from the public - i.e. an ad-hoc inspection.
b) Detailed Inspections
These inspections are only undertaken to identify programmes of work. (The detailed inspection may also serve as a safety inspection). Defects identified as part of a detailed inspection should only be programmed for repair if it is anticipated that they will become a safety hazard before the next detailed inspection or if work is required prior to surface dressing or resurfacing or to maintain the structural integrity of the road pavement. All items of street furniture should be examined as part of a detailed inspection. Detailed inspections should normally be undertaken on foot and with due consideration for safety. Strategic routes and Distributor roads should be inspected from the adjacent footway or verge in a safe manner.
Safety Inspection Intervals
Carriageways / Category / FrequencyMotorway and Trunk / 1 / Scottish Executive
Strategic Roads / 2 / 1 month
Main Distributor Roads / 3a / 1 month
Secondary Distributor Roads / 3b / 1 month
Link Roads / 4a / 3 months
Local Access Roads / 4b / 1 year
Private Roads / 5 / Only on request
Footways
Prestige Area / 1a / 1 month
Primary Walking Route / 1 / 1 month
Secondary Walking Route / 2 / 3 months
Link Footway / 3 / 6 months
Local Access Footway / 4 / 1 year
Private Footway / 5 / Only on request
Cycle Routes
Part of carriageway / A / As for carriageway
Remote from carriageway / B / 6 months
Cycle trails / C / 1 year
Car Parks
Fee Paying / 1 month
Non Fee Paying / 6 months
Table 5Safety Inspection Frequencies
Category / Description / ResponseA / Defects that require prompt attention as they represent an immediate or imminent hazard or there is a risk of short term structural deterioration / Make safe and repair same day.
B / All other high or
medium risk defects / Make safe and repair within 5 working days.
P / All other low risk defects / Repair during the next available programme. Schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection.
Table 6Safety Inspection Defect Categories and Response Times
3.0RISK ASSESSMENT
Impact is quantified by assessing the extent of damage likely to be caused should the risk become an accident. As an impact is likely to increase with increasing speed, the amount of traffic and road type are clearly important considerations in the assessment
Probability is quantified by assessing the likelihood of users, passing by or over the defect, encountering the risk. As the probability is likely to increase with increasing vehicular or pedestrian flow, the network hierarchy and defect location are, consequently, important considerations in the assessment
Table 7 shows the risk matrix for safety Inspection response times.
Tables8 - 13 show the risk register for carriagewaysand footways / footpaths, including car parks and cycle routes as appropriate,for immediate, moderate and low risk.
1
Impact v / Probability > / Very low (1) / Low (2) / Medium(3) / High (4)Negligible (1) / P Low / P Low / P Low / P Low
Low (2) / P Low / P Low / B Medium / B Medium
Noticeable (3) / P Low / B Medium / B High / B High
High (4) / P Low / B Medium / B High / A
Response Category / P - repair during the next available programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection. / No 28 day repairs , all carried out within 5 working days ie B / B - make safe or repair within 5 working days / A - make safe or repair same day
Table 7Risk Matrix for Safety Inspection Response Times
Road / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll
Categories / Potholes or projections which promote an unacceptable safety hazard / High(4) / High (4) / 16 / A / Make safe by signing guarding to protect public / Make safe or repair same day
Slippery oil surface / High(4 ) / High ( 4) / 16 / A / Spread appropriate material to make safe or contact Environmental Services / Make safe or repair same day
Kerb loose or protruding into carriageway / High(4 ) / High ( 4) / 16 / A / As appropriate to make safe / Make safe or repair same day
Missing or partly missing ironwork cover / High(4 ) / High ( 4) / 16 / A / Cover with plate / Make safe or repair same day
Cracked or broken ironwork covers in danger of collapse / High(4 ) / Low (4) / 16 / A / Cover with plate or replace / Make safe or repair same day
Missing or obscured Stop or Give Way markings / High(4 ) / High ( 4) / 16 / A / Erect warning signs or Contact Envir. Services / Same day
Missing, obscured Stop or Give Way or signs / High(4 ) / High ( 4) / 16 / A / Temporary signing or clean/clear obstruction / Make safe same day
Table 8Carriageways Risk Register – Immediate Risk
10
Road / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll
Categories / Isolated Potholes deeper
than 40mm / High(4) / Noticeable(3) / 12 / B / Repair / Repair within 5 working days
Projections greater than 40mm / High(4) / Low (2) / 8 / B / Repair / Repair within 5 working days
Depressions or bumps greater than 40mm and less than 1sq.m in area or 1m in length / High(4) / Low (2) / 8 / B / Repair / Repair within 5 working days
Drops or projections in ironwork greater than 40mm / High(4 ) / Low (2) / 8 / B / Replace or re-lay / Make safe or repair within 5 Working days
Worn covers causing a hazard to pedal or motor cycle users / High (4) / Medium (3) / 12 / B / Renew / Make safe or repair within 5 Working days
Gratings in carriageways or Cycle Routes which present a longitudinal gap sufficient to endanger cyclists / Low(2) / Medium (3) / 6 / B / Renew / Make safe or repair within 5 Working days
Table 9Carriageways Risk Register – Moderate Risk
Road / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll categories / Rocking ironwork gratings / High(4) / Low (2) / 8 / P / Reset / Repair during the next available programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection.
Broken, badly spalled or tilted kerbs / Low (2) / Low (2) / 4 / P / Replace or realign during next programme / Repair during the next available programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection.
Table 10Carriageways Risk Register – Low Risk
Hierarchy / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll categories / Potholes or projections which promote an unacceptable hazard and require immediate action / High (4) / High (4) / 16 / A / Make Safe / Same day repair
Slippery surfaces / High (4) / High (4) / 16 / A / Spread appropriate material to make safe or contact Environmental Services / Same day repair
Missing or partly missing cover / High (4) / High (4) / 16 / A / Make safe or replace / Same day repair
Cracked or broken cover in danger of collapse / High (4) / High (4) / 16 / A / Cover with plate or replace / Same day repair
Table 11Footways / Footpaths Register - Immediate Risk
Hierarchy / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll categories / Dangerous and rocking slabs presenting an edge greater than 20mm / High (4) / Noticeable (3) / 12 / B / Lift re-bed and re-lay / within 5 working days
Isolated holes deeper than 20mm, projections greater than 20mm, cracks and gaps wider than 20mm / High (4) / Noticeable
(3) / 12 / B / Repair / within 5 working days
Level difference of 20mm within ironwork frame / Medium (3) / Medium (3) / 9 / B / Reset or replace / within 5 working days
Table 12Footways / Footpaths Register – Moderate Risk
Hierarchy / Defect / Investigatory / Impact / Probability / Score / Category / Action / Response TimeAll categories / Rocking ironwork covers / Low (2) / Medium (3) / 6 / P / Replace or reset / Repair during the next available programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection.
Worn covers / Low (2) / Medium (3) / 6 / P / Replace / Repair during the next available programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection.
Table 13Footways / Footpaths Register – Low Risk
1
4.0STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE
4.1Carriagewaysand Hard Shoulders
There are a number of modes of structural deterioration of the carriageway:-
(i) Whole carriageway minor deterioration.
(ii) Whole carriageway major deterioration.
(iii) Loss of skid resistance.
(iv) Edge deterioration.
(v) Wheel track rutting.
(vi) Adverse camber.
(vii) Surface irregularity.
Category 1 roads are dealt with by the Scottish Executive.
Repairs to urgent defects will be undertaken in accordance with Table 14.
Action taken within 5 working days will be permanent patching work unless local circumstances dictate otherwise.
For Response Category B repairs, precedence will normally be given to the higher category roads within the response time.
4.2Footways, Footpaths and Paved Areas
The objective is to provide and maintain a footway / footpath surface to a standard sufficiently high to allow safe, dry passage for pedestrians.
The Code lists a number of modes of deterioration:
a.projections (including manhole frames, boxes, etc.)
b.dangerously rocking flags
c. cracks or gaps between flags
d. isolated potholes
e. depressions and bumps
f. slippery surfaces
Repairs to urgent defects will be undertaken in accordance with Table 15.
Safety inspections of pedestrianised paved areas (carriageway and footway) are to be carried out on a monthly basis.These are to be walked inspections carried out by groups of inspectors in sufficient numbers to achieve full coverage of the paved area.
Road Hierarchy / Defect / Action to be taken / Response Time / Response CategoryAll Roads and car parks / Potholes/projections etc which promote an unacceptable safety hazard and require immediate action / Make safe by signing/guarding and request immediate action as appropriate / Same day / A
Slippery surface e.g. oil spillage / Spread appropriate material to make safe or contact Environmental Services
Kerb loose or protruding into carriageway / As appropriate to make safe
Missing or partly missing ironwork cover / Cover with plate
Cracked or broken ironwork covers in danger of collapse / Cover with plate or replace
Missing or obscured Stop or Give Way Markings / Erect warning signs or contact Environmental Services
Missing or obscured Stop or Give Way signs / Temporary signing or clean / clear obstruction
All Roads and car parks / Isolated potholes deeper than 40mm / Repair / Repair within 5 working days / B
Projections greater than 40mm
Depressions or Bumps greater than 40mm and less than 1 sq.m in area or 1m in length
Drops or projections in ironwork greater than 40mm / Replace or relay
Worn covers causing a hazard to pedal or motor cycle users / Renew
Gratings in carriageways or Cycle Routes which present a longitudinal gap sufficient to / Renew
Rocking Ironwork / Reset / Repair during next programme; schedule more detailed inspection or review condition at next inspection / P
Broken , badly spalled or tilted kerbs / Replace or realign during next programme
Table 14Carriageway Intervention Levels