Winter Service Steve Johnson Business Manager Highways Contracts - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Hertsmere Highways Liaison Meeting 21/10/15 APPENDIX C Winter Service Steve Johnson Business Manager Highways Contracts and Network Management Environment Department - Highways Winter Operations Lead Officer Derek Twigg. Assistant Network Manager Network Strategy & Compliance t:0300 1234047 Comnet / Internal: 58113 Derek.twigg@hertfordshire.gov.uk www.hertsdirect.org www.hertsdirect.org

Introduction • Winter Service – Why we do it – What we do www.hertsdirect.org

Why we do it - Statutory Basis • There is a duty upon a Local Authority to maintain highways maintainable at public expense which falls under section 41(1) of the Highways Act 1980 • Evolved best practice to remove ‘hazard’ www.hertsdirect.org

Statutory Basis • a) The authority who are for the time being the highway authority for a highway maintainable at the public expense are under a duty, subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, to maintain the highway. • b) (1) In particular, a highway authority are under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice. www.hertsdirect.org

HCC Policy •Code of Practice – Well Maintained Highways •Chapter 13 Winter Service •Appendix H, format of WSOP •Revised following advice from NWSRG www.hertsdirect.org

HCC Policy • To adopt Well Maintained Highways CoP – It’s what we are measured against. • Winter Service Operational Plan • Says what we do, how we do it, sets priorities • As per CoP it is member agreed and published. • Tested for reasonableness in court • Praised for being robust • Recognised nationally as a good plan www.hertsdirect.org

HCC Approach • October to April • Low Risk October & April • Medium Risk November & March • High Risk December, January & February • Pre-treatment found to be better than post treatment • . www.hertsdirect.org

Winter Service Method • 13 Findlay Irvine Weather Stations • Meteogroup Weather Forecaster service • 8 Client Duty Officers (HCC decision makers) • Countywide delivery on every outing • Ringway delivery www.hertsdirect.org

Decision making process Precautionary Treatment Decision Matrix Predicted Road Conditions Road Surface Precipitation Wet Temperature Wet Dry Patches May fall below 1°C No rain Salt Salt before No action likely No hoar frost before frost monitor weather No fog frost Expected to fall No rain below 1°C No hoar frost No fog Expected hoar frost Salt before frost (see note b) Expected fog Expected rain Salt after rain stops BEFORE freezing Expected rain Salt before frost, as required during rain DURING freezing and after rain stops Possible rain Possible Salt before frost Monitor weather hoar frost Possible fog conditions Expected snow Salt before snow fall The decision to undertake precautionary treatments should be, if appropriate, adjusted to take account of residual salt. All decisions should be evidence based, recorded and require continuous monitoring and review. Decision on treatment timing should account for traffic and road surface wetness at time of treatment and after, as well as forecast conditions. www.hertsdirect.org

Salt usage • Hold 12000 tonnes at capacity • Use :@ 300 tonnes per run. – A little goes a long way. 8-15g per sq metre • From traditional salt to Safecote savings – Reduction of 2000 tonnes. • Potential saved outings using Safecote – Estimated Reduction of 6 outings. www.hertsdirect.org

Route Coverage • Current Primary route selection criteria – A & B roads – MAJOR bus routes – Critical sites – One road to each village – Roads serving industrial areas & shopping centres – Stevenage Urban cycleways (where accessible) – 2200km of Priority routes = 42% of network – Post salting • Secondary Routes • High priority footways www.hertsdirect.org

Gritting Routes http://extra.hertsdirect.org/highways http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/highways/hhonlinese rvices/saltingroutes/ / www.hertsdirect.org

www.hertsdirect.org

Lessons Learnt from severe winters • Salt Usage ( Spread rates reduced) • Storage • Stock holding • Bagged Salt • Mutual aid • Self Help Schemes • Focus on decision making • Have a plan available of a minimum Reduced network Britain in snow, 3rd December 2010 www.hertsdirect.org

2010 Production vs Consumption Cleveland Salt Union Salt consumption Potash (3,200 (5,500 tonnes tonnes per day) Blanket snow across per day) whole UK = 194,000 tonnes in 24 hours 1 UK-wide precautionary treatment = 32,400t (based on 20g/m2) National Salt Stocks (currently 335,000 tonnes) + occasional imports www.hertsdirect.org

Additional support • 1034 Salt bins • Parish/Borough bagged salt scheme. – 180+ Resident groups. – 6000 25 kg bags Delivered – @ 50 schools already requested “self help” www.hertsdirect.org

Ringway resources • 61 Vehicles – Some demountable – Cycle way gritter – Snow ploughs • 160 Staff available • 4 depots www.hertsdirect.org

Useful links • http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/hi ghways/hhonlineservices/saltingroutes • http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/transtreets/hi ghways/hhonlineservices/saltingroutes/selfhelps altbag www.hertsdirect.org

Questions Follow us on Twitter at @Herts_Highways ,#Grittertwitter www.hertsdirect.org

Proposed Date of Next meeting 9 th March 2016 www.hertsdirect.org