Maintaining roads and structures
Capital maintenance, which includes:
• reconstruction and resurfacing of carriageways,
• application of surface dressing and anti-skid surfacing,
• repairs to structures, including joint replacement, is carried out to sustain the asset value of the network.
These operations are carried out by the
OC for scheme values up to £250k.
Larger schemes are procured using
works contracts.
2.2.2 Capital maintenance - operations
Roads and structures maintenance
Although the OCs are responsible for the operations, specialist activities and major operations are routinely carried out by sub-contractors. Workmanship, supervision of operations and performance are monitored by the OCs.
Workmanship, sub-contracting and supervision
NE – BEAR
The general standard of workmanship was reasonable, with a small number of issues to be addressed.
Generally, site supervision was satisfactory, but there remains room
for improvement.
SE – BEAR
Workmanship, especially hand laid carriageway patching and machine laid patching, was carried out to a good standard.
When week-end operations commenced in September 2007, there were issues initially with regard to works supervision and measurement. However, improved standards and accountability have resulted from a change in BEAR’s procedures.
NW – Scotland TranServ
Workmanship was generally good.
Operations were of an acceptable standard, with only a few issues being identified.
SW – Amey
Generally, the standard of workmanship, supervision of works and of sub-contractors continued to be good.
A safety fence replacement maintenance scheme is shown in figure 12.
Value study 1 –
pavement condition on routine patching
Background
This value study examines whether the OCs are providing value in maintaining pavement condition. During 2007/08, over £14.4 million was spent on routine repairs to pavements, representing 13.1% of the overall OC spend.
To ensure routine repairs are carried out in areas of most need, and to facilitate future budget allocations, the OCs are required to carry out detailed inspections of all carriageways every year. They must then record in RMMS details of all major and minor carriageway defects.
The OCs’ analysis of these defects should ensure the appropriate treatment is targeted to the relevant areas. This should demonstrate that OCs are spending their budgets on a prioritised basis.
