140 likes | 163 Vues
Learn about the challenges of reactive repairs for highways, reasons for defects, and solutions to improve customer satisfaction and road safety through efficient maintenance practices.
E N D
Background • Deteriorating Network • More reactive repairs • Higher risk of claims • Temporary repairs • Poor customer satisfaction • Investment deficit • Only 2% (Based on 12/13 figures) of network receives preventative or planned treatments per annum (50 year life cycle) • Therefore treatments need to significantly exceed their design life at current spending levels
Why do reactive repairs? • Legal duty • Local Authorities have a legal requirement under the Highways Act (Section 41) to maintain safety for the road user • Customer expectation • Customers want to see repairs that are timely and effective
What is a Pothole/Defect The ‘Code of Practice for Well Maintained Highways’ classifies a defect as either • Category 1 (Emergency 24 hour repair) - those that require prompt attention because they represent an immediate or imminent hazard or because there is a risk of short-term structural deterioration. • Category 2 (28 Day repair)- all other defects following inspection that do not represent an immediate hazard or risk but are still at intervention level.
Examples potholes A B C D E F
Why are defects are increasing? • Extreme weather over the last 5 years • Reduced funding in real terms • significant gap in funding to achieve steady state • Roads deteriorated to a level where low value treatments are no longer viable. • Increased and heavier traffic • Little capacity to deliver larger patches within existing budget constraints
Why don’t repairs always last? • Cold weather • Cannot undertake repairs in cold or wet weather • Running water (Water ingress) • Washed out temporary repairs cause significant repeat reports • Can’t undertake permanent repair in timeframe • Traffic management required • No point undertaking permanent repair • Road service in such poor condition that only solution is resurfacing or major works • Can’t afford permanent solution • Unable to undertake adequate works as budget not available but need to make safe (temporary repairs will be used until funding available).
Issues identified • Continuing increase in defects • High percentage of defects being reported by customer (reactive rather than proactive approach) • Most repairs completed are temporary • Lack of flexibility to respond to changes in demand (without impacting upon cost) • Reduced output due to highly reactive nature of works – many works completed through 1 hour emergency process. • Poor quality of initial repair • Only smaller defects are repaired (those below 2m2)
The solution? • Reduce temporary repairs • First time permanent repairs reduces repeat visits and increases performance of the repair • New technologies • Velocity Patching • Improved specifications • Higher specification of treatments increases life cycle in-line with whole life costs • Enhanced inspections • Increased walked/driven inspections • Reduces calls from the public and allows more efficient working practices
The solution? (Cont) • Improved inspection training • Qualified competent staff lead to improved service • Better reporting mechanisms • Improved internet and reporting site • Enhanced scripts for call centre • Reduce impact of Utilities work • Improved inspections will reduce poor quality works • Improves reinstatement performance • Improves customer satisfaction
SMART teams • First time quality repair (wherever possible) • Defects repaired up to 20m2 • Improved customer satisfaction • Efficient and cost effective • Increased output • Area Officers have better ownership and flexibility in delivering the reactive service • Improved contractor monitoring
Potholes / Patches Typical repair SMART team repair
Conclusion • Continuing deterioration in highway network leading to increased volumes of calls & defects • Increasing budget pressures • Dependent on customer reporting for high % of the network (no call = no fix) • Achieve more first time fixes of potholes by the contractor • Utilise new technology/ treatments to improve efficiencies • Asset Management critical if we are to achieve an efficient use of funding • Need to manage expectations • Continue to improve and enhance communication activity