Asset management is making the best use of the money available to maintain and improve Blackpool’s highways.
What is a Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP)?
A HAMP helps the Council to deal with the following issues:
- Decide which roads are the most important.
- Decide the minimum condition that each road should be in.
- Determine how much money needs to be spent on each road.
- Determine when this money should be spent to achieve these results.
- Because of the limitations on funding available, the HAMP also helps prioritise the network for maintenance.
In short, the HAMP helps the Council maintain its highway network:-
- In the right place
- At the right time
- With the appropriate level of funding
Blackpool Council’s Highway Network consists of :-
Principal Category A 55km
Classified B Road 21km
Classified C road 15km
Unclassified U road 351km
Back Alleyways 73km
Total Length 515km
There is also 21km of Public Right of Way Network
Each length of highway contains ‘individual’ assets, including road markings, signs, bus stops, anti skid surfacing, mini roundabouts, zebra crossings etc.
With a total indicative value of £500 million, the network is among the most valuable local assets. Every resident and visitor to Blackpool uses the highway network, whether as a pedestrian; on a bicycle or motorcycle; in a bus, taxi, or car; or as a goods vehicle driver. Roads are the main transport routes for our community; they are also key social areas where people meet, socialise and shop. So everybody is a stakeholder in the road network and are affected by its maintenance.
A well maintained highway network that serves the needs of residents, businesses and the tourist population is vital to the future success of Blackpool.
Work completed to date
The first step in any Asset Management Plan is to update a list of assets together with their condition and life expectancy. To achieve this a pilot survey was undertaken during 2007 on the unclassified road network.
A valuation has been carried out based on the inventory. The results of this survey produced the following:
- Carriageway (455km) £353 million
- Footway (750km) £63 million
The estimated total replacement cost for all highway assets is £0.5 billion, based on a limited pilot study, but it does give the Council more insight into the likely value of the highways infrastructure.
Assessment of the condition and financial position
Blackpool’s roads have been assessed using the best methods that are available. The money available isn’t enough to be able to maintain road condition across the whole network.
The cost of maintenance and renewals are escalating alarmingly due to various factors including labour charges and the rising cost of oil. At the same time the highway deterioration is increasing, due to factors including:
- Wear and tear – Traffic
- Utilities – Road works
- Damage by users – Skips, scaffolding, building work
- Weather
Priorities for Maintenance
The Corporate Objectives for Highways Maintenance fall into three basic options:
- Maintain the network to the current condition
- Improve the network condition
- Manage the decline of the network
Notwithstanding statutory obligations, the following policy objectives will guide the management and delivery of the Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP):-
- Manage and improve the safety of Blackpool’s roads (reduction of casualties and safety issues)
- Maintain the current condition of the Strategic Road Network, (Main Roads) where possible
- Manage the residential network in a safe state, and where possible maintain the aesthetic appearance and reduce the potential for compensation claims
This order of priority is based on the following:
Road safety and risk reduction for residents and visitors to be killed or seriously injured is our top priority and a key principle in prioritising maintenance spending.
The Strategic Road Network represents approximately 20% of the total network carrying the vast majority of traffic (vehicular, pedestrian and cyclists) and is linked to the economic viability of Blackpool, thus making it a key asset.
The Strategic Road Network partly projects Blackpool’s image to both visitors and investors. Due to the volume of traffic carried, the deterioration of the Strategic Network is more rapid than residential streets; timely maintenance is required to prevent costs escalating.
Residential streets are the areas where Blackpool’s citizens live and work, and their condition and aesthetic appearance is important in Neighbourhood Streetscenes.
Next steps to produce full Highways Asset management Plan
- Complete a more detailed inventory collection and condition survey to assist in decision making, priority and condition, and set in place processes to ensure it is kept up to date
- Using the complete condition surveys, provide a more detailed valuation of the network and calculation of the backlog. This data is to be transmitted to the Department for Transport and Government and may be used in the future to gain funding
- Based on the principles set out above and in the attached draft, develop resources to achieve HAMP objectives which provide the direction to the Forward Maintenance Plans
- The HAMP is then to take a wider vision of Transportation assets such as buses, trams and car parks which are vital to the future economy of the town, leading to the development of a Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP)
The Highways Asset Management Plan is programmed to be released soon and there will be a link to the document.
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