Road defects soar in wake of harsh winter
The high cost of East Lothian's crumbling road network in the aftermath of the harsh winter and storm damage due to flooding in March was outlined this week.
In a report to the council's environment policy and performance review panel, Brian Cooper, senior transportation manager, painted the bleak financial picture, estimating 2.8 million for road repairs and 628,000 for drainage work in the county — in addition to the existing capital budget.
He asked councillors to note the need of extra funding to help start to address the recovery of the road network and surface water drainage systems.
Mr Cooper said: "The winter period of 2009/10 proved to be one of the harshest experienced in the UK over a period of 30 years. As early as January 2010 it became evident that the prolonged period of cold weather was having a very damaging affect on the road network with lengthy sections of the rural network in particular rapidly deteriorating to a dangerous level."
Repaired
This, he explained, was highlighted by the marked increase in carriageway defects from December 1, 2009, to March, 2010.
There were 2,397 "safety defects" — pothole or carriageway defect to be repaired within five working days —compared to 996 the previous year.
Immediate defects totalling 244 were recorded — pothole or carriageway defect to be repaired within 24 hours — compared to 34 the previous year.
Mr Cooper said: "Towards the end of February as the principal snowfall thawed, prolonged periods of heavy rain resulted in surface water flooding across the county. This was repeated with even greater effect with significant flooding of the road network during the storm of March 30 and 31 which saw snow, gales and heavy rain hit Scotland leading to severe transport and power problems."
Deterioration
Damage was caused to coastal footways at Seton Sands and Prestonpans, and roads had to be closed and sandbags provided.
Mr Cooper reported: "As a result of the surface deterioration caused by the prolonged period of winter weather, particularly in rural areas, extensive remedial works were carried out at 42 locations at a cost of 261,429. A large number of additional sites have been identified and have been included in the 2010/11 programme of works.
"Due to the high numbers of recorded defects, accident claims and general safety implications, a course of action was taken to semi-permanently repair sections of road on junctions and principal, district and local routes. However, it was recognised that due to the large number of sites, repairs would have to be kept to a minimum and generally restricted to maximum of 50m in length.
“An exercise to identify the worst locations involving sections of inlay, overlay over full carriageway widths and patching was carried out in early February and works commenced mid-February for a period of approximately four weeks.”
Programmed works at Dirleton and Eskmills, Musselburgh, had to be delayed to supplement the expenditure needed during January to March 2010.
Thirty-two per cent of East Lothian’s roads were either red or amber condition in the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey in 2009 which is expected to rise to 37 per cent as a result of the winter weather and storm damage.
A council spokesman later said a decision on what the SNP/Liberal Democrat administation thought was appropriate investment in East Lothian’s road network was awaited.
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Weather for Musselburgh
Monday 21 May 2012
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