Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Free Traffic Information Seminars
Helping your business get its customers, drivers and goods where they should be, on time and stress-free.
Capability Assessment Toolkit 3
Introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Efficiency Gains from Collaborative Roads Procurement
Delivering efficiency and best value is central
Good Practice: Bridge Marking
March 2008
Even with the introduction of the Severe Weather Alert warnings occasionally a large goods vehicle overturns on a bridge. Debriefs have highlighted that this presents additional issues for the recovery process. This article highlights a simple solution to assist with this especially out of hours.
Background
Area 10 in the North West manages several large structures such as Thelwall Viaduct, Barton High Level Bridge and Rakewood Viaduct. Due to their height these structures are prone to high winds and therefore LGVs are at risk of being blown over during severe gales.
If an LGV requires righting on a structure then the positioning of any heavy recovery vehicles / cranes must be carefully considered. The outriggers from the vehicles put a point load onto the bridge deck which it may not necessarily be designed to carry. This can be mitigated by ensuring the recovery vehicles are placed above the main structural elements of the bridge.
Due to the complexity of some bridges it is important to contact a bridge engineer if any lifting operation is required on a bridge. A quick phone call could save a major escalation of an incident.
Solution
When in position on top of a large motorway bridge it is not readily apparent where the main structural elements are. You are unlikely to be able to see where the vertical support columns are from the deck itself. In the past the bridge engineer has given measurements from fixed known points for those on site to ensure the recovery vehicle outriggers are placed safely.
This can be time consuming as the relevant drawings have to be examined and it is even more difficult out of hours when the information may not be as readily available. Area 10 is implementing a simple project to mark those structures which warrant it to show where the key structural elements lie.
Ian McLauchlan from AOne+ (the Area 10 MAC) is developing the idea. The project will place engraved plastic labels on the bridge parapets above each of the support columns. They will also show which column it is so the bridge engineers can determine exactly where on the structure the vehicle has overturned.
Amy Williams, Highways Agency Route Performance Manager, stated: “This project is a low cost way to ensure that the relevant information is available at scene to enable an early scene clearance.”
Have you got any good ideas which could benefit the wider incident response community. With over 500 subscribers the TIM Bulletin is a powerful tool to allow this. Please email TIMBulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk
