Structures Maintenance Plan
7. Maintenance Regimes
7.1 The Maintenance regimes associated with highway structures that are currently used in the management of structures within the Borough can be summarised as follows.
Regime Type | Sub-Set | Description |
|---|---|---|
Regular Maintenance | Routine - Vegetation Clearance | Removal of vegetation from within a 5m radius of the structure and, where appropriate, wing walls in order to protect the structure from damage |
Routine - Cleaning of Expansion Joints and Drainage systems | Removal of debris from the expansion joints and drainage systems to ensure they operate correctly and efficiently and prevent the ingress of water into the structure itself | |
Routine - Clearing of Watercourses | The removal of silt and debris from water courses running under or through structures ensures that the capacity of the structure is not reduced to such a level that upstream flooding can occur. It also prevents damage to the structure by the large items of debris. | |
Routine - Greasing of Metal Bearings | Ensures metal bearings function efficiently and are not subjected to accelerated wear | |
Inspections - All types | As detailed in section 5 | |
Structural Review and Assessment | Reviews are used to ascertain the adequacy of structures to carry specified loads when there are significant changes in usage, loading, condition or the assessment standards. The review should identify those structures which will require full assessment to quantify the load bearing capacity of the structure | |
Management of Sub-Standard Structures | Normally constitutes implementing interim measures to protect users of substandard structures and may include monitoring | |
Programmed Maintenance | Preventative - Re-pointing | Renewal of the mortar used in masonry structures to prevent the ingress of water and protect its structural integrity |
Preventative - Re-painting | Renewal of the paint layers on metal structures to prevent corrosion and protect its structural integrity | |
Preventative - Re-waterproofing | Renewal of the waterproofing layers on a bridge deck to prevent the ingress of water and prevent deterioration of the deck substructure elements | |
Component Renewal | Cyclic works to renew components that have a finite service life such as bearings and expansion joints | |
Upgrading | Work to bring an existing structure up to the appropriate current standard | |
Widening and Headroom Improvements | Works to increase the width or headroom of an existing structure | |
Replacement | Works to replace a structure or component that has reached the end of its useable life (excluding cyclic component renewal works) and designed to restore but not enhance the full design performance of the structure or component that is being replaced | |
Reactive Maintenance | Emergency | Work that must be dealt with immediately due to the high risk the situation poses to public safety |
Essential Maintenance | Major structural repair work especially that undertaken when part or all of a structure is considered to be, or about to become, structurally inadequate or unsafe or unpredictable in its deterioration |
7.2 The use of a well-developed routine maintenance regime can prove cost effective in whole life terms as whilst many of the tasks are fairly minor in themselves, failure to carry them out may lead to the deterioration of the structure and the need for more costly repair operations in the future.
7.3 From a funding perspective highlighting the long-term financial benefits of routine maintenance can be crucial in securing future resources. Emphasising that regular preventative maintenance helps to extend the life of a structure and reduces the risk of major, expensive repairs can make a stronger case for sustained or increased funding.
7.4 Utilising software packages to analyse KPI's obtained from inspections and data driven results will assist in supporting a funding appeal.
