Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund
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Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund Application Form The level of information provided should be proportionate to the size and complexity of the scheme proposed. As a guide, for a small scheme we would suggest around 10 to 15 pages including annexes would be appropriate and for a larger scheme, 15 to 30 pages. A separate application form should be completed for each scheme up to a maximum or one large bid and one small bid for each local highway authority. Applicant Information Local authority name(s)*: Bristol City Council Bid Manager Name and position: John Roy, Group Manager Transport Assets Contact telephone number: 0117 922 3118 Email address: [email protected] Postal address: Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY When authorities submit a bid for funding to the Department, as part of the Government’s commitment to greater openness in the public sector under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, they must also publish a version excluding any commercially sensitive information on their own website within two working days of submitting the final bid to the Department. The Department reserves the right to deem the business case as non-compliant if this is not adhered to. Please specify the weblink where this bid will be published: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/transport-and-streets/local-highways-maintenance-challenge- fund 1 Section A - Scheme description and funding profile A1. Scheme name Cumberland Basin maintenance and repair of 15 existing bridges and viaducts on the A370, A3029 and A4. A2. Headline description The existing highway interchange at the Cumberland Basin, in central Bristol, comprises the A370, A3029 and A4, and runs across a network of 15 existing highway bridges and viaducts. These structures require maintenance and repair to their bearings, waterproofing, expansion joints and parapets. As the European Green Capital for 2015 Bristol City Council has a great opportunity to reinforce our environmental ambition and to showcase innovative working practises across Europe, as can be demonstrated by our “Laboratory for Change”. We won the award by proving we: • have achieved high environmental standards • have ambitious goals for sustainable development • can act as a role model to inspire other cities. We will use the skills and knowledge that we have gained form our status as Green Capital in delivering this scheme. A3. Geographical area: The A370/A3029 is the main arterial route into Bristol from North Somerset and links to the Temple Quay Enterprise Zone and the central business districts of Bristol. The A4 is the strategic route into Bristol from the M5/M49 motorway and connects to Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area. 2 OS Grid Reference: 352,508 180,516 Postcode: BS11 Please see Appendix A for location of proposed scheme. A4. Type of bid (please tick relevant box): Large project bids (requiring DfT funding of between £20m plus) Major maintenance, strengthening or renewal of bridges, tunnels, retaining walls or other structures Major maintenance or renewal of carriageways (roads) Major maintenance or renewal of footways or cycleways Major maintenance or renewal of drainage assets Upgrade of Street Lighting A5. Equality Analysis Has any Equality Analysis been undertaken in line with the Equality Duty? Yes No Please see Appendix B for Equality Relevance check Section B – The Business Case B1. The Scheme – Summary/History (Maximum 200 words) Principal inspections of the 15 bridges and viaducts in the Cumberland Basin network have revealed that the following defects exist which require immediate attention; Replacement 332 number bridge bearings; Replacement of existing waterproofing membranes (over 26,000 square metres); Replacement 28 mechanical and asphaltic expansion joints (450 lin metres); Replace over 4,000m of high containment safety kerbs to footways/verges which will enable category N1 parapets to be installed; Drainage improvements to replace the original design which is extremely difficult to maintain and results in localised flooding on the highway during high intensity events; Repair to mechanical, electrical and operational systems of two swing bridges. The elements described above are now reaching the end of their serviceable life having entered their 52nd year and need replacement and/or repair. By undertaking these works it will enable these assets to continue in a serviceable condition for the remainder of their design life which we estimate would be up to 2085. This would reduce significantly the future revenue and capital maintenance costs which would be required. Bristol City Council has undertaken a reactive regime of maintenance to these structures effectively managing their decline resulting in traffic restrictions and disruptions to businesses, residents and visitors to Bristol. 3 B2. The Strategic Case (Maximum 650 words) The Cumberland Basin provides access to Bristol and the Enterprise Areas of Junction 21, Filton, Avonmouth & Severnside and Temple Quarter for the residents, businesses and visitors to Bristol. The Cumberland Basin is designated as part of the Resilience Network. More widely across the West of England region, it will provide access to approximately 40,000 jobs by 2030 in these Enterprise Areas. It also links directly to the recently completed works at Yanley Viaduct which were funded through the Local Pinch Point approved scheme with similar works comprising re-surfacing, waterproofing, replacement of expansion joints, bearings and parapets. These two schemes in combination will maintain access along this strategic route into Bristol from North Somerset. The 15 structures in the Cumberland Basin have entered the 52nd life of their serviceable lifespan. Structural inspections have shown that immediate action is required to repair the structural elements that have failed and to return the structure to a serviceable condition. Please see summary at Appendix C which clearly shows the range of defects that exist on the structures in the Cumberland Basin. Without securing specific funding for this project, the maintenance of the structures and viaducts will only be carried out as part of normal Highways Capital Maintenance Needs programme in Bristol. Existing funding would restrict maintenance to short sections each year creating continued disruption to traffic, public transport and business e.g. road closures, one-way working. This approach would effectively be continual decline which will result in disruption and delay on this strategic route into Bristol being detrimental to the wider network in Bristol and impact negatively on jobs creation within the Enterprise Zones and Areas. Without this funding these structures would continue to decline as our maintenance allocation cannot arrest the decline. The only two alternatives would be to direct a significant proportion of future Highways Capital Maintenance Needs Allocation for the next 10 years on these structures with resulting serious negative impact on all other transport assets in the city. In effect we would only be able to respond to emergency responses and undertake no proactive or planned maintenance on the wider range of assets. The other option would be Prudential Borrowing as part of a wider Invest to Save project across the wider highway network. The Invest to Save option is currently being investigated but is unlikely due to the Council’s other financial commitments and the uncertainty of future local funding. Investment in the Cumberland Basin would extend the serviceable lifespan of the 15 bridges and viaducts until 2085 covering the timescale for the delivery of jobs and development growth within Enterprise Zones and Areas. This highway complex is crucial to ensuring that access is provided to the Enterprise Areas at Junction 21, Filton, Avonmouth & Severnside and Temple Quarter. With this investment this highway complex would be a fully fit for purpose route in a crucial economic area, able to support the projected traffic over the next 20 years without any future major maintenance interventions. Whole life costs will be minimised and significant economic growth in the area will be supported. Please see Appendix D which shows the areas that will benefit directly from this scheme. The impact of funding not being secured would be that a programme of planned weight restrictions and road closures would have to be implemented in order to protect the integrity of the 15 structures with the ensuing disruption to traffic, public transport and freight into/out of the city and more widely within the West of England region. In particular there is a high likelihood 4 that serious failure of the Avon Fixed Bridge will occur at some point in the next 5-10 years which would cause major disruption as this is the only strategic route into the City from North Somerset. This investment would ensures that the highway complex within the Cumberland Basin remains open and functional until 2085 delivering sustained economic growth and wider access to employment within West of England Region providing access to Temple Quay Enterprise Zone. B3. The Financial Case – Project Costs Please complete the following tables. Figures should be entered in £000s (i.e. £10,000 = 10). Table A: Funding profile (Nominal terms) £000s 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Total DfT Funding £4,601 £12,269 £10,224 £27,094 Sought LA Contribution £460 £1,227 £1,022 £2,709 Other Third Party - - - - Funding Please See Appendix E for cost estimate Notes: 1) Department for Transport funding must not go beyond 2017-18 financial year. 2) A minimum local contribution of 10% (local authority and/or third party) of the project costs is required. B4. The Financial Case - Local Contribution / Third Party Funding Please provide information on the following points (where applicable): a) The non-DfT contribution may include funding from organisations other than the scheme promoter. Please provide details of all non-DfT funding contributions to the scheme costs. This should include evidence to show how any third party contributions are being secured, the level of commitment and when they will become available.