Our Ref: EIR 100840 Simon Came Head of Planning and Development Paul Atherton Stirling House [email protected] Lakeside Court Osier Drive Sherwood Business Park NG15 0DS

www.highwaysengland.co.uk

11 March 2020

Dear Mr Atherton

Request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Thank you for your request for information dated 14 February 2020. Questions 1 and 2 in your request have been dealt with under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

This is because the information requested concerns measures and activities affecting or likely to affect elements of the environment or affect factors such as noise, pollution discharges and other releases into the environment.

Question 3 has been handled under normal business practices and not in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations.

This is because the information you have requested is information we make available to the public on a regular basis.

In your request you said:

“The A52 road bridge crossing the in Nottingham has now been closed for a week. The resultant traffic congestion now sees Nottingham has one of the most congested cities in the UK as confirmed by an independent source (TomTom Traffic Index) with no reopening date confirmed.

An 18 month or longterm closure would seem likely if this is a global reinforced concrete/Steel corrosion issue.

Please could Highways confirm the following;

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363

1. Can you please describe the maintenance strategy for this asset, including frequency of inspection and frequency / scale of ongoing maintenance?

2. How many structures nationwide are of a similar design and fall under this maintenance strategy?

3. What measures will be taken to minimise the impact of the inevitable road closures during the forthcoming remedial works?”

We have now completed our search for this information and a copy of it is shown below.

1. Can you please describe the maintenance strategy for this asset, including frequency of inspection and frequency / scale of ongoing maintenance?

a. Maintenance of highway structures is set out in the Design Manual of Roads and Bridges. b. Structures shall have inspections as set out in BD63 http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/vol3/section1/bd6317.p df c. There are two regular routine types of inspections i. General Inspections are undertaken every 2 years and examine structures for defects from all parts where no specialist equipment for access is required. i.e. a walkover inspection ii. Principal Inspection is done at touching distance. Access equipment at height will be used along with access inside a structure. The inspection is non destructive so it is again a visual inspection. d. Additional special inspections may be required i. As a result of something identified during inspections or ii. As part of a programme of inspections of vulnerable components. e. The Clifton Bridge has Post Tensioning and BD54 http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/vol3/section2/bd5415.p df sets out the management strategy and inspection approach. i. Intrusive investigations were carried out on a number of occasions over the last 20 years to understand the condition. ii. Some intrusive investigations included examining visually structure components. iii. Some intrusive investigations gathered technical data to help understand likely deterioration or damage to the structure. f. Routine maintenance of this structure includes i. Clearing out the drainage system to ensure it operates ii. Removing undesirable vegetation g. Other maintenance is part of a planned scheme i. Inspections will identify issues with components.

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363

2. How many structures nationwide are of a similar design and fall under this maintenance strategy?

We have reviewed the list of our structures and from this we have identified 9 bridges with a similar design. In terms of the maintenance strategy, all of these inspections form part of the routine inspection programmes that are undertaken, and are managed in accordance with the national standard for the management of post-tensioned concrete bridges.

3. What measures will be taken to minimise the impact of the inevitable road closures during the forthcoming remedial works?

We are assessing the structure to investigate how we can get more lanes open as quickly and as safely as we can. We are working towards providing 2 lanes and then 3 lanes for those heading out of Nottingham on the eastbound side of the bridge, but we can only do this when we know it is safe to do so. The full structural assessments are ongoing and until we’re confident it will not cause any further damage to concrete, we need to keep the one running lane open for now.

We have already taken proactive steps to inform people of disruption by putting in place variable message signs at key junctions advising of the restrictions to allow motorists to consider alternative routes. We have also carried out extensive media updates to inform people of the work so they can consider alternative methods of transport.

We are working with both County Council and Nottingham City Council and together we are engaging with key stakeholders and emergency services to keep disruption to a minimum. We continue working collaboratively to find the best solutions for the area to get the repair work done as quickly and as safely as we can.

If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request you may ask for an internal review within 2 months of the date of this response for Freedom of Information requests and within 40 days for Environmental Information Regulations requests. Our internal review process is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/highways-england/about/complaints- procedure

If you require a print copy, please phone the Information Line on 0300 123 5000; or email [email protected]. You should contact me if you wish to complain.

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AF

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote reference number EIR 100840 in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Simon Came Head of Planning and Development East Midlands

[email protected]

Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363