Request ID: FOI-3716-2324 Date published: 12 February 2024
You asked
Hello,
My name is XXXX and I'm contacting you as part of an ongoing research and development effort at Pluto Technologies and a project we’re doing with the European Space Agency. We are interested in a comprehensive understanding of how road maintenance is organized and prioritized by local authorities. I'd appreciate the opportunity to learn about the strategy in London.
Could you please share information about the following:
• What is the length of your asphalt paved roads? Could you give an estimate of the annual budget for resurfacing/maintaining them?
• How often is the road and related asset condition assessed? When was the last time a report on the road surface quality was conducted?
• Do you use a Pavement Management System (PMS), and/or other tools to make planning and coordination easy?
• Do you have a full and comprehensive inventory of all the road assets (road signs, light poles, etc.) that the municipality owns such as location, condition, etc?
• How many insurance cases were reported about car and bicycle damages/accidents last year due to the road condition?
• How many reports or requests to fix road infrastructure damages did you receive from citizens concerning your roads last year?
If there are publicly available reports or documents with this information please feel free to share them.
Looking forward to your response!
We answered
Our ref: FOI-3716-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 17 January 2024 asking for information about road infrastructure management.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked:
What is the length of your asphalt paved roads? Could you give an estimate of the annual budget for resurfacing/maintaining them?
The length is 580km of road plus 48km of segregated cycle routes. The estimated annual capital budget for resurfacing the roads depends on the condition we want them to be in, but a typical estimate for maintaining the roads in a steady state condition is £20m per year.
How often is the road and related asset condition assessed? When was the last time a report on the road surface quality was conducted?
We conduct a Detailed Visual Inspection Survey on our carriageways on a 2-year basis. The results of our Survey are fed into an XA system via our contractors which then produces reports including State of Good Repair (SoGR). It is difficult to provide a specific date as 50% of them are carried out throughout the year, the last round was completed between August and December 2023. In addition, we carry out an annual SCRIM survey which measures the wet skidding resistance of a road surface. The results produce sites for investigation based on risk priority and the information from those site visits is submitted via handheld devices.
For areas where there is segregation, we do Micro Grip testing with a smaller manual device that measures wet skid resistance. The results are to compliment those of the SCRIM survey. Currently this is also being carried out annually. We also do an annual SCANNER survey (Surface Condition Assessment) which provides comprehensive and objective surface and structural condition data. The 2 surveys are completed by mechanical means as opposed to DVIs which are currently completed in house by a team of skilled Inspectors.
Do you use a Pavement Management System (PMS), and/or other tools to make planning and coordination easy?
All survey outputs are put through the XA system to produce the reports. We also use desktop GIS applications to visualise condition data and overlay with other information to identify candidate schemes. In terms of planning and coordination TfL use Surface Playbook and other systems to manage road space and coordinate projects across the business. Do you have a full and comprehensive inventory of all the road assets (road signs, light poles, etc.) that the municipality owns such as location, condition, etc?
We do have a comprehensive inventory of most highway’s assets, including pavement (carriageway, footway, etc..), green estate (trees, planted areas, green verges, etc..), lighting, drainage (to some extent), restrain systems, structures, road marking and signage. The inventory is geographically referenced (GIS) and condition (for some assets) and defects (for others) are collected against asset records.
How many insurance cases were reported about car and bicycle damages/accidents last year due to the road condition?
Last year, we have received and managed 200 claims for damage to vehicles / bicycles.
How many reports or requests to fix road infrastructure damages did you receive from citizens concerning your roads last year?
Unable to respond as we do not monitor road infrastructure damages in a way that is readily available.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Tahsin Prima FOI Case Officer General Counsel Transport for London
