tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82672406198376236022024-02-19T04:21:46.814-08:00News - Transport for BuckinghamshireRead our latest news stories. To return, please use your browsers back button.Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-48449334615619891562021-04-26T01:20:00.003-07:002021-04-27T00:52:12.605-07:00Frequently asked questions about...gullies!<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Following the February budget announcement that an injection of £4 million funding would boost Transport for Buckinghamshire's (TfB) gully clearance programme, work will begin from 4th May 2021. This additional investment will enable each of the 80,000 gullies on the road network to be cleared.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ahead of the programme beginning, we've answered some of your most frequently asked questions about gullies and the gully clearing programme... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is a gully?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A road gully is a small pot placed along the edge of the road and
covered from the top by gully grating, which is made of a steel frame. The main
purpose of a gully is to collect surface water off the road and direct it to an
existing drainage network, which includes a ditch system, a large soakaway or a
water course.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is a soakaway?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A soakaway is a drainage pit covered by a metal cover which many road
gullies feed into. Its purpose is to allow Highway water coming into a gully to
feed into this soakaway and drain naturally into the surrounding subsoil. They
can get blocked with silt, and in times of high water tables (e.g. excessive
rainfall and flooding), they will take a lot longer to drain away. This leaves
gullies looking full due to the soakaway being backed up with no water
penetrating the subsoil surrounding the area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is a grip and why do they need re-cutting?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A grip is a channel cut within a grass verge to allow running and
pooling water from rural road surfaces into a parallel drainage ditch that
normally runs alongside the road. Rural roads with no man-made gully drainage
systems benefit from grips being cut. However, in recent years we have seen a
rise in verge overruns by cars and vehicles blocking grips and stopping running
water entering the ditch systems. It is important to maintain grips to ensure
they are kept open and free of damage or grass growth to allow water to exit
the highway and soak into the ditch systems. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How often will you clean a gully?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the start of this new financial year we have started cleansing all
gullies on an annual basis. Previously, we cleaned gullies on A and B roads on
a cyclical basis and all other gullies were cleaned once every three years. In
addition to this, we will also be cleaning out soakaways and ditches, which is
something we have been unable to do routinely before due to budget constraints.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How many gully cleaning machines do you have?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We have three gully cleaning machines in house, once located at each
area depot – Aylesbury, Wycombe and Amersham. However, this year we have also
hired an additional four machines with operators, from our supply chain
partners, which means a total of seven machines will be working across the
contract.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When does your gully cleaning programme start?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our new gully cleaning programme commences from 4<sup>th</sup> May 2021
with the cyclic programme and will continue until 31<sup>st</sup> March 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How long can you spend on a stuck gully?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes, our crews come across a gully cover that is stuck, which
means we can’t access it to clean it. Our crews do carry tools with them that
can help in this situation, but they cannot spend longer than ten minutes
trying to get access to a gully. If we cannot get access, we will record it on
our system and return to release it. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks">Like us on Facebook </a>| <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts">Follow us on Twitter</a></span></p>Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-68128239259123825872021-04-21T02:56:00.002-07:002021-04-21T07:11:35.332-07:00Think, keep calm and just turn back<p></p><p><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Think,
keep calm and just turn back. </span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A slogan we coined in 2019 as part of our new 'Respect
our Workforce' campaign, designed to eliminate abuse directed at our customer
facing team members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sadly,
abuse towards our workforce is still an issue that we have to deal with on a
very regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our
staff are sworn and shouted at, spat at, have rubbish thrown at them, are
physically assaulted and have even been threatened with weapons. All too often,
members of the public are even driving through road closures because they don't
want to use the diversion route, putting our crews lives - and their own lives
- at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our
staff are regularly facing abuse simply for doing their jobs. It's got to stop. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have taken the necessary action our end. We use bodycams. We have signs up
advising of the use of CCTV on site and asking the travelling public to respect
our workforce. We ask for our workers to be respected via social media.
Ideally, we wouldn't even have to ask, but the reality of the situation is that
it's still necessary to. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFp4_PwMAzlTSjotiVovaLAoge_50BLbccSjcx0-55j8Rra6ZHK5VW8vFTlKPhoGjwgPdPe4G5XlWR_hCaacCXwgb5N-nzIWHZpiitHH08O9X2IDfn36WXoFNtWxv2TBeHZ-eKkXVUPs/s2048/IMG_5362.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFp4_PwMAzlTSjotiVovaLAoge_50BLbccSjcx0-55j8Rra6ZHK5VW8vFTlKPhoGjwgPdPe4G5XlWR_hCaacCXwgb5N-nzIWHZpiitHH08O9X2IDfn36WXoFNtWxv2TBeHZ-eKkXVUPs/s320/IMG_5362.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone
deserves to feel safe at work. Everyone deserves to return home in one piece at
the end of the day. </span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our
team members; they're more than just that. They are mums and dads, brothers and
sisters, friends. They have families to go home to safely at the end of the
day. That is the bare minimum you expect when you go to work. It's something
that everyone deserves, our workforce included.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
understand that our work and the work of our utility companies and supply chain
partners can be frustrating for you, the travelling public. Closed roads and
temporary traffic lights can add time to your already long day and stopping at
a site where you can't see work happening can be the last straw on a bad
day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
are the travelling public too. We get it. <b>But it's still never an
excuse to abuse our workforce.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
is why we are asking once again, that people think, keep calm and just turn
back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our
workforce are here to do a job. They are here to look after our roads and make
sure they're safe for you to travel on. Issues on the road are not the fault of
our workforce, so please do not take out any frustrations you may have on
them. </span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
doesn't stop with the customer facing workforce, either. If you're speaking to
someone on the phone, through email or via social media, please still remember
to respect our workforce and treat them as you yourself would want to be
treated. Swearing, threats and name calling are all unnecessary - and yet our
workforce still deal with this on an all too regular basis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
ease your frustrations, it can help to plan ahead. Make sure you're checking
your route on <a href="https://one.network/">one.network</a>, a satnav or other route checkers online ahead of any journey's you make, as this will advise
you of closures, diversions and delays. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you spot a defect, report it on Fix My Street where it can be allocated to the
appropriate team - please don't make an abusive phone call to us about
it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
know that roadworks cause frustrations at the best of times, but no one ever
deserves to be abused simply for doing their job. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
will bring the abuse of our workforce to an end. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please
think, keep calm and just turn back. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts">Twitter</a></b></div><p></p>Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-40570226443693984632020-10-28T08:34:00.003-07:002020-11-10T02:02:12.014-08:00Transport for Buckinghamshire is Preparing for Winter
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The end of this year is looking rather
different than we are used to, however Transport for Buckinghamshire’s (TfB)
winter plan is still very much the same, to keep Buckinghamshire’s highways
safe, no matter the conditions.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Buckinghamshire has over 3,000km of
road network and not all of it will be gritted during the winter season, as
limited resources available to TfB requires them to focus the service on 25
pre-selected priority routes that are required to keep the general traffic
moving. The depots across the county have a combined total of 10,500 tonnes of
salt, this includes an emergency supply held in Saunderton.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The decisions on whether to send out
the gritters are made daily, based on local weather forecasts and road
temperatures, rather than air temperatures. The readings are provided by
monitoring stations around the county, with daily weather forecasts received
showing the predicted ground temperature and dew point. The dew point is the
point where air has cooled to a degree that it can no longer hold moisture. If
the ground temperature is forecast to drop to zero, ice would be expected to
occur on untreated roads. The gritters are likely to be sent out whenever road
temperatures are forecast to fall below +0.5°c and ice is expected to form. The
decision is not taken lightly as each run uses approximately between 65 and 85
tonnes of rock salt. </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As well as the technical reports being
a factor in the decision making, the experience and teamwork of TfB operatives
also play a big role in deciding when to send the gritters out. Once the
decision has been made, an update will be provided on TfB’s twitter pages,
@TwitGritter and @tfbalerts as per previous years. The fluffy animal photos
posted with the updates on @tfbalerts have proved to be a big hit with the
public and generally looked forward to by the followers of the page.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is never any guarantee that the
roads will be completely clear of ice or snow, due to several factors such as a
late change in forecast, or if the teams must wait for rain to clear before
gritting as it cannot be applied during wet weather due to the risk it could be
washed away. In severe cold weather, salt becomes less effective, and below
-8°c even salt will not prevent ice from forming.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The winter service is not due to start
until October however gritting crews have already been out for their pre-winter
training, providing re-fresher training to current staff and training new
operatives. Before the gritting season starts officially, all the vehicles will
be thoroughly serviced, and inspected, and the drivers will re-familiarise
themselves with the machines and ensure the equipment is working correctly
during the winter parade held on Saturday 5<sup>th</sup> October 2020.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Transport Cabinet Member, Nick Naylor,
said:</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘I am incredibly proud of the hard
work demonstrated by TfB during this strange year and even more so with their
impeccable planning, ready to keep the county safe during the inevitable cold
snap. Without their dedication, travelling around Bucks during those frosty
winter months would be near impossible and we need to keep those roads clear
for our key workers. Thank you to all at TfB.’</span></p>
Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-78426638428491448842020-05-14T01:55:00.002-07:002020-10-28T08:33:48.061-07:00The challenges of winter for TfB
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Covid-19 has been a trying time for the country, especially for
those on the front line such as health care staff and emergency services.
Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) has been continuing to maintain the roads network
across Buckinghamshire to ensure they are as safe as possible, so our emergency
workers can travel to where they are needed most.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As well as our wonderful NHS, there are a number of workers around
the county keeping public services running and TfB is extremely proud of its
operational colleagues, who are still out there trying to keep things running
smoothly. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Due to this commitment to service, the local road networks remain
open and as a result, essential workers can travel and deliveries can be made
to the vulnerable. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whilst traffic volumes around Buckinghamshire are at an all-time
low, TfB can get ahead of the game with much needed repair works on main
traffic routes without causing major disruption. Our primary focus is to
continue to keep roads in Buckinghamshire safe, particularly for emergency
services, key workers and distribution of essential supplies. Safety for both
our staff and the public is of the utmost importance. Social distancing and
hygiene standards will be observed in accordance with government guidance
whilst balancing the need for any safety defects to be repaired in the correct
manner.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the first few weeks we carried out repairs of the most safety
critical defects, and assessed our planned programme of more extensive improvements
in the light of many unknowns including likely availability of workers,
materials, equipment. We have also been working with utility companies to see
what changes need to be made, if any. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are now actively progressing a wide range of road improvements,
and even bringing some forward while the network is much quieter than normal.
This is on the basis that ongoing road improvements are necessary to stop
deterioration of the highway in the future, in line with <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">current government guidelines</span>,
and the road network needs to be fit for purpose for when the lock-down ends as
well as keeping essential workers moving safely now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All of this has been going on as we have headed out of the winter <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">service delivery</span> period,
which <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">runs between</span> from
October until April. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">So
what did we do over the winter period?</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Winter usually throws an array of challenges at Transport for Buckinghamshire
(TfB)! Most people associate winter with short days and cold weather, but it
was storm Ciara and Dennis and the associated, almost relentless heavy
rainfall, that reminds us that these can have just as great an impact on the
travelling public. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the conditions,
the TfB operational delivery team, strives to keep the highway safe.<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In
preparation for the 2019/20 winter, over 10,000 tonnes of salt were stocked in the
depots for the fleet of 25 spreading vehicles, which operate from the four area
bases.</span></p>
<p style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The first two
runs of the gritting season began on 27th October, which was very similar to
the previous year. As the winter progressed, it became colder than last year,
and with wet roads, increasing the risk of slippery surfaces, increased
gritting was required. By the end of December, 25 runs were carried out - an
increase of 9 on the previous year. Even Christmas night was a frosty one, so
TfB gritter drivers were out gritting roads before people embarked on their
Boxing Day journeys. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">On a daily basis throughout the winter, TfB routinely monitors road
surface temperatures gritting season in order to plan each day. It’s the road surface
temperature (RST) that is important, so if there is a forecast of the RST
dropping below +0.5°C and ice likely, the crews are alerted and gritters get
ready to begin their routes. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The winter period began on 27<sup>th</sup> October and ended on the 19<sup>th</sup>
April, with a total of 60 gritting runs completed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">December and January also saw a huge amount of rainfall. In normal
seasonal weather, two gully emptying machines are permanently on the TfB
contract, delivering the cyclical gully clearing programme each year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">During the period of extreme rainfall, it was a challenge to keep on
top of the significant additional reactive work of clearing flooding sites.
Two additional machines were purchased in order to support the depots in
the North and South of the County.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">With constantly saturated roads and floodwater on the carriageway,
there was a rapid deterioration of large areas of road surface, with the teams
reacting to an influx of pothole reports on a daily basis. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In early February, two severe storms hit the County. When storm Ciara hit,
the standby crews responded to over 150 tree related issues, ranging from
branches to entire trees fallen across the carriageways. Work for the TfB gangs
and supply chain partners included closing roads, clearing debris and attending
to flash floods after very heavy isolated rain periods.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Just a week later storm Dennis prompted another 150 related callouts to
approximately 30 trees with the remainder of the calls being flooding
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many fields became saturated,
with large amounts of run-off reaching the road network, leaving the road
drainage system unable to cope. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">So, in all elements, the winter period was non-stop for the operational
and extended support teams at TfB who are on call 24 hours a day. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Transport Cabinet Member, Nick Naylor, said:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“I am incredibly proud of the hard work demonstrated by our winter
crews at TfB. Without them, travelling around the County would, at times, be
near impossible. Their work is invaluable, with many team members sacrificing
Christmas celebrations and festivities to keep the network moving. I know I am
not alone when I say that we really appreciate all that the teams do. Thank
you!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">TfB aims to keep the travelling public updated with news regarding road
closures, gritting updates and general roadworks via social media so, please follow
TfB twitter @tfbalerts or the Facebook page, Transport for Bucks. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-78669021628991176402019-09-11T02:27:00.000-07:002019-09-11T02:27:08.759-07:00What is Surface Dressing?<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ask the Contract Director!</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We understand
that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions
regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we’re giving you the
opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire’s
Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This is the
12<sup>th</sup> blog post in the series. This week, we’re answering:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What
is Surface Dressing?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surface Dressing is an efficient and effective method for
routine maintenance of road surfaces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having previously repaired any defects on the road, we
spray the existing surface with a thin layer of hot bitumen binder, before
spreading stone chippings over the bitumen. This is then made to stick to the
existing surface using a heavy roller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many benefits to carrying out Surface Dressing
treatment. First of all, it forms a water resistant layer. This makes the road
less slippery, and therefore more skid resistant for 7-10 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Using Surface Dressing also extends the life of the road,
by preventing water (and, as a result of cold temperatures, ice) getting in to
cause cracks, which could eventually develop into potholes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once we have completed the Surface Dressing, it has to be
left for a week before we can return back to the site and sweep the road,
removing most of the loose chippings. However, some loose chippings will remain
until vehicles drive over them, pressing them into the bitumen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surface Dressing work is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> weather dependant and so cannot be carried out if the weather
is too hot or too cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Upon completion of Surface Dressing work, you can drive
on the road, but only once all the materials have been laid. If you drive on
the wet bitumen before we have spread the chippings, it will stick to your
vehicle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is not advised to walk, or allow your pets to walk, on
the new surface, even when the chippings have been laid. This is because some
may stick to your shoes (and your pet’s paws!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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<b></b>Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-15839902515342283402019-07-22T06:43:00.000-07:002019-07-22T06:43:16.232-07:00Give us your views on roads!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><b>Give us your views on roads! </b></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Buckinghamshire
County Council (BCC) seeks to listen to the views of its residents and, each
year, takes part in the National Highways and Transportation (NHT) survey. This
survey is sent to 3,300 householders in Buckinghamshire during June. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
year, BCC is giving residents the opportunity to respond to its own additional
online transport survey. This will be taking a deeper look at two of the key
NHT questions about ‘Road Condition’ and ‘Road Congestion’. The opinions
collected through this survey, will assist BCC with its strategic planning
function. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALpaEPZt8eM8Pg_VzwV4OwhLKghOlEVubBLH65c5xJpp7EC23uqgMqgJhnVlySWaVC6DxvS3ym5lLNnc4FTfi_4T2hFXQRYfEvgujpG9vAygmDBV1RiBfz26BuCykyNqkxBQwdIphgFU/s640/Stoke+Hammond+2.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deputy
Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation, Mark Shaw said, “when we look at
the combined results of these two surveys, we can really start to build a
picture of how the public views and rates our services. This will assist both
Buckinghamshire County Council with transport planning and Transport for
Buckinghamshire - the strategic highway maintenance arm of the organisation –
with advising us on where the roads budget is best spent each year. We
really value the views of our residents, and this additional questionnaire will
give us a better understanding of any issues respondents are experiencing with
road condition and road congestion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
survey will remain open to the residents of Buckinghamshire until <b>30th
September 2019.</b> It takes under 5 minutes to complete and is open to all
residents even if they have responded to the initial NHT survey received last
month. The results will be made available on the BCC website, in the
autumn this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.co.uk%2Fr%2FBCCtransportsurvey2019&data=02%7C01%7Ct-fmatthews%40buckscc.org%7C1fa1d1f6d63d4100bd8e08d70ea4bfaf%7C7fb976b99e2848e180861ddabecf82a0%7C0%7C0%7C636993973057875846&sdata=OjqmevmFqhCqfyC%2FkkgSF8O%2F%2Fv40oKaEiLwuYaXDI2c%3D&reserved=0">https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BCCtransportsurvey2019</a> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://ouryeartfb.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Read about our year across the County here</a></span></div>
Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-77526378902939317402019-06-20T01:35:00.000-07:002019-06-20T01:35:57.436-07:00Why aren't you cutting the grass properly?<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Ask the Contract Director!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we're giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire's Contract Director!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">
</div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the 11th blog post that we have produced focusing on the questions that you have been asking the most, this week we are looking at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Why aren't you cutting the grass properly?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grass cutting takes place between April and October depending on the weather and each cut takes between seven and eight weeks to complete. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year, we carry out four urban grass cuts across the county. In some urban areas, responsibility has been passed to the local Town or Parish Council through devolved services.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of you have expressed some dissatisfaction with a number of aspects of our grass cutting this year, so we would like to address those concerns now:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The grass cutting is behind schedule!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did start our grass cutting in the Aylesbury Vale one week late due to equipment issues. Since then, we have lost approximately five days due to poor weather conditions and issues with equipment. As it currently stands, we have completed the first cut and already begun the second cut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we are approximately two weeks behind in the North of the county, we are working at the weekends in an attempt to catch up. By the time we get to the third cut, we will be back on track with the programme. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the High Wycombe area, the grass cutting programme is also approximately two weeks behind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In South Bucks and Chiltern areas of the county, we are approximately four weeks behind and are just completing cut one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You're not strimming after cutting the grass and then you're leaving the cut grass behind!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All strimming around street furniture is completed in conjunction with mowing. However, as the grass has not been cut since last October it can be incredibly long and doesn't always drop once strimmed, giving the impression that it hasn't been cut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have not collected the clippings for many years as to do so adds a large cost to the operation. There are also issues with appropriate disposal of them. Our teams do blow the loose grass cuttings back onto the verge. However, this does mean the loose grass can sometimes make the area look like it hasn't been cut or strimmed. Unfortunately, if the conditions are windy then the grass can blow back onto the footpath or road. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You've missed my area!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because of the amount of rain we have had at the moment, the grass has had ideal growing conditions and as a consequence of this, is growing very quickly. This means that sites that have received their first cut early on in the programme may appear as though they have been missed from the programme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In much the same way as we encourage residents to clear the footpaths in the winter if we have snow, there are very few good reasons to prevent a resident living in an urban area with a 30mph speed limit from cutting the verge outside of their property. If you want to cut the grass then:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Use a petrol mower if possible, if not then make sure your electric mower has a protected plug or is connected to a protected socket</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Make sure there are no big stones that could flick up and break windows, damage cars or hurt yourself or a passing pedestrian</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Stop mowing when somebody comes close</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- If you want to collect the clippings then dispose of them responsibly. Leave the last cuts clippings in place, this will help to replenish the soils nutrients. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our teams are trained to use the equipment that we use and are aware that speeding does cause issues with the quality of the cut produced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of our vehicles are tracked and the speed is monitored. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You've neglected Iver!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iver is receiving grass cuts just as often as anywhere else in the county. In fact, Iver was one of the first parishes to be cut in the South of the county! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-30228043962410328042019-05-23T02:01:00.000-07:002019-05-23T02:01:32.132-07:00Respect Our Workforce - Think, keep calm and just turn back. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">May has seen the launch of Transport for
Buckinghamshire’s (TfB) latest campaign, <b>Respect Our Workforce.</b> Launched with
the aim of reminding members of the public to treat operatives, inspectors and
technicians on the road with respect, so far the campaign has featured videos
and photos from site, discussing some of the abuse that the workforce have to
encounter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Customer facing employees, such as operatives, have been
<b>sworn at</b>, <b>shouted at</b>, <b>spat at</b>, had <b>rubbish thrown at them</b>, <b>bottles thrown at
them</b> and have even been <b>physically assaulted</b> – all whilst just trying to do
their job. In some terrifying instances, operatives have even had members of
the public <b>drive through road closures</b> because they don’t want to use the
diversion route. By doing this, they are not only putting their own lives at
risk, but also the operatives’ lives at risk too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a rare – and horrific – occasion if this kind of
behaviour is experienced in an office based job, or a job with minimal customer
engagement. However, for TfB operatives, inspectors and technicians, who meet
members of the public regularly, it’s almost a daily occurrence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand that road closures can be frustrating, that
temporary signals can be annoying, that being held up at a site where you can’t
see any work happening can be the last straw on a bad day, but it’s never an
excuse to abuse our workforce. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, Mark Shaw,
said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“They’re here to do a job. They’re here to look after our
roads and make sure they’re safe for you to travel on. We’ve now provided
bodycams to each of our traffic management people, so if any incidents happen,
we can do something about it. Think, keep calm and just turn back.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s hoped that this new campaign will shed some light on
the gravity of the situation, and how TfB can work with the public to prevent
abuse from happening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re a social media user, you may have noticed an
increase in our communications via Facebook and Twitter. This is to keep the
public in the loop as far ahead of works as possible. A lot of anger comes from
members of the public not being informed about closures and diversion routes
and we want to tackle this. We will also be looking into using additional, more
informative signage for closures and diversions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t forget, you can also double check your routes for
the day using tools such as <a href="http://roadworks.org/">roadworks.org</a> to check for closures, diversions and
delays. This can help you to plan accordingly and avoid any frustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Issues on the road are not the fault of our workforce. If
you want to speak to them about the work going, please do so with respect and
in a civil manner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We will bring the abuse of our workforce to an end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Think, keep calm and just turn back. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-33029179147905665082019-04-29T02:48:00.005-07:002019-04-29T02:48:54.852-07:00What are you doing about all the weeds this year? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Ask the Contract Director!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we're giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire's Contract Director!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the 10th blog post that we have produced focusing on the questions that you have been asking the most, this week we are looking at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What are you doing about all the weeds this year?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Buckinghamshire County Council has had to balance revenue budgets over recent years. This has required consideration of numerous competing priorities, including our statutory duty to ensure the highway remains safe and serviceable, and also tackling priorities identified through customer feedback. Because of this, routine weed control (with the exception of noxious weeds) has not been carried out with any kind of regularity over the past four years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unchecked weed growth isn't just unsightly though - it can also lead to accelerated carriageway deterioration and can inhibit the efficient flow of surface water into and through drainage systems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In recognition of these longer term effects, TfB has been given an additional <b>£500,000</b> to spend on routine weed treatment across the county in 2019. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Routine weed treatment </b>is a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> programme of three cycles of routine spraying that will be undertaken across primary footway locations, including hardstandings, kerbs and channels. This equates to </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">3,408km</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of kerbline/channel and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">3,055km </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of footway per treatment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This spraying will take place in April to combat early season growth, then in June to combat peak season growth and finally in September to combat secondary regrowth. Timings will be adjusted dependent on weather and growth levels. Spraying during high winds and/or heavy rainfall will be avoided as effectiveness is reduced significantly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We will be using a chemical that is a non-residual contact herbicide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also have a statutory obligation to control the noxious and injurious weeds on the highway network across the county and this will continue as normal throughout the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-14618209900338486972019-04-17T03:21:00.000-07:002019-04-17T03:21:32.139-07:00Why are the traffic lights only letting two cars through? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Ask the Contract Director!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we're giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire's Contract Director!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the 9th blog post that we have produced focusing on the questions that you have been asking, this week we are looking at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Why are the traffic lights only letting two cars through?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are currently over 200 traffic signal sites in Buckinghamshire. These are a mixture of traffic signal controls, from large junctions to pedestrian crossings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All traffic signals rely on sensors that react to vehicles and pedestrians. Some of these sensors are controlled by their own internal control system, whilst others are coordinated from County Hall in Aylesbury on a centralised system, connected by telephone communications.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jr1Ucopb7A48G3EEtlyPTWTQw1nIMUHPfUpFfYM5At8vCrtv79RCiml8iL6ZXs8TxVsLXHsnzCtSl1IwwVUY4Lud6iRu0E0HOs0y4fhpfI1Mz-FskzduaYoQ4FNz_Ll2XXTPQxtAIJc/s1600/Aylesbury+ANPR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jr1Ucopb7A48G3EEtlyPTWTQw1nIMUHPfUpFfYM5At8vCrtv79RCiml8iL6ZXs8TxVsLXHsnzCtSl1IwwVUY4Lud6iRu0E0HOs0y4fhpfI1Mz-FskzduaYoQ4FNz_Ll2XXTPQxtAIJc/s640/Aylesbury+ANPR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout the day the signal timings at each junction are varied according to demand. This allows us to control traffic levels across the county. Whilst this has been done for many years, the systems we use are gradually becoming smarter and more effective, especially at times of high demand. Strategies can be set to bias the timings for a particular route or main road, and coordination is automated to determine the best signal timings for a group of junctions considered together. This can be why you sometimes feel you are being kept waiting at a red signal for no apparent reason! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example; If there's a red signal and on the other side of the signal is a queue of traffic, we don't want to allow cars through just to join the queue! This means we might make a red signal last a little longer, and only let through a small number of cars each time, to reduce congestion and help the traffic to flow a little better. When the traffic eases up, we can let more cars through at a time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to this, we utilise CCTV to watch the road network for congestion and accidents. When these things occur on the network, we intervene with the signals where necessary, to try to control the traffic building up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-28759305746480326132019-04-05T02:17:00.001-07:002019-04-26T04:26:32.811-07:00Why won't the Watermead bollards stay up? <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Ask the Contract Director!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire's Contract Director!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This is the 8th blog post that we have produced focusing on the questions that you have been asking, this week we are looking at:<span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Why won't the Watermead bollards stay up?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Recently, we refurbished some automatic bollards at Lark Vale, Watermead. These bollards create a restricted access route and make sure the route can only be used by buses. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately since they were installed, the bollards have failed several times. This has happened for a number of reasons and has caused a lot of frustration to the local residents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The system that was originally in place for the bollards was outdated, having been in use for over ten years. This meant that maintenance of the bollards became increasingly difficult and so they were becoming very unreliable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Using our 2018/19 budget, we were able to refurbish the bollards and install new technology for the system to operate on. This new system utilises the use of ground detectors, card readers and card swipe systems. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bollards during refurbishing works.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>So how does the new system work?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Currently, bus drivers should drive the bus over the ground detector, and get their access pass card detected by the card reader, which is mounted on a pole on the drivers side on the approach. The reader then 'grants' access and the bollards lower into the ground. Once the bus has passed safely through, and the ground detectors are clear, the bollards rise back up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>How are we dealing with the system when it fails?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Aside from the vandalism incident, which caused the system to fail, they would only fail for safety reasons. For example, if a bus drives too close before the bollards are retracted, they will remain lowered. This has happened on several occasions now, and we are working closely with the bus team to make sure drivers are fully trained on how to use the bollards correctly. Each time a bus trips out the bollard system, a member of our team has to attend the site to manually reset the bollards, and we do this as soon as we can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">However, whilst we originally thought this was the only problem, we have now discovered that the system is occasionally failing for other reasons that are requiring ongoing investigation. As a result, we are working closely with our contractors, ATG, who are currently investigating this as an urgent priority. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Until we have resolved this issue, we will continue to go and reset the bollards as and when we need to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>What else are we doing?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In addition to looking into how we can rectify this ongoing issue, we are also seeing if we can implement two changes to the bollards - a manual reset button and remote monitoring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The manual reset button would mean we could give the Parish Council the ability to reset the bollards themselves. This would mean they could potentially be reset more quickly than having to wait for someone from Transport for Buckinghamshire to attend the site. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Having remote monitoring would mean that we could raise and lower the bollards from our offices, so we wouldn't have to attend the site and again, the issue could be rectified more quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We understand resident's frustration with the bollards at Lark Vale and we are aware that it is an ongoing issue. Please be assured that this is a priority and we are working to resolve the problems as soon as we can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>***EDIT - FURTHER UPDATE***</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">After some thorough investigation, we have been able to determine that there are issues with the card reader wiring; the wires need to be replaced. This has taken longer to determine than expected because it's an issue to do with the ducting - pipe lines that are carrying the electrical wiring beneath the ground. It is suspected that these have become either damaged or blocked, which is preventing the bollards from working. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Due to the scale of work required, we are looking at different options that both maximise the effectiveness of the repair as well as being cost efficient. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b>Why aren't we leaving the bollards up and resetting them more regularly?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Due to the card reader failing, not only does this cause the bollards to fail, but in most cases this would actually cause the bollards to remain up. This happened at our Fairford Leys site and is not something we want to repeat at Lark Vale, as it would cause more issues - the buses would not be able to get through because the card reader wouldn't work! As a result of this, it has been decided to leave the bollards down until further notice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We are currently working with our supply chain partner to get these issues resolved as soon as possible and will continue to share updates as and when we have them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We know this situation is frustrating but we thank you for your patience and hope you understand that this isn't straightforward for us to resolve. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-89948992479337136092019-03-26T06:56:00.001-07:002019-03-26T06:57:13.769-07:00What's going on with the Plane and Patch programme?<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="color: #444444;">Ask
the Contract Director!</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We understand
that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions
regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we’re giving you the
opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire's Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This is the 7th blog post that we have produced focusing on the questions that you have been
asking, this week we are looking at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What’s
going on with the Plane and Patch programme?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This year’s
Plane and Patch programme commenced on 4<sup>th</sup> March 2019 and,
continuing until September, will cover over 150 separate locations around
Buckinghamshire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As the work
goes on, we have been sharing ‘before and after’ pictures of each road
undergoing Plane and Patch treatment on our social media channels. Some of the
locations that we have shared so far have been roads in more residential areas,
and we have been asked why that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWWxOfzzyjA7rzm7fayYCgGcbFhBSF4al_w8jraPm76bM0kFcuBvtQsTwpfBKyQFWm2dnBbBAl64oRHQf5sqeghDrW_Xgezfc4VqfzDqOI4vKo6E2UdJXyFUCLFFGOVLIAXe2ujvis_0/s1600/DSC05271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWWxOfzzyjA7rzm7fayYCgGcbFhBSF4al_w8jraPm76bM0kFcuBvtQsTwpfBKyQFWm2dnBbBAl64oRHQf5sqeghDrW_Xgezfc4VqfzDqOI4vKo6E2UdJXyFUCLFFGOVLIAXe2ujvis_0/s640/DSC05271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi657-vyoFkvhane4LX-Bvca0zquwbrGnlULl-h_FLj3Wm1mFpiSL_qp2D9WfMOgGWZQvZeULRjLbt99pxy9LXc6Yzr-9NoJIUL4zLIz58lTzvhkudhX8WCNk1ZnNLuC9EDmJhZz21fQDs/s1600/DSC05725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi657-vyoFkvhane4LX-Bvca0zquwbrGnlULl-h_FLj3Wm1mFpiSL_qp2D9WfMOgGWZQvZeULRjLbt99pxy9LXc6Yzr-9NoJIUL4zLIz58lTzvhkudhX8WCNk1ZnNLuC9EDmJhZz21fQDs/s640/DSC05725.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">TfB takes a
balanced approach to prioritising which roads to repair, a strategy that we
believe provides the best mix of preventative and replacement work across all
roads in the County. The majority of the annual capital budget is targeted at
ensuring our main roads remain in good condition, with most larger resurfacing
and surface treatment schemes taking place on more strategically important
roads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">However, it is very important that we do not allow our main roads to
take up our entire budget because many of our more minor roads, which are still
important routes for locals, are in poor condition. For this reason, we make
sure that some of the budget is spent on all classes of roads. Plane and
Patch work is particularly effective on minor roads, compared to main roads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Plane and
Patch programme therefore primarily targets these more minor routes and is
largely driven and determined by our Local Area Technicians (LAT’s) and
Members, who, between them, have a broad knowledge of the roads within their
area, particularly those that will benefit most from Plane and Patch treatment.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Do you want
to read more about our approach to highways asset management? See <span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/highway-asset-management/">here</a></span>
for more details. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-91721139174950829242019-03-19T06:38:00.000-07:002019-03-19T06:38:55.255-07:00Why haven't you turned this light back on? - Ask the Contract Director #6<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">Ask the Contract Director!<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why haven’t you turned this light back on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Transport for Buckinghamshire looks after over <b>29,000</b> streetlights and <b>6,000</b> illuminated bollards. Across the county, we rely on thousands of street lights to illuminate the local paths and footways for us when we are out and about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">LED Replacement Programme<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Over the course of 2018/19, the Street Lighting Team has been replacing <b>3,295</b> of the ‘old style’ lanterns with LED equipment. These old style lanterns cast an orange light, whilst the new lanterns produce a brighter, white light. Approximately <b>3,000</b> of these lanterns have been converted and it is expected that this programme will be complete by the end of March 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">However a small amount of the old style lanterns will remain for a number of reasons, whilst remedial actions are taken, including a need for the entire column to be changed or the column base being surrounded by privately owned land. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="color: #444444;">In addition to this, the team has also completely replaced <b>344</b> lanterns which were mounted on electricity poles. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3MTevhcDDzwwmJ6OlJuSovqSC0yu5x5i6HveKz4k8geACm86gYTaYdh5lzyI07ISJZPUwRJRzQ8fsM_7cQXyx3vfUPnwz4R8_bwTKXN9JJOUQBkFx5Hk9FPjfOJMyZQhUM_Z0xH-g9U/s640/DSC02077.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Night Scouting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Whilst you can report street lights that are damaged or broken on ‘Fix My Street’, TfB also has a Night Scouting programme. Members of the Street Lighting team check for outages along the strategic routes across the county, making note of lights that need any work doing to them. Six routes are covered over a three month period, and the scouting occurs on a quarterly basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">However, if you do spot a damaged or broken street light, please do report it using ‘Fix My Street’ (</span><a href="https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">). Use the search bar to find the road the street light is on, use the marker to pinpoint the area it is in and select the number of the street light that you are reporting. This should be used for faults that do not present an immediate risk, for example, street lights that aren’t working. In an emergency, please call 01296 382416 to report. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Solar powered bollards<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Street Lighting Team has been working with their manufacturing partners, NAL Ltd and Traffic Management Products (TMP), to begin implementing a new and innovative bollard solution across the county, installing over <b>100</b> bollards to date. These new bollards are solar powered and have a number of benefits, including reduced energy costs and no need to connect to underground cables, meaning no issues can be caused by power outages or damaged cables. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Another advantage of these new bollards is that they are also easier to repair – the solar powered bollards use socket mounted equipment. Currently, if a bollard is damaged or broken, it can be complicated to repair or replace them as there is a need for traffic management, or in some cases, road closures. However, if one of the new style bollards is damaged or needs replacing, the equipment can be changed quickly and easily and removes the possibility of live wires being exposed in the event of a road traffic collision. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sometimes the problem lies with the electricity supplier<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sometimes members of the public report failed lights to us that have stopped working due to an underground electrical supply fault. If this is the case, TfB are not able to repair the fault, because the cables are owned and maintained by the electricity companies for the area. Only they are allowed to carry out repairs to their networks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">TfB works closely with the three electricity companies who have equipment within the county to resolve these issues as and when they’re discovered, but the repairs can take some time and be complex in nature. This is usually why, sometimes, a street light you have reported as being out may be out for some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Street lights are for lighting public highway and footpaths. Please do not report street lights that are not lighting up privately owned land, for example, gardens and driveways. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-22305147425449866772019-03-12T05:03:00.000-07:002019-03-19T02:12:00.565-07:00How do you decide which potholes to repair? - Ask the Contract Director #5<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably
have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire.
Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by
Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be
focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How do you decide which potholes to repair?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buckinghamshire County Council’s <b>3,200km highway</b>
infrastructure is its most valuable asset, valued at <b>£4.2 billion</b>. It provides
a vital transportation network for both businesses and private users. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Under our Routine Maintenance Service Principle, Transport
for Buckinghamshire (TfB) is to maintain the highway infrastructure in a safe
and serviceable condition for its users, whether driving, walking or cycling.
In order to identify any defects on the highway, regular inspections are
carried out by TfB Highways Inspectors and Local Area Technicians (LATs). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Carrying
out inspections<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Highway Safety Inspections are supplemented by other
inspections and assessments carried out in line with national standards and/or
good practice, including but not limited to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspections
undertaken in response to specific matters identified through correspondence
(e.g. Fix My Street reports)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Specialist
inspections of certain assets within the highway boundary (e.g. street lighting
and structures)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Technical
assessments of carriageway condition, generally undertaken using machine based
equipment<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Streetworks
Inspections<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The frequency for safety inspections of individual roads is
based upon the Carriageway Maintenance Hierarchy adopted by Buckinghamshire
County Council, which considers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Road
Category: Strategic roads, main distributer and secondary distributor roads are
inspected on a monthly basis whereas local link-roads are inspected on a
quarterly basis and local access roads are inspected annually. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Traffic
use, characteristics and trends<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characteristics
of adjoining roads<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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policy or operational considerations<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although the road category within the hierarchy, in
combination with traffic use, will determine the inspection frequency, site
specific factors may contribute to a decision to temporarily or permanently
increase or reduce the frequency of the inspection of a specific location.
Factors that may contribute to this kind of decision may include accident rates
and unusually high defect levels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr0nbY25dJfsoqQb8arxCYOxfh7NtJ5GljRqiYPfqV80HdRvPSRBd0fzldkHELjuUbg9UPkBD0ObYu7hvPGRO74q7RoLncJ2Rww0lcYWPRu6ck-05Ox2N7JMisU22FDJlGSiJz171rb4/s1600/table+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="614" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr0nbY25dJfsoqQb8arxCYOxfh7NtJ5GljRqiYPfqV80HdRvPSRBd0fzldkHELjuUbg9UPkBD0ObYu7hvPGRO74q7RoLncJ2Rww0lcYWPRu6ck-05Ox2N7JMisU22FDJlGSiJz171rb4/s640/table+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Identifying
a defect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like many authorities, TfB used to repair potholes based
on their ‘size’. A large pothole with jagged edges would be repaired more
quickly than a small one, regardless of its location. However, we now follow a
risk-based approach when it comes to repairs, meaning that we take in to
consideration:</span></div>
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risk posed to the public<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
extent, depth and surface area<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
volume and speed of traffic of the road the defect is on<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
location, such as junctions and bends<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Forecast
weather conditions <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Applying this risk based approach is beneficial to road
users, as it means that we are able to target our resources to higher risk defects.
Lower risk defects can be fitted in to repair programmes that allow us to
operate far more efficiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Defect
Categorisation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TfB’s Safety Inspection Policy defines defects in three
categories: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Emergency
(Category E) </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">– Those that require prompt attention because
they represent an immediate hazard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Emergency defects will be permanently repaired or made
safe at the time of the inspection, if possible. Making the defect safe may
constitute displaying warning notices, coning or fencing off to protect the
public from the defect or other suitable actions. If the inspection team are
unable to effect a “make safe” then we do have repair teams available to attend
within the 2hr time frame. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Category E defects will be permanently repaired within 28
working days if a permanent repair was not possible upon the first visit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Category
1</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
–<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Those that require priority
attention because they represent a potential risk to road users or reduce the
reliability of the highway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Category 1 defects will also be permanently repaired or
made safe at the time of the inspection, if possible. If it is not possible to repair
or make safe at the time of the inspection then an appropriate repair will be
carried out within <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">two working days</b>
of the identification of the defect and a permanent repair made within 28
working days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Category
2 – </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All
other defects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Category 2 defects are those which are deemed not to
present an immediate hazard and which can be repaired within longer timescales
– they are either programmed for repair within 28 calendar days or included in
a forward works programme. Category 2 defects are categorised according to
priority: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">High
(Cat 2H)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Medium
(Cat 2M)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Low
(Cat 2L)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspectors are able to determine which sub-category the defect
falls into by using their Safety Inspection Guidance Manual which provides
examples of defects that may be encountered on the network and their potential
categorisation. However, our on-site assessment will always need to take
account of other particular circumstances. The inspector will also take into
consideration the likelihood of further deterioration before the next scheduled
inspection, and where this is a high probability, a higher classification may
be determined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="635" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTgXT7KJQFDV5sRnjMCVEv_wlcwxqAsXDRbMho_bmWlmZluyh4dkMFVjEWitd3hUdvi6F7aJb-sKVzho4pcUvBeaqPMGSW2NTrFAQ3cqZzdowxTp8ZTYNZ_vLenk8VVphmHxMupz-1zg/s640/table+1.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Minimum
Investigatory Levels<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is recognised that on any highway network a multitude
of minor defects will exist which do not pose any risk to either the safety or
the reliability of the highway. As a result, it would be impractical and inefficient
to use limited financial resources to undertake repairs. These types of defects
are described as ‘not meeting the Minimum Investigatory Levels’, which for
potholes is defined as 40mm or under in depth and less than 300mm across in any
direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Any defects that do not meet the Minimum Investigatory
Levels will be recorded if the inspector deems this appropriate (for example,
where a cluster of such defects may form a potential preventative maintenance
scheme in the future).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These kinds of
defects will be recorded as Category 2L defects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
find a more detailed copy of our Defect Risk Assessment, visit the web page
<a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/highways-inspection-policy/" target="_blank">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-11964393803405828112019-02-15T02:49:00.000-08:002019-02-15T04:03:38.103-08:00What are you doing about all these potholes? - Ask the Contract Director #4<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask
the Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably
have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire.
Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by
Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be
focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
are you doing about all these potholes?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grab a cup of tea, sit back and relax – we’re about to
give you all the information you could ever need to know about potholes.
Spoiler alert – there’s a lot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is a pothole and how is one made?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, it’s not just a crater in the road that leaves you
feeling overly frustrated on your drive to work. No, it’s not the entrance to a
tunnel between here and Australia either (yes, this has been a genuine
suggestion in the past). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A pothole is where the surface of the road has been
eroded and a hollow has formed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Potholes are most usually formed through a process called
the ‘freeze-thaw’ cycle. As roads age, they become more porous, having been
worn down by traffic. As the weather gets colder, the potholes can become
filled with ice, forcing the hole to expand and push the tarmac up and out.
Gaps are created in the tarmac when the ice thaws and turns back into water,
and these gaps get bigger each time it freezes and thaws – this weakens the
road. These gaps then cave in when traffic travels over the road, creating a
pothole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ehUPSYSsxUIlnViP9lG_cSgp1CzH1m7G5RsITJDTpPl6vN5cj5WNST0li3HozL1fv-QlL-GS3oXiIGb7XQm33L6y5l-SRNyhDW8jcCp5f0kS-yDl0My-xmUVjbwYmfvh6IzR36njUEs/s640/DSC03921.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How
do we find out about the potholes?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can find out about potholes across the county in a
couple of ways. Members of the public can report potholes to us via our online
reporting tool, <a href="https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/" target="_blank">‘Fix My Street'</a>. Reports received by us are sent to the
relevant Local Area Technician (LAT) to be inspected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And speaking of our LAT’s, they proactively inspect their
local areas for potholes and other road defects and highway issues, alongside
our Highway Inspectors. All defects are inspected and assessed to determine
whether a repair is required, and if so, what kind of repair it might need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The roads are inspected regularly according to a
schedule. This means a lot of potholes will be picked up by these inspections
and programmed for repair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How
do we determine which potholes are in need of repair?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Around 2,000 potholes are repaired each month – yes,
really! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not every defect on the highway requires an immediate
repair. All issues that are reported to us are reviewed within 10 days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All repairs are based on the risk they pose to the public
and depend on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The extent, depth and surface area<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The volume and speed of traffic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The location such as junctions and bends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> - </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Forecast weather conditions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We aim to make emergencies safe within two hours and
other priority repairs within two, five or 28 days. Non-urgent defects will be
added to future planned works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is the point of a temporary repair? Surely it’s better to fix it permanently
the first time around?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is, but sometimes a temporary repair is needed to make
the road safe until a permanent repair is possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQfvpMe5WndBkWzzMIgqPBQbVzLwl3PkcC-Ky8TNpPcIKWDvgFh6qXLknu9E0vjvE-s_KLJV0xjsbkb1weS1ZadNjNougovdKKbFd7fzkLWagGaYWm6qc8IYQlZ4lsGafHyImfNzvaVI/s640/DSC_5516.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How
do we fix a pothole?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When making a temporary pothole repair, the area around
the pothole needs cutting out to make a uniform shape with no jagged edges. The
pothole is then cleaned out and coated with a layer of binder to act as an
adhesive. Next, the hole is filled with hot road surfacing material which is
then raked and compacted. Once the material has cooled, the road can be reopened
to traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On rural roads, potholes are fixed using a technique
called ‘spray injection patching’. These repairs come with a 12 month
guarantee. Repairs made with a jet patching machine are quicker, more
efficient, long lasting, low carbon emitting and applied cold so that they are
ready to drive on immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why
do we fix one pothole, but not another pothole on the same road?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a question we are asked on a regular basis. When
we fill one pothole but not another just a few metres away, many people become
frustrated with us – and the seeming lack of common sense behind this has been
criticised. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reason behind repairing one pothole but not another
on the same stretch of road is very simple; we have a finite amount of finance,
and therefore workforce, to fill the potholes. We have to use them effectively
to ensure those requiring urgent repair are fixed first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we were to use resources filling in a non-urgent
repair, a pothole of a higher priority may not be able to be repaired. Safety
is our first concern, so urgent fixes must be done first. This means that sometimes,
we will fix one safety critical pothole on a road, but not another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Can
I fix a pothole myself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, we’ve already answered that one for you! Have a
read here: <a href="https://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2019/01/can-i-repair-pothole-myself-ask.html">https://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2019/01/can-i-repair-pothole-myself-ask.html</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2019/02/why-cant-you-just-do-your-job-properly.html" target="_blank">Read our previous FAQ post here...</a></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-87001006976102840942019-02-07T07:39:00.000-08:002019-02-07T07:39:25.071-08:00Why can't you just do your job properly? - Ask the Contract Director #3<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask
the Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably
have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire.
Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by
Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be
focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why can’t you just do your job properly?</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our operatives are lovely guys and you may see them out
and about across Buckinghamshire as they carry out their day to day duties and
repairs. Whilst you shouldn’t distract them from their work too much, they are
more than happy to tell members of the public about the work they’re carrying
out, advise on a closure they’re putting in place or similar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, our operatives do not have knowledge of all the
repairs and schemes being carried out across the county, nor do they have knowledge
of every single pothole or road defect in the county. They will not be able to
advise you of the status of your specific Fix My Street report or an ongoing
enquiry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes, our operatives are the only ‘face’ of TfB you
will see, and so they can take the brunt of your frustration if you are being
delayed by roadworks. Sometimes, you might end up having a bit of a rant to
them about how long a job is taking, or why you have had to take a detour. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You might also disagree with the work an operative is doing. You might not understand why they're fixing this pothole, but not that one. You might not want to be stuck at the temporary signals they've put in place. You might just want to go about your day without TfB work interrupting it. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjyIxnJYEVepKMAUq3nB8-L01Za69hyAhrpgML_Slywl9dz7NvOa-QHxlHdzJpcH_-75AzELq3EB0jInNV8N9L52Tpmp0nSbIqZS5DY2D_j3l3ZzpFPKe5xKWgFxiZ8azH7Opd0qy4Dw/s640/Ops4_November2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a handful of TfB operatives!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand why people get frustrated by our works
sometimes, but please remember to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">respect
our workers</b> at all times<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b> They
are just trying to do their job, and they deserve to be treated respectfully
whilst doing so – just as you would expect at work. Too often we hear horror
stories of abuse that TfB operatives have suffered because a member of the
public isn’t happy about the works being carried out. Our operatives have had
bottles thrown at them, been squared up to and sworn at by members of the
public, pushed and shoved. They have even been driven at by angry drivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The abuse doesn’t stop at our operatives either – office based staff are often forced to deal with abusive messages on social media,
hate-filled emails and letters and angry telephone calls. Like our operatives,
they shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of behaviour just for doing their
job. No matter how frustrated you might feel, it’s worth taking a moment to
remember there is a real person at the other end of the phone or computer – a
person who doesn’t deserve to deal with being sworn at, being called names or
told they aren’t doing their job properly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How
would you feel if it was you being treated this way?</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If
it was your partner, your child, your friend? You’d be appalled that they had
to suffer abuse whilst carrying out their day to day jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our operatives and staff are people’s partners, children
and friends. Above all else, they are all hardworking people with feelings who
deserve to be treated with respect. Please allow them the right to complete a
job without having to worry about their safety or wellbeing – and please show
them the respect they deserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2019/01/can-i-repair-pothole-myself-ask.html" target="_blank">Read our previous FAQ Post...</a></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-62397384216601176742019-02-04T04:49:00.000-08:002019-02-12T08:26:15.272-08:00Can I Repair A Pothole Myself? - Ask the Contract Director #2<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask
the Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably
have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire. Well, we’re giving
you the opportunity to get your questions answered by Transport for
Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be
focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can I repair a pothole myself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In short, the answer is no. Under no conditions should
you ever try to repair a pothole, or any kind or road defect, yourself – and
there are a number of reasons why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, this is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">big no-no</b> on from a health and safety point of view.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You could harm yourself or another road user whilst
completing the repair due to the fact that you might not know what you’re doing
or that you may use the wrong equipment or materials, which could result in an
injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Additionally, a road user might injure themselves on the
defect that you have repaired. By repairing the pothole yourself, you then
become liable for that pothole, and would be fully responsible for anyone
trying to claim for damage or injuries caused by it. <b>Could you guarantee that
you have fixed it so well, it won’t fall through and will never damage a car or
cause injury to a member of the public? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You also need the appropriate traffic management in place
for repairing a pothole, and by repairing it yourself on an open road with no
protection you are putting your life at risk. You could be repairing the
pothole and a car might whizz around the corner and accidentally hit you. It’s
not worth putting your life at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg0fMlysH63eCkdA27NsuDn6kpZ2_AsPcLJO7_-GZDWsqOs4yvrKZB7kYqRKO1mbVitFslbPxykQnJmnCADayF2Vk7xV9ntT3kjvI1I5iOkcLZPwgXZ-Vt_IJFJrlH2fxoI81rmZb5VU/s640/_DSC0489.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Transport for Buckinghamshire has given five Parish
Councils the responsibility of repairing potholes in their area, as part of the
Additional Services Devolution Pilot. Buckingham Town Council, Gerrards Cross
Town Council, Waddesdon Parish Council, Stone Parish Council and Mentmore
Parish Council are all participating in the pilot, which means they are
responsible for repairs to carriageway defects, repairs to footway defects and
miscellaneous defects such as kerb and sign post defects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Repairing a pothole, or any other kind of road defect,
should be left to the professionals who are trained to do the job and are
equipped with appropriate PPE and equipment to carry out the repair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It can be frustrating when you see a pothole on the road,
report it and then it doesn’t get repaired as quickly as you would like.
However, there is always a good reason behind why we haven’t repaired a
pothole. We follow a risk based approach that determines if we do or don’t
repair a pothole, and we do this in the most value for money way possible. You
can read more about our criteria here: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/day-to-day-highway-maintenance/">https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/day-to-day-highway-maintenance/</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-3654208017669506712019-01-25T08:25:00.000-08:002019-02-12T08:27:43.825-08:00Why are there roadworks and/or temporary signals in place but no one working on site? - Ask the Contract Director! #1<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We understand that as members of the public, you probably
have a lot of burning questions regarding the roads around Buckinghamshire.
Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to get your questions answered by
Transport for Buckinghamshire’s Contract Director! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In each blog post in this exciting new series, we will be
focusing on a different frequently asked question. This week, we’re answering:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why are there roadworks and/or temporary signals in </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">place
but no one working on site?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We often hear about your frustrations across Facebook and
Twitter, and one that crops up more often than others is when you find yourself
held at temporary signals or when you drive past a site where work should be
happening, but you can’t see anyone working there. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It can be annoying, particularly if this site has meant
you’ve been delayed or had to use a diversion route. However there are a few
reasons why you might not see anyone on site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many organisations working on the network and
if the work is not being carried out by us, we will investigate it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Waiting
for materials</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes operatives are waiting for materials to be delivered,
which is why you might see them sitting in their van or standing around the
site. It may look like they’re ‘not working’, but the reality is they just
can’t yet! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
work is being completed by different teams and contractors<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many works are completed in different phases, with each
phase being carried out by a different team or specialist contractor.
Sometimes, a site may be left unoccupied after one section of work is complete
and the relevant team leaves and the next team haven’t arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Testing
of water mains<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If new pipes have been installed on a site, the water
mains needs to be tested. This means you might not see any physical work going
on at the site, but it doesn’t mean work isn’t happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
is an excavation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If there is an open excavation on the site, equipment
needs to be left up even if nobody is working there that day, to keep the
public safe. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1018" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh12XSdHzJH8n4nL8dvN6Jj1P7aDX4G_naQl2zXdgCsZmColl8POpiV1WAcmNt938OeiOWsk5ETb0Z9pzsXfXXI6t6TG_2bOwzHPBjfYwxyY1P-jNgG3DpJ4V_20ldHc3u7JgT_kv6n4/s640/SAM_2061.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s
been a gas leak<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If there has been a gas leak, venting needs to take place
to disperse the build-up of gas deposits, which means you won’t see anyone
actively working on the site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Noise
implications<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes work can’t be done during certain hours
(usually at night) because of the environmental noise implications. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, sometimes works are planned for set
times of the day, which means you won’t always see work going on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The site won’t be packed up out of hours, which means
sometimes you’ll drive past an empty site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Weather
conditions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A lot of our work is weather dependent and if we are
working there one day, the weather may prevent us from working there the next.
The site wouldn’t be taken down, it would just be left there until the weather had
improved, and so you may see an empty site with traffic signals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Waiting
time is needed!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tarmac or concrete reinstatement takes time to cure, and
no work can be carried out on site whilst this is happening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
lunch break! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, even TfB operatives get lunch breaks! If you see
them sat around eating, it isn’t because they’re choosing not to work – they
could simply be on a lunch break! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is more to a work site and/or temporary signals
than you might think – a lot of work goes on behind the scenes that you don’t
necessarily see. Next time you see an empty site and feel angry that no one is
working but your route has been interrupted, remind yourself of the reasons
above. Sites aren’t left empty unnecessarily – there is always a reason. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-2132416307250979272018-11-20T06:01:00.000-08:002018-11-20T06:01:27.294-08:00'What the heck is a hoar frost?' and other winter FAQs<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>The cold weather has started settling in, and our gritters went out for the first time at the end of October. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that crop up every year when we begin our winter service...</i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Can you
refill my salt bin?</span></span></h3>
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Salt bins are stocked at the beginning of every winter, and then restocked
depending on demand and weather conditions. You can report empty salt bins
using <a href="https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Fix My Street</span></a> – pinpoint the location and select ‘salt bin refill’ from
the drop down menu. We can’t fill bins immediately in response to each report,
but <b>bins reported empty will be added to the list for the next cycle of
top-ups</b>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are over 1,200 salt bins across Buckinghamshire which
TfB are responsible for; each bin holds about half a tonne of rock salt, the
same stuff used on the roads.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1P6XboM_zeAhcxLUOzVNNemKv5C8kKXevP0SAcVfkgJcyyvr_io0PQhp98gAE9dJL_dERV-ubxNT09j9ZEGTEHCz1qIJlzBSSy50fWQQX7Sj3l_YcixQgeE7od7GtDRzMsExNta-_3k/s1600/shutterstock_169014371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1P6XboM_zeAhcxLUOzVNNemKv5C8kKXevP0SAcVfkgJcyyvr_io0PQhp98gAE9dJL_dERV-ubxNT09j9ZEGTEHCz1qIJlzBSSy50fWQQX7Sj3l_YcixQgeE7od7GtDRzMsExNta-_3k/s400/shutterstock_169014371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My road
doesn’t have a salt bin – can you provide one?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">We can sell salt bins to private organisations with
links to Bucks County Council, such as social care properties or schools.
We will consider requests for new salt bins at known trouble spots on the
public highway, however <b>funding for new salt bins will need to be provided
externally.</b> We will consider requests from private organisations to buy salt
bins as well; requests can be made using the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/contact-and-complaints/contact-us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">contact forms</span></a> </span>on our </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">website. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do
new salt </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">bins cost
anything?</span></b></span></h3>
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Initial setup costs are <b>£475 per salt bin</b> but once they are installed we will
have no future liability for them, though it may be possible for us to refill private
bins at a cost. For new estate roads all new salt bin requirements will be assessed, and the developer would fund the cost of
the new salt bin and salt.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Why don’t
you grit my road?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Our primary salting routes cover the most important roads to keep everyone
moving, covering 1405km of the county's A and B road network – that’s<b> about 44%
of the total network</b>, and is more than many local authorities grit. In times of
very severe weather salting will be carried out on secondary routes as well.
These generally include classified roads which are not included in the primary
routes, unclassified roads serving communities of 200 dwellings or more and
unclassified roads with a gradient of 10% or less. In general, the secondary
salting network will be treated in the event of severe ice or snow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Why are you
gritting, it’s not even cold?!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Our first gritting run this year was really early, 26<sup>th</sup> October
(there was a lot of excitement in the office at this surprising news) and
several people questioned why we were salting when the forecast wasn’t that
cold. The simple answer is; <b>because road surface temperature is often several
degrees lower than air temperature.</b> We have a tried and tested system for
making the gritting decision during winter – our <span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">dedicated
winter team receives a detailed weather forecast analysis every day, which
contains information on air temperature, road surface temperature, likelihood
of snow and ice, humidity and wind speed. Using the data they are given, the
team decides whether or not to salt the roads, and at what time.</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">…But are you saving some salt for when it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i>cold?</span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
Yes. We have four rock salt barns based across Buckinghamshire in High Wycombe,
Amersham, Aylesbury and Buckingham, as well as an emergency reserve of 3000
tonnes of salt near south Bucks, just in case. <b>Each barn holds around 2,000
tonnes of salt at a time and is topped up throughout the winter.</b> Last year,
despite three major snow falls (a rarity for Buckinghamshire) we did not run
out of salt. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicld7vJFmLMeWeLzaECxDi5DjcMRp59kOkIX_wkVLKyCkSgBTliJ2ZkhYboNkSAlv74U4mlmsQiQOiEgE3NcAXohTZ1PHa17vBLTPmXP6XqtGCBQt-n_6FmlDCqqoeO0UTjMsclPWLIw/s1600/Newby+offloading.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicld7vJFmLMeWeLzaECxDi5DjcMRp59kOkIX_wkVLKyCkSgBTliJ2ZkhYboNkSAlv74U4mlmsQiQOiEgE3NcAXohTZ1PHa17vBLTPmXP6XqtGCBQt-n_6FmlDCqqoeO0UTjMsclPWLIw/s400/Newby+offloading.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The salt barn at Handy Cross depot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What the heck is a hoar frost?</span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></h3>
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We will quite often mention if a hoar frost is forecast in our daily gritting
updates – a hoar frost is, put simply, a very thick and fibrous looking frost.
A lovely fact, <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/02/hoar-frost/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">courtesy of the Woodland Trust</span></a> is that hoar ‘comes from
old English and refers to the old age appearance of the frost: the way the ice
crystals form makes it look like white hair or a beard.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoar frost occurs in much the same
way as dew with moisture in the air condensing onto a surface. When the surface
(i.e. the road temperature) is below zero, regardless of air temperature, the
moisture will condense as ice rather than water – this is a hoar frost. Thus,
although conditions may appear perfectly dry, ice can form on cold untreated surfaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROY8X7vug2FjwAjVxHoH1BoaGak9xKPHBa7eb5_1DYQB8S0x5oDmUTbroyKMtuLfsrSXsrxIQkIyD-FcaGmY3-6FaDXKfn_3GTiO_IwbzKnTiAYfG7G-LwXWmyAPefPsUusq1jn2jBYs/s1600/shutterstock_1063337939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROY8X7vug2FjwAjVxHoH1BoaGak9xKPHBa7eb5_1DYQB8S0x5oDmUTbroyKMtuLfsrSXsrxIQkIyD-FcaGmY3-6FaDXKfn_3GTiO_IwbzKnTiAYfG7G-LwXWmyAPefPsUusq1jn2jBYs/s400/shutterstock_1063337939.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoar frost</td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do you name your gritters like other counties do?</span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
Yes – our gritters are called: <i>Walter the Salter, Salt Disney, Usain Salt, Snow
Farah, Grit ‘n’ bear it, Grit Expectations, Gritty Bang Bang, Ice Ice Baby,
Snowbot, Rocky Horror, The Gritter Good, True Grit, Betty, Dawn Raider, Salty
Snowflake, Brrrrrrrian, Blizzard Wizard, </i>and <i>Snowphie</i>. When they’re out and
about <a href="http://www.transportforbucks.net/gritting/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">you can track them, here.</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Can you call the next one Gritty McGritface?</span></b><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
No. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c5YPojaXtCfET6g_IJC25JM2NJBkc2j73M73iZbElG1eg_4kByslW1ST6FBUaiqU2_6HYlTybvqW46EMsvFJi7t5RsDB7HzkQAJ_L9kO0LCOxM-t8k-rRTnYMjub0svIyCPncJP429Y/s1600/Usain+Salt+and+Snow+Farah+HW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c5YPojaXtCfET6g_IJC25JM2NJBkc2j73M73iZbElG1eg_4kByslW1ST6FBUaiqU2_6HYlTybvqW46EMsvFJi7t5RsDB7HzkQAJ_L9kO0LCOxM-t8k-rRTnYMjub0svIyCPncJP429Y/s400/Usain+Salt+and+Snow+Farah+HW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on the council’s winter services, visit
<a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/community/ready-for-winter/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">buckscc.gov.uk/readyforwinter </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-53505152321678596182018-10-22T09:11:00.000-07:002018-10-23T02:45:50.415-07:00TfB to work on bridge and crossing in Marlow this half term <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Starting from Monday 22nd October Transport
for Buckinghamshire (TfB) will be busy in Marlow Town Centre, including
commencing work on the long anticipated bridge bollards upgrade. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The works are
likely to take up to three weeks, depending on weather conditions, and will
take place during week nights only with the bridge and road remaining open
during the day. During the night closures TfB will also be taking the
opportunity to install new pedestrian crossing refuge islands outside Burger’s,
as part of a joint scheme with the Town Council, using Local Area Forum
funding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The old bell-shaped bollards will be removed
and new, more robust, bollards will be installed on both approaches to Marlow
Bridge, which are designed to be much more difficult for HGVs to get through. Both
approaches to the bridge will be resurfaced as well. The work will be carried
out overnight under a road closure between 9pm and 6am, Monday to Friday, for
about three weeks. The bridge will remain open during the day and there will be
restrictions in place to protect the bridge when the old bollards have been
removed and the new ones not fully installed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUhCaBWLERb0SkMueD-62XwsBm8dUPS3Z79xFsGt0uwRCmwdqmq3UkH3yKGnLOvv3rfrBJ5VY6J6F90wvyPHPURz3A_Ov4n9saB3tjBvTKrXDD0XM1RndNZmkVb5Wnn0tY5bSFlR8oc/s1600/exhibition+displaysCROP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1572" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUhCaBWLERb0SkMueD-62XwsBm8dUPS3Z79xFsGt0uwRCmwdqmq3UkH3yKGnLOvv3rfrBJ5VY6J6F90wvyPHPURz3A_Ov4n9saB3tjBvTKrXDD0XM1RndNZmkVb5Wnn0tY5bSFlR8oc/s640/exhibition+displaysCROP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demo bollard on display in Marlow last September </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />It is anticipated that these sturdier
measures will deter and prevent overweight vehicles abusing or ignoring the
3T weight limit on the historic Marlow Bridge. Deputy Leader and Transport
Cabinet Member Mark Shaw commented: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>“This work has been a long time coming, and
I’m glad that after all the investigations and planning that has been going on
behind the scenes we are finally able to move ahead. The new bollards have been
designed to be less easy to abuse than the old ones, and will offer additional
protection to an important historic structure.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, to make full use of the
road closure, TfB will begin the first phase of work to install a new crossing
point at The Causeway, outside Burger’s, in a joint scheme with the Town
Council and Local Area Forum (LAF). This first phase, to install the refuge
islands, will be carried out under the same night closures as the bridge works
and will take around five nights, depending on the weather. The second phase,
to remove the adjacent parking spaces and complete a dropped kerb, will be
carried out later in the year.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6D-L31c2hNzieHtSdt61e_BK6Xo7fQocqkDIsZLm2nClG171W2mybsy79NQDc9jA72965QSdDg_yGuEIkio4sYvv2OS3N-jPnXhxod3A5W4hE0c6CXC3aU_djV6So7ZnSSZ2QdDx_2Y/s1600/Marlow+Crossing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1054" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6D-L31c2hNzieHtSdt61e_BK6Xo7fQocqkDIsZLm2nClG171W2mybsy79NQDc9jA72965QSdDg_yGuEIkio4sYvv2OS3N-jPnXhxod3A5W4hE0c6CXC3aU_djV6So7ZnSSZ2QdDx_2Y/s640/Marlow+Crossing.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plans for the new refuge islands on The Causeway, Marlow town centre </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Marlow’s Mayor, Chris Funnell,
enthusiastically welcomed the news that the crossing works are commencing this
week, commenting: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>“I’m delighted that after a long campaign to push for this
project to get going, the crossing on The Causeway is now finally being started.
Safety is our first priority and we need to ensure that everyone, particularly
the disabled, young people and the elderly, have a safe way of crossing the
road to get to the park. The new refuge will also act as a visual signal to
drivers to be vigilant in that area.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark Shaw added “I’m also really pleased that
TfB have scheduled the crossing works for the same time as the bridge works –
when teams can share road closures it not only minimises disruption in the
town, it saves money. I’m looking forward to seeing the new bollards and the
crossing completed; I think they will both be good for the town.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Work commences on the bridge bollards tonight
(Mon 22nd) from 9pm, and the crossing works are scheduled to begin on the 29th,
weather permitting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><i>This article was corrected on 23/10/2018 to say that the weight limit is 3T, and not 3.5T as originally stated. </i></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-24312653343156381152018-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:002018-10-10T07:28:16.066-07:00It’s National Customer Service Week 2018!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week
is national customer service week and we’ll be focusing on a different element
of our customer service every day on Twitter and Facebook – but if you’re impatient you can see the whole lot
here, now…</span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our
Customer Pledge<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our customer service is based on three core principles;
whatever the job we always strive to keep you safe, get the job done, and keep
you involved. This is all part of our customer pledge – find out a more <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/tfb-customer-pledge/">on
our website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Reporting
to us <br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Did you know you can report almost anything to us using <a href="https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Fix My Street?</a>
Fix My Street is quick, simple, and precise – every report is allocated to the
right team quickly, 24/7, and generates a unique reference number so it can be
tracked by anyone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who you
gonna call? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, in any emergency it’s best to phone us, and not try
to report online or via social media, or post (we really did get a letter about
a fallen tree once!). We can be reached 24/7 in an emergency on either 01296
382416 or 01296 486630 (out of hours). Emergencies are things like flooded
roads, fallen trees on roads or pavements, or serious and dangerous issues like
sinkholes. If you’re not sure what we’re responsible for then check out our
<a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/day-to-day-highway-maintenance/" target="_blank">day-to-day maintenance page</a> which details everything we take care of. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Finding out
about roadworks in your area</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you know you can use an <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/planned-roadworks-and-diversions/">interactive
map on our website</a> to find out about road works and closures in
Buckinghamshire (and beyond)? We’ve put together this 2 minute video guide to
show you how to use the map, and its many hidden talents… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVtK4cQgwdwMq8xJKNKxnSlBUIW8U6ZG9y5gBcNnBrCZY_izohmkgLY6zeETVUTsVc2_eLspo0gGTloBY18w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also publish a press release every Friday saying where we
will be doing resurfacing works across Buckinghamshire in the coming week. We
also put it <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/road-treatment-programme/choosing-the-right-road-surface/">on
our website, here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Getting
communities involved <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
We work closely with elected county councillors in Buckinghamshire, as well as
parishes, to find out local priorities and issues. We meet regularly via local
area forums, working groups, conferences, as well as issuing briefings and
information. This helps us shape our <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/long-term-highway-improvements/">long
term improvement programme</a> every April.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveFACGLomYC3DyHm3jKv-EKQ9XDnYheEfv_-JQB6-qhja3BYGdTc95D3WwcExnwRsAodu_jL6yZg9z6WQ9F3QwZ-uzdb6iOvjOfCE2P-LYOshCNiOhSmd4t8PkST3DTQmjMcFCscBK_I/s1600/Conference1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveFACGLomYC3DyHm3jKv-EKQ9XDnYheEfv_-JQB6-qhja3BYGdTc95D3WwcExnwRsAodu_jL6yZg9z6WQ9F3QwZ-uzdb6iOvjOfCE2P-LYOshCNiOhSmd4t8PkST3DTQmjMcFCscBK_I/s400/Conference1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TfB Stakeholder Conference 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V36GDiSGe-LsIE2M0yTJvcJjuSX49ikx1Ka9I7TLHCwu4z1t7gxLetxlEz1IysVD1S4G40MNGAjK_IVk3EGT-NWMGOpH-0vyFyopx4zIwGoefeDNLarpyMRe4BAc69gxsSZstXzBaEA/s1600/Conference2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V36GDiSGe-LsIE2M0yTJvcJjuSX49ikx1Ka9I7TLHCwu4z1t7gxLetxlEz1IysVD1S4G40MNGAjK_IVk3EGT-NWMGOpH-0vyFyopx4zIwGoefeDNLarpyMRe4BAc69gxsSZstXzBaEA/s400/Conference2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TfB Stakeholder Conference 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The most
important time of year for customer service: Winter!</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our winter maintenance will be starting soon! To round off
national customer service week we’re focusing on how TfB will be getting <a href="http://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2017/12/were-ready-five-things-you-need-to-know.html">ready
for winter</a>. Every day during the winter we issue daily gritting updates, so
drivers can know what to expect on the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can see the daily alerts on Twitter, Facebook, or on our winter
maintenance page on the county council website. We have loads of winter web
resources such as gritting maps where you can track our gritters, gritting
route maps – we salt 44% of the roads in Buckinghamshire – and road safety
advice. Read more on <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/winter-maintenance/">our
winter maintenance page</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-70090039294108806572018-09-17T08:05:00.002-07:002018-09-17T08:05:57.503-07:00TfB to man Marlow Bridge during overnight A404 works this week <div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;">
Highways England will be closing the A404 near Marlow to do white lining works overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday this week (18<sup>th</sup>/19<sup>th</sup> September). The closure will be between junction 9B and the Bisham Roundabout, northbound on Tuesday night and southbound on Wednesday night, from 10pm to 5am on both nights. There will be a signed diversion for HGVs, as well as increased warning signs of the 3T limit on the approach to Marlow Bridge, as well as a camera van on the bridge itself.</div>
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Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) will put gatemen on Marlow Bridge all night to deter overweight vehicles from using it as a diversion route. The gatemen will be wearing body cameras for their own safety.</div>
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Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Mark Shaw commented: “While this is an overnight closure only, and we aren’t anticipating too many issues, we would rather be safe than sorry. There are a lot of works happening in and around Marlow at the moment, and there were well publicised problems with the bridge being misused a couple of weeks ago. We discussed the options with Highways England, and made the decision to take the protection of the bridge on ourselves.”</div>
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<em>For further information, or to give feedback on the works and closures please contact Highways England.</em></div>
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-60639942632284217522018-09-06T05:09:00.004-07:002018-09-06T05:09:51.528-07:00Marlow Bridge misuse – Statement by TfB and Deputy Leader Mark Shaw <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Last weekend, 1-2 September,
Highways England (HE) closed a section of the A404 at Marlow to remove the
Volvo footbridge for restoration works. Given the location of the closure, and
its proximity to the Grade 1 listed Marlow Bridge, Transport for
Buckinghamshire worked with HE and their contractor, Kier, to agree how the
bridge would be protected from misuse by vehicles exceeding 3T. The agreement
was for Kier to provide traffic management marshals to man both sides of the
bridge and deter overweight vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The past weekend’s activity,
backed up with photographs from the public and personal statements from local
councillors, has shown that the agreed measures were not fully implemented. The
bridge was open for all to use – including drivers who chose to ignore the
official diversion and clear weight restriction signage on the approach to the
bridge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Highways England issued this
brief statement to TfB on Tuesday this week: “</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are aware of reports that that the traffic marshals may not have been
in place at all times: we are speaking with the teams working over the weekend
to establish the facts.” </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">TfB understands that HE’s
investigation is ongoing, and as such is simply prioritising plans to ensure
the same will not happen again when the Volvo footbridge is reinstated under
another weekend closure of the A404 in October. TfB is acutely aware of the
impact on the town of the enforced closure of the bridge following the Girteka
incident in November 2016 and has no intention of allowing a repeat of that
incident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mark Shaw, Deputy Leader and
Cabinet Member for Transportation, commented “The abuse of the bridge last
weekend is extremely troubling, and frustrating because we thought it would be
protected, as firmly agreed in the weeks before the closure. I urge Highways
England to act quickly on their investigation now, because we – and the
residents of Marlow – have been waiting since the weekend to understand why
this happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the meantime we are all focused on how to best protect the
bridge in October, a task which I would now rather was handled by Transport for
Buckinghamshire. Whether that means marshalling the bridge ourselves, or
closing it for the weekend – a decision we would not take lightly – remains to
be seen. I’m appalled by what happened last weekend and want to assure Marlow
residents and businesses that the last thing we want is a repeat of what
happened in 2016.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Further closures<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Residents may also be aware
that the A404, Bisham to junction 8/9, is shortly to be closed overnight for
lining works (Tuesday 18th and 19th September). It is TfB’s intention to
close the bridge to all traffic whilst this A404 closure is in place. As
the works are scheduled for overnight only, the impact on the town will be
minimal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-22455094466104840892018-08-24T04:10:00.000-07:002018-08-24T04:10:23.501-07:00A404 Marlow Weekend Closures for footbridge works – August / October 2018 <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highways England will be carrying out essential
maintenance to the footbridge which crosses over the A404 near Marlow, which
will require removing the bridge for up to six weeks under two non-consecutive
weekend road closures. While these are
not Buckinghamshire County Council’s works, the closures and diversions will
impact on our road network. Highways England is working closely with us to
minimise the works’ impact, and ensure that our residents are kept well
informed. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Road
closure details:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The northbound and southbound carriageways of the
A404, between the junction with the A4155 just outside Marlow and the Bisham
Roundabout, will be closed and a diversion in place. Parkway (which runs
parallel with the A404) will also be closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two closures are scheduled from:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9pm
on Friday 31 August through to 5am on Monday 3 September 2018</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(please note that should works not be
possible that weekend, the contingency weekend is<span style="color: red;"> </span>21
to 24 September 2018)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9pm
on Friday 12 October through to 5am on Monday 15 October 2018</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(please note that should works not be possible
that weekend, the contingency weekend is from 26 to 29 October 2018)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please be aware that these closures have been
carefully programmed but are subject to change due to weather conditions or
unforeseen circumstances – please check the yellow signs placed in advance at
the junction for confirmation of the closures dates/timings. Please do not
attempt to walk onto the A404 during these closures to see the bridge being
removed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highways England apologises in advance for any
inconvenience or disruption caused during the work; if you have any questions
please contact them on 0300 123 5000 or email <span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:info@highwaysengland.co.uk"><span lang="EN-GB">info@highwaysengland.co.uk</span></a></span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What
are the works?</b> <br />
The bridge requires work to the staircases and repainting. It is not possible
to do the work at the site, and so the footbridge will have to be removed to a
nearby location for approximately ten weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will require a full weekend road closure for the removal of the
bridge in August, and then again for its reinstatement in October.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diversions:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Local traffic will be diverted via Henley-on-Thames
(A4130 and A4155). Traffic on the M4 intending to reach the M40 (and
vice-versa) will be diverted via the M4, M25 and M40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Delays are expected during these weekend closures, and
Highways England advises that you plan ahead of your journey to allow extra
time or avoid this route where possible.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vVQR-uZ_jBleO2wz8Vk2D3msCx-tMSIGlzVQL2J8idswn8LLwgbytGdXqyg8AcpCw71PqSLE-BEX3sFKur4PCiSn__YOcgcBkSChAMuaWRI0bBzJDsYplcJxGq91ZN4b91yMSy60VNU/s1600/A404+diversion+drivers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="936" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vVQR-uZ_jBleO2wz8Vk2D3msCx-tMSIGlzVQL2J8idswn8LLwgbytGdXqyg8AcpCw71PqSLE-BEX3sFKur4PCiSn__YOcgcBkSChAMuaWRI0bBzJDsYplcJxGq91ZN4b91yMSy60VNU/s640/A404+diversion+drivers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pedestrian
footbridge diversion</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An alternative route for pedestrians who would
normally use the bridge to get between Marlow and Westhorpe Park will be
provided between August and October 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The route is shown below in red and should take approximately 15
minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8267240619837623602.post-23673099946249498442018-07-19T04:10:00.000-07:002018-07-19T04:10:26.838-07:00Working on it | TfB’s Long Term Improvements for 2018-19<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite
the very <a href="http://tfblatestnews.blogspot.com/2018/07/gritters-are-out-in-buckinghamshire-as.html"><span style="color: blue;">hot weather disrupting some road
resurfacing schedules</span></a>,
Transport for Buckinghamshire’s
2018-19 programme of road improvements has been well under way since April,
with <a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/road-treatment-programme/"><span style="color: blue;">10-15 road sites being treated every
week</span></a>. The total budget
for long term improvements across the whole Buckinghamshire network is almost
£30 million for this financial year – this budget is to primarily cover road
and footway resurfacing, but also covers investment in bridges, streetlights,
drainage, safety schemes, parking, safety barriers and traffic signals. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road resurfacing in action during the 2017-18 programme. Photo: Jerry Lake </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TfB
is responsible for over 3200km of roads across the county, as well as the
bridges, footways, streetlights, traffic signals, bollards and gullies that
keep the highway functional and safe.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maintaining this valuable and vast asset requires long term, strategic
planning that balances day-to-day maintenance</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with longer term
improvements.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member Mark Shaw commented on the challenges TfB face in maintaining the county’s most valuable asset:</span><div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“Buckinghamshire is in a uniquely challenging position; we’re a rural county yet close to London, with the smallest county road network – in kilometres – of the whole country, yet with one of the highest volumes of traffic nationally. That high volume of traffic, more and more of which is larger goods vehicles, puts a massive strain on road surfaces. The Council is committed to maintaining the roads to a safe and serviceable level, which is why we’ve put more money into road maintenance this year, and I’m proud of how hard the whole TfB team is working to make real long term improvements.”</b></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Road and footway resurfacing 2018-19</span></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The most high profile element of our
work is road and footway resurfacing, which is also the biggest part of our
capital spend, with over £20 million budgeted for it across the county this
year. Over <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100 road resurfacing and 18
footway resurfacing</b> schemes are planned for 2018-19, as part of a works
programme designed by TfB in collaboration with local County Councillors. When
roads have been chosen for resurfacing they are prioritised and the appropriate
treatment is chosen – there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to road
surfacing, with several options available to extend the life of a road. Every
Friday we release a programme of works around the county for the upcoming week,
which can be </span><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/road-treatment-programme/choosing-the-right-road-surface/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">found here</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">
on the County Council website, as can the details about the </span><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-maintenance-and-repairs/road-treatment-programme/choosing-the-right-road-surface/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">different types of road surfacing we use</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since April
eight major surfacing schemes have already been completed in Buckinghamshire,
equating to an area of over 16,000m².<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road surfacing in action by TfB teams, photo: Jerry Lake </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A further <b>£2.78M has been invested in a ‘plane and patch’ programme,</b> where smaller areas of damaged road surface are cut out and resurfaced. We are using this technique to deal with the significant deterioration of Buckinghamshire’s roads that occurred last winter. Some highly visible and longstanding areas of concern have been addressed quickly and effectively through this approach, and by the end of June, approx. 62,000 m²of plane and patch has been carried out across the county.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Structures, 2018-19</span></b></span></h2>
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This year in excess of<b> £1 million will be invested on improvements to various
structures</b> across the county, including bridges, subways, parapets, and
monuments. Structures work is undertaken by a combination of in-house
structures operatives and skilled contractors, particularly for the works
requiring specialist knowledge such as for listed historic structures, such as
Marlow Obelisk, which will undergo renovation works later in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other structures projects for the coming year
include a footbridge in Buckingham and a monument in Thornborough.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXCJuTyqs3zScab-B2QAEmLumdRRpP1idNFYvrgSPLRE4NPw4W3efJRYHwPFopzsvpl5ABzuF7qCsePosERn9quwMwnjQdOFJVnN1u9YgXjJ4-0jN3yIjBvZ2qQu84qZ43UtLy3hIst4/s1600/DSC_0785+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXCJuTyqs3zScab-B2QAEmLumdRRpP1idNFYvrgSPLRE4NPw4W3efJRYHwPFopzsvpl5ABzuF7qCsePosERn9quwMwnjQdOFJVnN1u9YgXjJ4-0jN3yIjBvZ2qQu84qZ43UtLy3hIst4/s640/DSC_0785+jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Structures work in action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqqBpjwC9nGzqhlOyH-jugGw-4PinQWS2Uj_WaI0T9zIp6OvLYQW0kpsoRuHsEi4nKESD0_RBSMQoRLvOiV1XOXGG44mLv1McUrzuHOuYnHcNkMvwQGl5tuB3JEZKYQekZd3-iReTpcs/s1600/DSC_0014a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqqBpjwC9nGzqhlOyH-jugGw-4PinQWS2Uj_WaI0T9zIp6OvLYQW0kpsoRuHsEi4nKESD0_RBSMQoRLvOiV1XOXGG44mLv1McUrzuHOuYnHcNkMvwQGl5tuB3JEZKYQekZd3-iReTpcs/s640/DSC_0014a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckingham's London Road footbridge, which is undergoing refurbishment by TfB during 2018-19. Photo: Beth Mills</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Drainage, 2018-19 </span></b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The countywide drainage improvement
programme creates sustainable, long term solutions to some of the more significant
drainage issues across the county. Where road surface water and ineffective
drainage are an issue a solution is designed and built by a team of drainage
specialists – in general the work will involve installing new pipework and
soakaways, improving ditch capacity, and refurbishing existing drainage systems
to increase capacity. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">£1 million has
been allocated for the 2018-19 drainage programme,</b> and will include over 30
sites, eleven of which have already been completed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read about how </span><a href="http://ouryeartfb.blogspot.com/2018/01/drainage-improvements.html"><span style="line-height: 115%;">drainage improvements were made in Buckinghamshire last
year here</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">, and see the </span><a href="https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/improvement-schemes-and-projects/countywide-road-drainage-scheme/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">full list of planned works for 2018-19</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> on the County Council website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Streetlighting, 2018-19</span></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘Street lighting’ actually refers not
just to conventional streetlights but to all road side illuminated signs and
bollards, as well as lighting in subways, and all the associated cabling. This
year <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">over </b></span><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">£2.5
million</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
will be spent on major street lighting works</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">, which includes replacing
over <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">500 streetlight columns</span>,
and continuing the countywide programme to replace all old style sodium lamps
with more modern and efficient LED units. Over the last six years <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">almost 15,000</span> LED conversions have
been completed in Buckinghamshire, with over 3,200 old style lanterns expected
to be replaced this coming year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jXe1h5jNWPDq7J4sl_0K-vM-HrTPDtfa2wgjtROG8RxcKGj9ntpxIDoZxYRoBF2XMBtHI2H4BLmjTgNA4qpz29weyNBKP024hFTWb5T4_hm0qzNXp7NfoCX4ungKqRnOZduRxSQw29o/s1600/mattphoto_bh_072small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jXe1h5jNWPDq7J4sl_0K-vM-HrTPDtfa2wgjtROG8RxcKGj9ntpxIDoZxYRoBF2XMBtHI2H4BLmjTgNA4qpz29weyNBKP024hFTWb5T4_hm0qzNXp7NfoCX4ungKqRnOZduRxSQw29o/s640/mattphoto_bh_072small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streetlighting works, photo: Matt Fowler</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Other schemes</span></span></b></h2>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TfB also carries out local, smaller schemes on our roads and streets. These are developed with, and often funded by, third parties such as parishes and Local Area Forums (LAFs). <b>Over 200 of these schemes are planned for 2018-19</b>, including pedestrian crossings and cycle ways.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over <b>£300,000 will be invested in countywide network safety schemes</b> whilst a further £879,000 from the DfT Safer Roads allocation, will enable a number of safety schemes to be carried out along the A40 between West Wycombe and Stokenchurch<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In excess of £400,000 has been allocated for the upgrade of traffic signal infrastructure across the county<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">£250,000 is to be invested on safety fencing improvements across the county<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A further £500,000+ has also been budgeted this year for locally organised projects such as traffic calming and other highway safety improvements.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />More information about what TfB does can be found on the county council website, and by following TfB on <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://twitter.com/tfbalerts" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transportforbucks/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; line-height: 115%;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Transport for Buckinghamshire thanks George Green resident Jerry Lake, for his wonderful resurfacing photographs. </i></span><br />
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Travel Safe Buckshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07993923185450455205noreply@blogger.com