WINTER MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCES OF A SUPER AGENT

This paper describes the experiences of a 'Super Agent', which took over the winter maintenance service for Area 3, which was previously undertaken by seven other agents. Area 3 comprises the motorway and trunk road network in the English counties of Hampshire, Surrey, and West Sussex, together with the city of Brighton and Hove and parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, and Berkshire. The operational maintenance of the winter maintenance service can be divided broadly into facilitating road weather forecasting and making operational decisions to prevent ice formation, and supervising the Term Contractor's activities. The Meteorological Office was appointed to provide the following elements of a specific weather forecast for Area 3: (1) morning 'summaries'; (2) a basic forecast for the next 24 hours; (3) specific forecasts for seven forecast outstations; (4) an 'outlook' for the next two to five days; (5) evening 'updates'; (6) direct access facilities; (7) amendments to forecasts when required; and (8) site-specific snow prediction. The article outlines the difficulties met in overcoming the incompatibility and inconsistencies found in the levels of service provided under former authorities. It also discusses some new issues addressed as a result of the opportunity to view the service freshly, with a wider perspective.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02656868
• Corporate Authors:

  INSTITUTION OF HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

  6 ENDSLEIGH STREET
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  WC1H 0DZ
• Authors:
  • BOWLEY, C
  • URQUHART, J
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 17-8,20-1
• Serial:
  • HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION
  • Publisher: INSTITUTION OF HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION
  • ISSN: 0265-6868

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Forecasting; Freeways; Ice; Local government agencies; Networks; Organizations; Roads; Rural areas; Snow; Transportation operations; Urban areas; Weather; Winter maintenance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road networks
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 132: Forecast; 2578: Ice; 192: Local authority; 2748: Main road; 2752: Motorway; 1144: Operations (transp network); 9057: Organization (association); 1053: Road network; 328: Rural area; 2552: Snow; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area; 2545: Weather; 2593: Winter maintenance
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00771524
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Nov 4 1999 12:00AM