The DfT has called on the Highways Agency to take some specific steps to boost the resilience of the strategic road network (SRN) to extreme weather.
Published on 22 July, the DfT’s Transport Resilience Review outlined a number of actions it would like the HA to take, including: completing its drainage asset inventory; consulting the freight sector over restrictions on vulnerable vehicles on some sections of the network during high winds; working with the Met Office to improve wind forecasts for the benefit of truck operators; and reviewing the range and wording of information given out on variable message signs during disruption.
The report also called on the HA to “improve and refine” the content of its website and to conduct a flooding risk assessment exercise using newly updated Environment Agency flood risk maps and other data to supplement its log of actual flooding events , in order to identify potential flood risk locations on the SRN.
In terms of local roads, the report’s recommendations included a call for local highway authorities to identify a ‘resilient network’ to which priority will be given in order to maintain economic activity and access to key services during extreme weather; and for such authorities to ensure drainage assets were maintained in good working order.
Commenting on the review, FTA head of road network management policy Malcolm Bingham said the association welcomed its various recommendations. "Without robust infrastructure, the logistics industry will still suffer from reliability shortfalls as the lifelines of industry are severed due to lack of planning,” he said.
Just a few days ago, a new report from the Climate Change Committee raised concerns about the HA’s approach to boosting the resilience of the SRN, pointing out that although it had “broadly identified the main vulnerability” of the network it had “yet to produce more detailed action plans”.
The Highways Agency has not so far responded to a request for comment on the DfT’s review.
