A8 Port Glasgow Road inspection: EIR release

Information requested

With regards to the A8 trunk road at Port Glasgow you asked for the following:

When was this roadway last inspected and by whom. Was it done by walking the road or driving in a vehicle? What was the outcome of this examination and what standard does the road surface have to be in before it is repaired or resurfaced?

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Response to your request

Please see Annex A to this response for details of Inspection carried out immediately prior to your damage report.

These inspections were undertaken by our Operating Company Ameys Route Inspectors whilst driving the route. All trunk roads are inspected weekly, and any category 1 defects noted and attended to as defined in the Trunk Roads Inspection Manual.

A Category 1 Defect, means a Defect that necessitates prompt attention because it presents:

• (i) an immediate or imminent hazard, or
• (ii) a risk of rapid structural deterioration to the affected element.

Category 2 Defect, means any Defect which is not a Category 1 Defect.

When classifying Category 1 and Category 2 Defects, the Operating Company takes into consideration the potential impact on all road users including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, equestrians and disabled users.

Where a Category 1 Defect renders a trunk road unsafe for road users, the Operating Company will, under Police instruction or on receipt of an appropriate Order, close the relevant part of the Trunk Road for as short a period as possible while remedial action is undertaken.

Where a Category 1 Defect cannot be repaired immediately or the hazard cannot be removed, the Operating Company will take action to make the area safe until the required temporary or permanent repairs have been completed.

The temporary or permanent repairs will be undertaken as soon as possible and no later than:

• (i) 06:00 on the day following identification for Category 1 Defects on carriageways, and
• (ii) within 24 hours of identification for all other Category 1 Defects.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400402636 - Information Released - Annex A

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