Road Policy and Inspection A1 St Johns to Peel Ballaleece Bridge

Summary

A request was made regarding the classification, inspection frequency, and repair history of a defect on the A1 St Johns to Peel road. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed the road is strategic, corrected a database error regarding inspection frequency, and detailed the temporary and planned permanent repairs for a pothole.

Key Facts

• The A1 St Johns to Peel road is classified as a Strategic Route.
• Inspections on strategic routes are carried out monthly, contrary to a database error suggesting 6-monthly intervals.
• The defect reported was identified as a pothole, not a recurring issue at the bridge apex.
• A temporary repair was executed on 16th January 2017.
• A permanent repair is scheduled to occur between 24 hours and 2 years depending on resource availability.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-04-26
• 2017-04-27
• IM85730I
• October 2016
• 20:45 hours
• January 14th
• 16th January 2017
• 24hrs
• 2 years

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

FOI Reference No: IM85730I Request under the Freedom Of Information Act 2015 (“The Act”)

Thank you for your request dated 26th April 2017

Your request

1. Is the road in questions (A1 St Johns to Peel) classified as a strategic route?
2. I note from the documentation that the defects have been reported in the same place (apex or crest of the bridge) on other occasions, so would I be correct in thinking that this particular mettled part of the bridge suffered a recurring problem?
3. The information provided would suggest that this stretch of Highway had not been inspected since October 2016. Could you please confirm that this indeed was the case?
4. Would the Department be able to state that a temporary repair was carried out after my report and when did that take place? Also, was the repair then followed up with a more substantial one and when did that take place?
5. Can you please advise what the nature of the defect was, a pothole or a sunken grid?
6. The documentation states that the incident occurred at 20:45 hours on January 14th. Would it please be possible to advise where this information was gleaned from?

Response to your request

1. The A1 St Johns to Peel road is classed as a Strategic Route.

2. No

3. No this is not the case, our database is wrongly programmed to generate and record 6 monthly inspections when in fact the inspections on strategic routes are carried out monthly. It may be of interest to you to know that officers of the Department are expected to note and report any defects they come across while undertaking their day to day duties.

4. A temporary repair was carried out on the 16th January 2017. A more permanent repair has been programmed in to take place when resources allow between 24hrs and 2 years.

5. It was a pothole.