APPENDIX E – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and Responsibilities during a Trunk Road High Wind Incident

The following section defines the roles and responsibilities of the organisations involved in the management of high wind impact on the trunk road network and associated bridge structures. It is noted that the exact role and responsibility of each authority may vary slightly where the procedure is applied to the management of local roads.

Trunk Road Maintenance Organisations (Operating Companies)

Role:

Support Transport Scotland’s initial review to identify areas on the trunk road network at risk to high winds. To undertake subsequent reviews of ‘at risk’ locations; and
Actively monitor the risk of high winds occurring using links with meteorological forecasters, real time data from meteorological sites and, if high winds occur, follow agreed procedures to manage the impact of wind related incidents.

Responsibilities:

Assist Transport Scotland initial review of the trunk road network to identify sections at risk to high winds;
Undertake when instructed, subsequent to Transport Scotland’s initial review, regular reviews of the trunk road network to identify ‘key’ locations on the trunk road network susceptible to the impact of wind. These reviews may include stakeholder consultation, analysis of accident statistics and specialist services such as wind profiling and climate trend analysis;
Develop organisational agreements with the Traffic Scotland control centre, the local authorities, bridge boards and local police forces to define the role and responsibilities of these authorities for each ‘key’ location and agree the information dissemination procedures to be followed prior to, during and after an incident;
Prepare procedures as required. These should consider alternative routes, efficient diversion management and information dissemination;
Set up links with meteorological forecasters to obtain severe weather warnings in advance of high winds occurring;
Define the wind speed thresholds and associated restrictions to be implemented during wind incidents;
Monitor the real time wind speeds using weather sites within their area and on reaching predetermined thresholds, undertake specific actions according to the agreed procedures;
When necessary and in accordance with procedures, keep the relevant authorities, e.g. local authorities, Traffic Scotland control centre and police, informed as to the progress of an incident;
Activate any information systems under their control as necessary;
Implement traffic management as required. This will require the initiation of agreements with the local police authority to assist in the implementation of restrictions and enforcement for each key location;
Monitor and provide feedback on the status of agreed alternative routes prior to, during and for an agreed period after a restriction is in force; and
Undertake the agreed procedures for relaxation of restrictions as required following consultation with Traffic Scotland control centre, local authorities and police.

Traffic Scotland Operator (TSOp) and Control Centre (TSCC)

Roles:

Manage the strategic impact of any wind related incident on the trunk road network. This will comprise of setting the strategic VMS, updating the Traffic Scotland and Freight Scotland websites (www.trafficscotland.org and www.freightscotland.org ) and appropriate liaison throughout Scotland with police forces, bridge boards, trunk road maintenance organisations and Transport Scotland; and
Inform the media and the wider general travelling public of the risk of high winds using, where appropriate, information provided/exchanged from the bridge boards, trunk road maintenance organisations, police, meteorological forecasters and local authorities.

Responsibilities:

Receive and monitor information from police, meteorological forecasters, trunk road maintenance organisations, bridge boards and local authorities (via verbal communications or data exchange links) relating to wind incidents;
Inform the media and the travelling public of the risk of high winds at specific locations and provide appropriate travel/safety advice (in accordance with agreed procedures) on required traffic management issues;
Actively monitor the effects of any wind incidents and manage traffic appropriately across the trunk road network; and
Liaise with relevant police forces, bridge boards, trunk road maintenance organisations, local authorities and Transport Scotland as necessary throughout the duration of any wind related incident.

Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA)/Tay Road Bridge Joint Board (TRBJB)

Role:

FETA and TRBJB identify and actively monitor the risk of high winds occurring at their respective bridge structures using links with meteorological forecasters, real time data from meteorological sites and, if high winds occur, follow set procedures to manage the impact of wind related incidents.

Responsibilities are set by the Bridge Authority or Board, these are currently:

Links are established with meteorological forecasters to obtain severe weather warnings in advance of high winds occurring;
The wind speed thresholds are defined and associated restrictions are implemented during wind incidents;
Real time wind speeds are monitored using weather sites within its area and, on reaching predetermined thresholds, undertake specific actions according to their own set procedures;
The relevant authorities are kept informed as to the progress of an incident, e.g. local authorities, Traffic Scotland control centre, police;
Information systems are activated under its control as necessary including the setting of strategic VMS by the Traffic Scotland control centre; and
Traffic management is implemented where appropriate and, when required, the relevant local police authorities are informed to assist where necessary with the enforcement.

Police Forces

Role:

Assist the bridge boards, trunk road maintenance organisations, Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland control centre in identifying ‘at risk’ locations on the trunk road network and safely managing wind related incidents; and
Enforce restrictions or closures as appropriate.

Responsibilities:

Provide information to Transport Scotland and trunk road maintenance organisations on what they believe to be ‘at risk’ sections of road. This may include locations where accidents have occurred as a result of high winds based on both local knowledge and attendance at previous incidents; and
Assist (where applicable) bridge boards, local authorities, trunk road maintenance organisations and Transport Scotland in developing operational procedures for managing a wind incident, including diversion routes and traffic management planning.

Local Authorities

Role:

Develop wind management procedures for their own network as they deem appropriate;
Work with local and trunk road maintenance organisations, the police and Transport Scotland in agreeing appropriate diversion routes from and to the trunk road network; and
Advise Transport Scotland and trunk road maintenance organisations on what the local authority believe to be ‘at risk’ sections of the local authority road network that impacts on the trunk road network. This may include locations where accidents have occurred as a result of high winds.

Responsibilities:

Develop organisational agreements with the trunk road maintenance organisations, Traffic Scotland control centre, bridge boards and police to define the role and responsibilities of these organisations for the local authority road network impacting on the trunk road network and agree the information dissemination procedures to be followed prior to, during and after an incident;
When necessary and in accordance with agreed procedures, provide relevant organisations, e.g. Traffic Scotland control centre, police, trunk road maintenance organisations, with monitoring, condition and/or traffic reports on the local road network during a high wind incident; and
Activate any information systems under their control and traffic management as per the appropriate response plan.