Maintenance to Howford Bridge on the A76: EIR release

Information requested

"I would request information on the cost of repairs, maintenance, upgrades to the Howford Bridge on the A76 between Mauchline and Auchinleck.

• I would like information on the cost of both phases of the repairs; December 21 - May 22 and the latest phase December 22 - June 23.
• I would also like to know where the money for these works came from, ie. Was it public money or from some other source?"

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.

I have numbered the answers to aid with this response.

1. Works are ongoing on the northbound carriageway to install additional drainage improvements off the bridge deck. Bridge deck expansion joints will also be installed following completion of the surfacing works.

Phase 1 of these works was undertaken from October 21 to March 22 at a cost of £640,885.77.

Phase 2 is underway and is anticipated to be completed by end of May 2023 at a cost of £245,573.30.

2. Regarding the question of where the money for these works came from, ie. Was it public money or from some other source", Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways.

In 2022-23 Transport Scotland invested £586 million in managing, maintaining, and safely operating the Scottish motorway and trunk road network.

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