Flexible shift patterns, innovative working methods and the use of mobile technology are helping to achieve significant cost savings and to speed up the delivery of road improvement schemes in the Isle of Man.
The Department of Infrastructure has introduced a range of measures within its Highway Services Division aimed at generating efficiencies and minimising disruption to road users. The changes are ensuring the Department can continue to undertake a comprehensive programme of strategic road maintenance against a backdrop of substantial cuts to its workforce and funding.
Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: ‘Investment in the Isle of Man’s highways network is part of the Department’s commitment to maintaining approximately £1 billion of key assets. Financial pressures have resulted in fewer staff and reduced spending within our Highway Services Division, but we have responded to the challenge by adopting smarter ways of working.’
He added: ‘The Department is sometimes criticised for the poor state of certain roads and criticised again when those roads are closed to enable improvements to take place. We always do our best to keep the Island moving and ensure it is business as usual for motorists and commercial operations. Our priority is to deliver a high quality infrastructure that contributes towards the general wellbeing and economic strength of the Isle of Man.’
The Minister explained that changes to working practices, introduced with the support of the unions, have increased flexibility around shift patterns on larger highway schemes.
He said: ‘The approach to road repairs and refurbishments has changed dramatically in recent times. Staff and private contractors routinely work through the night and at weekends on some of our bigger projects in order to reduce the duration of any road closures. For example, flexible working is assisting the progress of the improvement schemes at the Mountain Mile and Waterworks. We try to keep roads open wherever practical. However, evidence shows that closing a section of road while work is carried out can reduce the time taken to complete a major refurbishment by up to 75%, as well as making it safer for our staff.’
The Department’s investment in modern equipment – including jet patch technology, a small road planer and a new road lining machine – is helping to improve efficiency in many areas.
In addition, the Department is generating savings by reusing more than 15,000 tonnes of material taken out of Manx roads, a five-fold increase over the past five years. It has also started using different materials and mixes, such as fibre-reinforced asphalt and high stone content material, which can increase the life of our roads by about 30%.
Digital technology is playing its part, with the ‘Report It’ mobile app enabling people to draw the Department’s attention to potholes and other issues. Together with the use of mobile devices, this has improved reactive maintenance productivity by approximately 10%.
The number of senior managers within the Division has also been significantly reduced, with frontline staff empowered to make decisions that would previously have been escalated to management level.
Minister Gawne said: ‘The modernised working practices, savings and efficiencies being delivered in the Highways Division are a good example of what is happening right across the Department. We are all focused on providing leaner and more sustainable services.'
