Street Lighting Columns
Case reference EIR2025/00773
Received 21 April 2025
Published 3 July 2025
Request
I would be grateful if you could respond to the following 4 questions please:
1) How many public lighting columns is your authority responsible for?
2) In a typical year how many lighting columns does your authority test for structural integrity? Information on electrical testing is not required.
3) What methodology does your authority use to test structural integrity ? e.g. Ultrasonic Testing (UT), push-pull method etc. If you use more than one method please state all methods used on a regular basis and state which is the most used method.
4) In a typical year, how many lighting columns does your authority replace? Preferably the response should be replacements due condition or end of serviceable life rather than replacement due to accidental damage, however if condition/service life data only is not available, then total number of replacements typically per annum is sufficient.
Response
1) How many public lighting columns is your authority responsible for?
As of April 2025 our records show National Highways is responsible for 86,826 road lighting columns. In addition to our major projects and renewal programmes we are currently undertaking a national survey to assure our lighting stock so our asset numbers will change.
2) In a typical year how many lighting columns does your authority test for structural integrity? Information on electrical testing is not required.
The number of detailed inspection reports (including non-destructive testing (NDT)) varies yearly dependent on our programme. Broadly, our standards require that NDT is undertaken 15 years after original construction and, subject to condition, repeated every 6 years. Last year, 2024/25, we undertook over 15,300 detailed inspections that included some form of physical testing.
3) What methodology does your authority use to test structural integrity ? e.g. Ultrasonic Testing (UT), push-pull method etc. If you use more than one method please state all methods used on a regular basis and state which is the most used method.
We use a range of testing methods as described within ATOMS however we primarily use ultrasonic testing supported by push pull test where appropriate.
4) In a typical year, how many lighting columns does your authority replace? Preferably the response should be replacements due condition or end of serviceable life rather than replacement due to accidental damage, however if condition/service life data only is not available, then total number of replacements typically per annum is sufficient.
Lighting assets are replaced through our renewal programmes, major projects and operational maintenance (normally accidental damage). Within Road Investment Strategy (RIS) Period 2: 2020-25, we have replaced a total 4052 (average 810 per annum) columns through operational renewals that are generally at the end of serviceable life. We do not have accurate numbers of lighting columns replaced through our major projects as this varies depending upon the programme but has been in the order of 2600+ per RIS period, averaging 520+ lighting columns per year.
Documents
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