24.4  Authority Responsibility for Latent Defects

The Authority shall be responsible for any Latent Defect to the extent that the Service Provider is not responsible pursuant to this clause 24, and the occurrence of such Latent Defect shall be an Excusing Cause and the provisions of clause 40 (Excusing Causes) shall apply.  Any work or change to the Service required or instructed to be done in consequence of any such Latent Defect, shall constitute an Authority Change, provided that the Service Provider shall take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of road users.