When a section of a roadway has been earmarked for rehabilitation or upgrading, one of the critical elements in the process will be establishing a traffic control plan during the construction phase.
With the amount of traffic on the roads these days, it is not possible to close off that section of road and get on with the work, hoping that drivers will find an alternative route.
And while detours and deviations from the main roadway may be disruptive and cause traffic delays, they are essential to ensure the safety of road users and construction teams alike.
What Will Be Included In A Traffic Control Plan?
A traffic control plan will be laid out in advance to ensure safety in a section of the road that is under construction, rehabilitation or upgrade. It will include some of the following detail:
- Advance warning zone -Motorists will be warned of the upcoming disruption to their route. These are sometimes included at exit points to the roadway in an attempt to divert some of the traffic to alternative routes.
- Approach area – In this area, motorists will be supplied with information about upcoming lane changes, speed limits and detours.
- Transition area – Traffic will be channelled to alternative lanes or detours using signs, road markings, rumble strips and barriers.
- Detour or deviation zone – Traffic will continue to be directed through this zone, guided by road markings and signs. Rumble strips will often be included to enforce the speed limit.
- Termination zone – Once the motorists are past the work area, the use of the road will gradually be restored to normal, utilising all lanes or the entire roadway. This convergence back to normal will be facilitated by signs, road markings and barriers where necessary.
As each road work site is different, the traffic control plan will be customised to each site, with revised indicators included as the project progresses.
What Impacts The Extent Of The Traffic Control Plan?
Various factors must be considered when designing a traffic control plan. These factors will play a role in how simple or complex the design of the plan needs to be:
- The type of road (e.g. state highways, motorways or local roads).
- The volume of traffic on that particular road (this includes vehicular and pedestrian traffic)
- The extent of the work to be carried out and how long it will take.
- Road surfaces
Contact the ISAV Design team today for all your traffic control plan requirements. With so many variables to consider, employing traffic management specialists’ services is a good idea.
