In any situation of road construction works progress, in which the motorist may be denied the safe usage of the full carriageway, some provision for traffic is essential. This road traffic control applies in both construction and maintenance.
The safety of the motoring public and of the job employees, is the key consideration in making adequate provision for road traffic. Both groups are entitled to equal consideration. Road Traffic may be slowed down, halted and held or diverted according to the job circumstances. However when any such action are taken, in addition to safety, public relations must be taken into consideration.
Two Lane Road Traffic Control
The Construction managers job is to all times aim at keeping at least two traffic lanes open. At least two traffic lanes should always be available during the hours of darkness. There are a number of ways of doing this
• Side tracking – A side track is defined as a specially constructed road or track by-passing an obstacle, roughly parallel to the main route, i.e. side tracks and so called detours on rural roads.
• Detouring – A detour is defined as a diversion of traffic using existing roads or streets, as in an urban situation.
• Widening and/or compacting existing shoulders to create an additional temporary traffic lane.
• Completing work each day to a stage where the job can be opened to traffic at night and weekends. As a example paving work
One Lane Road Traffic Control
The one lane road traffic are considered Where it is not practicable to keep two traffic lanes open, flagmen will always be used to control the traffic of road on the approaches to and through the job site. The some of the key factors for the use of flagmen are-
• When traffic is restricted to the use of one lane, flagmen will ALWAYS be used.
• On single lanes not exceeding 30 m in length one flagmen may be used.
• On single lanes exceeding 30 m in length two flagmen will always be used, each to be visible to the other and one to be nominated as controller. In cases where visibility between flagmen is not possible, small radio transceivers should be used. Alternatively a third flagmen, with visibility to the other two, may be used.
One lane road traffic is to be converted to two lanes road traffic for the hours or darkness and at weekends, when the job is unattended, i.e. the lane under construction is to be opened up.