Road Infrastructure Safety in Victoria

Greg Chambers Acting Director, Commercial & Business Services

Roads in Victoria

National Hwy

Arterial Roads

National Hwy funded by Commonwealth, managed by States

Arterial Rd funded and managed by States

Roads in Victoria

Road Type Length (km)

Network (%)

Travel (%)

Vic

Ro

ad

s

National highway

1,010 0.9 8.9

Rural arterial 18,060 10.2 21.8

Urban arterial 3,180 3.2 51.7

Arterial Roads1 22,250 14.3 82.4

Lo

cal

Go

vt.

Rural local 106,100 67.3 5.2

Urban local 26,400 16.8 12.4

All road types 154,750 100.0 100.0

1 Road assets valued at AUD$23 billion, incl. 3,000+ bridges

Overall Approach

Road Safety is fully integrated into road infrastructure management and operations

Specific road safety programs

– Safer Road Infrastructure Program

Project development & implementation

Maintenance planning & operations

Working on roads

“Safety is an integrated part of all of our road programs”

Safer Road Infrastructure Program

Program Focus

Run-off-road crashes on high-speed roads

Dangerous intersections in outer metropolitan Melbourne

Greyspot intersections

Mass action treatments

– tactile centrelines / edgelines

Route treatment approach

Innovation component (up to $3m per annum)

Project Development & Implementation

Project Planning & Scope Approval

Pre-construction

Construction

Project Completion

Road Safety Audit Policy

Road Safety Audit Stages

Project Planning & Scope Approval

1. Identify need for project

congestion, land use development, safety, special needs

2. Identify treatment options & objectives

evaluate treatments & options to identify most effective project (economic & other criteria)

3. Approval to scope & cost

4. Listing with other candidate projects for future programs

Preconstruction 1. Standards for safe roads and facilities

2. Design-phase road safety audits

3. Community & stakeholder consultation

4. Construction planning

minimise inconvenience to residents & traffic

maximise safety for workers, traffic & residents

Construction

1. Detailed work plans

minimise impact, maximise safety

2. Ongoing communications

motorists & residents

3. Ongoing safety management, inspections & record keeping

4. Stage road safety audits

5. Site reinstatement & final acceptance

Project Completion

1. Hand over for maintenance

2. Post-construction review against project objectives

3. Ongoing monitoring against project objectives

traffic volumes, delays

road safety outcomes

environmental outcomes

Maintenance Planning & Operations

Asset Preservation

Road Safety

Objective

Periodic Maintenance

Routine Maintenance

Maintenance Program

Routine Maintenance

Regular

Inspections

Safety

Inspections

Condition

Inspections

Response

Criteria

Response

Criteria

Maintenance

Work

Hazard Alerts

from Public

Specified Requirements

Safety Inspections

Day & Night Inspections

– frequency depends on importance of road

• urban freeways -> minor rural arterials

Criteria for what is a “safety hazard”, eg.

– any object in a traffic lane

– pothole >300mm diameter, 100mm depth

Specified response times

– depends on hazard & importance of road

• Object on urban freeway -> missing sign on minor rural arterial

Specified Requirements

Condition Inspections

Monthly inspection for all roads

Cover all road elements

– standard list of pavement, drainage, roadside, structure items

Criteria for what is a “Defect”

– potholes, blocked drain, long grass

Specified response times

– depends on defect & importance of road

Scheduled as routine maintenance activities

Periodic Maintenance

Pavement Guidelines

Roadside Guidelines

Working on Roads

Worksite Traffic Management Framework

Responsibilities

Records Management

Traffic Management Plans

Audit and Surveillance

Training

Approvals

Worksite Hazard Management Worksite Hazard Management Process

Step 1 – Worksite Hazard Rating

Step 2 – Required Level of Planning

Step 3 – Hazards at the Worksite

Step 4 – Hazard Control Measures – Hierarchy of Safety Controls

Step 5 – Hazard Control Measures to be Implemented

Step 6 – Prepare and Implement Traffic Management Plan

Step 7 – Review the Traffic Management Plan in Practice

Step 8 – Carry Out the Work

Guidelines

Work-Related Guidelines for:

Short term works

– Low impact

– Mobile works

– Emergency works

Long term works

– Traffic management during works

– Traffic management at night

– Provision for other road users

– Use of safety barriers

Speed Zones

Guidelines

Work-Related Guidelines for:

Hazard control measures

– High Visibility Clothing

– Use of Traffic Control Signs & Controllers

– Use of Portable Traffic Signals

– Use of Electronic Variable Message Signs

– Traffic Management with Electronic Signs

Guidelines

Supplemented by Handbooks

Discussion