TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR WORKS ON ROADS AND FOR EVENTSPresenter: Brian Kidd

Road Safety Manager Main Roads Western Australia

New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009

• Overview of traffic management for works/events on roads in WA

• Composition of the Australian Standard Committee

• Australian Standard process

• Key changes to AS 1742.3 2009 from 2002 version

• Future for fields guides

• Austroads review

• Main Roads Web-Page

Topic to be coveredTraffic Control for Works on Roads

Overview of traffic management for works/events on roads in WA

• Commissioner’s authority under the Road Traffic Code 2000 to

erect display or remove traffic signs, pavement markings & traffic

signals

• Traffic Management for Works on Roads Code of Practice

• Traffic Management for Events Code of Practice

• Instrument of Authorisation under Regulation 297 (2) RTC 2000

• Training requirements

• Accreditation (license to work in WA)

AS 1742.3 Committee Members

Austroads Main Roads Queensland

Asphalt Association of Australia Main Roads WA

Australian Chamber of Commerce National Works Officers Association

Australian Workers Union Roadmarking Industry Association of Australia

Civil Contractors Federation RTA NSW

Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure SA

Traffic Management Industry Association of Victoria

IPWEA Victorian WorkCover

Sign Manufacturers Various local governments

AS 1742.3 Committee Process

• Over 4 years in development

• Several committee drafts

• Main Roads undertook consultation in all regions at the public

consultation stage

• Over 600 comments received by the Committee

• Finally published on 28 January 2009

New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009

• New title (Previously Traffic Control Devices for Works on Roads)

• Specific values of speeds and volumes in lieu of ‘high’ and ‘low’

• New safety audit requirements for complex traffic arrangements

• New signs

• Review of sign sizes

• Changes to the determination of advance warning distances

• Expansion of material on maintaining a safe workplace

Key changesTraffic Control for Works on Roads

New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009

• Lower speed limits at hazardous sites

• Major revision of provisions for short term, low impact works

• Changes to detail on mobile works

• Requirements for edge clearances

• Introduction of the concept of mobile speed limits

• New appendix for emergency and unplanned works

• New Table D1 for protection/delineation adjacent to excavations

Key changes (continued)Traffic Control for Works on Roads

Operation (Section 2)Clause 2.1 (c)(i) (New)

Signs and devices shall be installed by a competent person

Clause 2.1(c)(vii) (New)Where works require the relocation of regulatory traffic control

items, they shall be relocated or reinstalled promptly in positions

where they are visible and can perform their regulatory function

The conduct of a construction phase road safety audit as

recommended in HB 43 should be considered for works involving

complex or staged works, or both. This is especially desirable

where site-specific risks will assume importance

Clause 2.6.7 (New)

Operation (Section 2)

Risk Management (Clause 2.2.3)• Reference to Road Safety Audits relocated to separate clause

• Variations below minima shall only be made based on documented risk assessment by a competent person in consultation with affected parties

• Where superior hazard controls are identified, they should be adopted in preference to minimum requirements

• Road authorities should consider providing more detailed guidelines on –o Circumstances under which variations are permittedo The format of risk assessment documentationo Who may carry out risk assessmento Who should be consulted

New Signs (Section 3)Side Road Closed T1-32 (Clause 3.4.6)

• For use in advance of closed side road intersections

Traffic Controller (Symbolic) T1-34 (Clause 3.5.2)• For use whenever a Traffic Controller is present

• To be used in conjunction with PREPARE TO STOP only when motorists will be required to stop

Advisory Speed T3-16-1 (Clause 3.7.3)• For use in conjunction with road condition signs

New Signs (Section 3)

Blasting Area T4-7 (Clause 3.13.2)• “AND MOBILE PHONES” added

Footpath Closed T8-4 (Clause 3.14.4)• Can be used in conjunction with “USE OTHER

FOOTPATH”

Look Both Ways T8-5 (Clause 3.15.5)• For use in conjunction with contra-flows

• Applicable for motorists and pedestrians

New Signs (Section 3)

Speed Limit Ahead G9-79 (Clause 3.5.5)• Located 2D in advance of the lower speed zone

No Entry R2-4 (Clause 3.6.10)• To control traffic within at intersections within a detour

No Left (Right) Turn R2-6 (Clause 3.6.10)• To control traffic at intersections within a detour

New Signs (Section 3)

One Lane R9-9 (Clause 3.5.3)• For use in conjunction with GIVE WAY sign

• Use subject to various traffic conditions

Traffic Hazard T1-10 (Clause 3.16.5)• “AHEAD” removed

Format and Size of Signs (Clause 3.2)

Sign Sizes in the T Series • Some ‘B’ and ‘C’ size signs removed from Size Tables

• ‘A’ size now suitable for -o Speeds up to 90 km/h with 8 m maximum lateral offseto Speeds up to 110 km/h with 4.5 m maximum lateral offseto Signs directed at pedestrians

• ‘B’ size applicable where an oversize sign may be required -o Where the speed and offset limits for ‘A’ size are exceededo For freewayso For critical safety messages

• ‘B’ size signs to be considered for all ‘T1’ series signs where the ‘A’ size signboard is less than 1 m2 in area and speeds exceed 70 km/h

Dimension D (Clause 4.1.5)

Value of dimension D

• Speed of traffic to be taken as either -o Speed of traffic in preceding speed zone in which the advance sign

occurso If no speed zone change for at least the preceding 200 m, the speed of

traffic at the advance sign

Clearances to Traffic • 6 m or more clear of traffic (New)

o ‘Symbolic Worker‘ sign is the only requirement

• 3 m to 6 m clear of traffic -o 80 km/h speed limit (500 m minimum length) for roads with traffic

volumes exceeding 10 000 vpdo On expressway-type roads, signs to be installed on left side of road

only, except for speed limit signs

• 1.2 m to 3 m – No change

• Closer than 1.2 m to traffic -o Temporary 40 km/h speed zone to be no longer than 500 mo Workers to be visible

Static Worksites (Clause 4.2)

Speed Control at Hazardous Sites (New)

• Traffic speeds to be reduced to a value below 40 km/h where -o Unusually high level of hazard for workers or other road users within 1.2

m of moving traffico Impracticable to separate pedestrians or cyclists within the work area

• Length of speed zone to be 200 m maximum/100 m minimum

• > 40 km/h speed restriction does not apply when –o Works involve large plant items exclusivelyo Workers and delineation separated from moving traffic by at least 1.2 mo Median or verge mowing/grading not encroaching on moving traffic laneo Works in residential streets with 40 km/h speed limit or less

Static Worksites (Clause 4.2)

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Open Road Areas (Clause 4.3)

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Open Road Areas (Clause 4.3)

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Open Road Areas (Clause 4.3)

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Open Road Areas (Clause 4.3)

Work Off Roadway

• New provision for work area 6 m or more clear of traffic

• 80 km/h speed limit (at least 500 m long) to be applied where works are 3 m to 6 m clear of traffic and traffic volume exceeds 10 000 vpd

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Built-Up Areas (Clause 4.4)

Frequently Changing Work Area – Work Not Within a Traffic Lane

• Shadow vehicle equipped with vehicle mounted warning device , ando Speed Limit - 70 km/h or lesso 50 m minimum sight distance to oncoming traffico Maximum work period –

- 20 min at any traffic volume- 40 min for 150 vph or less- 1 hour for 40 vph or less

• Applicable to pit cleaning or repair, litter collection, tree pruning/planting, road signs/street furniture maintenance, street light maintenance

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Built-Up Areas (Clause 4.4)

Frequently Changing Work Area – Work Within a Traffic Lane

• Work vehicle/ large plant item and shadow vehicle, both equipped with vehicle mounted warning device , and

o Speed Limit - 60 km/h or lesso Maximum work period (No workers on foot) –

- 20 min at any traffic volume- 1 hour for 40 vph or less

o Maximum work period (Workers on foot) –- 1 hour for 40 vph or less

• Applicable to pavement marker laying, pavement testing, and work activities in previous slide

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Built-Up Areas (Clause 4.4)

Works on Medians, Verges and Footpaths (New)

• Large plant item (No workers on foot) o If speed limit 90 km/h or more – 1.2 m clearance requiredo If speed limit 80 km/h or less – less than 1.2 m clearance permittedo Applicable to median/verge mowing etc and works on footpath

• Small plant item (Or workers on foot) o Speed limit is 60 km/h or lesso Speed limit is 80 km/h or less – 1.2 m clearance to traffico Entire work area at least 3 m clear of traffic

• Worker Symbolic/ROAD PLANT AHEAD signs, plus cones/bollards to be displayed where clearance to traffic less than 3 m and workers on foot/ plant items are present

Short Term, Low Impact Works – Built-Up Areas (Clause 4.4)

Street Sweeping and Garbage Collection (New)

• No workers on foot within 1.2 of traffic, and o Vehicle equipped with vehicle mounted warning deviceo Speed limit generally less than 70 km/h, or 80 km/h or less if work

vehicle can operate at least 1.2 m clear of nearest running laneo 1.5D minimum sight distance for following traffic

Work Between Gaps in Traffic

• Lookout person not required for work taking 10 seconds or less

• Lookout person not required if sight distance to approaching vehicles equals 20 secs of travel time

Work Convoy Arrangements

• Shadow vehicle should be fitted with a truck-mounted crash attenuator to protect workers in a traffic lane

Operating Principles• Dispensation for lead vehicles not being required for very low-volume rural

roads, and urban streets with speeds less than 60 km/h, has been removed

• Mobile temporary speed zones shall be used at all works involving workers on foot (new Clause 4.6.5 and Figure 4.6 added)

• Tail vehicle may be dispensed with if speed limit is 60 km/h or less

• Requirements for traffic cone retrieval added

• New Figures 4.4 and 4.5 show examples of mobile works protection for ride- on line marking and pavement marker laying

Mobile Works (Clause 4.6)

Minimum/Maximum Speed Zone Lengths • 40 km/h - 500 m maximum for worker safety (No maximum for traffic safety)

• 60 km/h - 150 m minimum (No maximum length specified)

• 80 km/h – 500 m minimum (No maximum length specified)

• 80 km/h when used as buffer – 300 m minimum (No maximum specified)

Advance Warning of Temporary Speed Zones• Required where operating speed of traffic on approach is more than 30 km/h

higher than temporary speed limit

• Either a Speed Limit AHEAD (G9-79) sign or buffer speed zone can be used

• Combination buffer speed zone/speed limit AHEAD sign can be used for speed limit reductions of 60 km/h or more

• Not required for short-term work where speed limit change is from an 80 km/h buffer zone to a 40 km/h zone and traffic volumes < 200 vpd

Temporary Speed Zones (Clause 4.9)

Edge Clearances (New)

• Clearance between edge of traffic lane and cones, bollards, barricades -o 0.5 m - For speeds up to 60 km/ho 1.0 m - Speeds above 60 km/h

• Clearance between edge of traffic lane and roadworks delineators, or temporary hazard markers –

o 1.0 m

• Clearance between edge of traffic lane to road safety barrier system -o 0.3 m - For speeds 40 km/h or lesso 0.5 m - For speeds 41 to 60 km/ho 1.0 m - For speeds 61 to 80 km/ho 2.0 m - For speeds > 80 km/h

Maintaining Traffic Flow (Clause 4.13)

Scope of Appendix B

• Procedures for the safe control of traffic and the safety of road authority workers attending emergency and unplanned work sites, including -

o Duties of workers attending the siteo Modified duties where initially, insufficient workers availableo Procedures for contacting police, emergency serviceso Equipment requirements for call-out vehicles

• Details of traffic arrangements for –o Minor partial road closureo Major partial road closureo Complete road closure

Emergency and Unplanned Works (New Appendix B)

New Table D1

Protection and Delineation at Excavation Works (Appendix D)

National Approach to Traffic Control at Work Sites• Legislation

• Manuals and Codes of Practice

• Training and Certification

• Risk Management

• Auditing

• Field Guides

• Traffic Control for Specific Work Types

AUSTROADS Review

Questions?