1. TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR
WORKS ON ROADS AND FOR
EVENTS
Presenter: Brian Kidd
Road Safety Manager
Main Roads Western Australia
2. New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009
Traffic Control for Works on Roads
Topic to be covered
• 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
3. 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)
4. 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 Traffic Management Industry Association
and Infrastructure SA of Victoria
IPWEA Victorian WorkCover
Sign Manufacturers Various local governments
5. 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
6. New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009
Traffic Control for Works on Roads
Key changes
• 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
7. New AS1742 Part 3 – 2009
Traffic Control for Works on Roads
Key changes (continued)
• 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
8. 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
Clause 2.6.7 (New)
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
9. 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 permitted
o The format of risk assessment documentation
o Who may carry out risk assessment
o Who should be consulted
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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 offset
o Speeds up to 110 km/h with 4.5 m maximum lateral offset
o 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 exceeded
o For freeways
o 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
15. 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
occurs
o If no speed zone change for at least the preceding 200 m, the speed of
traffic at the advance sign
16. Static Worksites (Clause 4.2)
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 vpd
o 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 m
o Workers to be visible
17. 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 traffic
o 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 exclusively
o Workers and delineation separated from moving traffic by at least 1.2 m
o Median or verge mowing/grading not encroaching on moving traffic lane
o Works in residential streets with 40 km/h speed limit or less
21. 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
22. 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 , and
o Speed Limit - 70 km/h or less
o 50 m minimum sight distance to oncoming traffic
o 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
23. 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 less
o 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
24. 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 required
o If speed limit 80 km/h or less – less than 1.2 m clearance permitted
o 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 less
o Speed limit is 80 km/h or less – 1.2 m clearance to traffic
o 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
25. 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 device
o 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 lane
o 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
26. Mobile Works (Clause 4.6)
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
27. Temporary Speed Zones (Clause 4.9)
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
28. Maintaining Traffic Flow (Clause 4.13)
Edge Clearances (New)
• Clearance between edge of traffic lane and cones, bollards, barricades -
o 0.5 m - For speeds up to 60 km/h
o 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 less
o 0.5 m - For speeds 41 to 60 km/h
o 1.0 m - For speeds 61 to 80 km/h
o 2.0 m - For speeds > 80 km/h
29. Emergency and Unplanned Works
(New Appendix B)
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 site
o Modified duties where initially, insufficient workers available
o Procedures for contacting police, emergency services
o Equipment requirements for call-out vehicles
• Details of traffic arrangements for –
o Minor partial road closure
o Major partial road closure
o Complete road closure
31. AUSTROADS Review
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
