Traffic Control Plan on Highways- Let’s Learn

What is Traffic Control Plan

Traffic Control Plan is adopted to ensure safe and efficient movement of traffic and also to ensure the safety of workers during construction or maintenance activities.

The main objectives of a traffic control plan:

• Manage the traffic efficiently and safely under all working conditions.
• Give adequate warning and clear information to road users about the nature of works on site.
• Traffic control also includes measures to safeguard pedestrians as necessary.

For effective traffic control followings are critical:

• Warn the road user clearly and suitably in advance.
• Safe and clearly marked lanes for guiding the road users, including buffer & work zones.
• Measures to control the behaviour of road users through construction or maintenance zones.

Phases of Traffic Control

Planning Phase: Integrate traffic control requirements during the planning stage including contract clause, method statements etc.

Design Phase: Develop detailed Traffic Control Plan w.r.t. to types, location and layout of traffic control devices.

Implementation: Deployment of temporary traffic control devices in accordance to the approved traffic control plan.

Operation and Maintenance Phase: Periodical inspection of Traffic Control Plan and devices, to ensure it’s effectiveness.

Closeout Phase: Withdrawl of all the traffic control devices, and reinstate the permanent traffic scheme.

Components of Construction/ Maintenance Zone

The Advance Warning Zone is the area to warn the road user of the approaching hazard and to prepare them for the change in driving conditions, information should be on through a series of traffic signs :

• Information on the work (sign, distance of work).
• Any change in traffic arrangements (details on lanes/speed limit etc).
• Hazard Type and general information etc.

Transitions Zone is the area in which the traffic is guided into the altered traffic flow pattern around the working zone, involving merging/turning movements of vehicles.

The initial part of the transition zone called Approach Transition Zone which further reduces the approach speed of vehicles and channels them into the narrower and/or restricted number of lanes if this is necessary;

Working Zone is where the actual construction/ maintenance work is being undertaken. The working zone comprises the following components:

• Work Area – Area occupied for the construction/ maintenance work.
• WorkSpace — Space around the works area for workers, equipment and material.
• Traffic Space — Area where traffic is routed through the activity area.
• Safety Buffer — Space separating traffic space from workspace. Longitudinal safety buffer is a space upstream of a workspace. Lateral safety buffer is to separate workspace from traffic space

Terminal Transition Zone provides a short distance to clear the work area and to return to normal traffic lanes.

For more understanding of traffic control plan IRC (Indian Road Congress) SP: 55:2014 may be referred.