Have you been asked to repair a road surface or to alter the road in some way? Perhaps you have been told to add a new junction or to close part of the road while repairs are carried out on the infrastructure surrounding the road. Whatever the reason behind the road closure, you must be confident that while the road is closed, traffic will still be able to move safely, either over that section of the road or via an established diversionary route. Having a traffic control plan is the best way to make certain that everyone remains safe and that chaos does not ensue as soon as the road is closed.

Why do traffic control plans matter?

If you are only planning for a partial closure, it can be tempting to think that traffic will easily be able to make its way around the obstruction on its own, but that could be a disaster. Imagine if you need to move two-way traffic through a road with a much-reduced width. Consider the potential dangers to both road workers and the public if you need to move workers and traffic in an environment without proper control measures. Instead of running risks, it is far better to know precisely how traffic will move through the area through each stage of the repair work.

What do you want your traffic control plan to cover?

The precise details of your traffic control plan will vary depending on the particular road that you want to close. If the road is open to all types of traffic, you could need a specific plan for each type of vehicle. If road usage is normally lighter, you might find that you can combine all vehicle types into a single plan. Whatever approach you take, it is important that every driver or pedestrian who comes along that road, as well as every worker, knows exactly how traffic control is supposed to operate.

Drawing up your traffic control plan

You can create a traffic control plan yourself, but it is often better to work with a professional company that specialises in creating and implementing traffic control measures. They will know how to lay out the plan, and they will also have the right equipment to help you implement the plan and keep everybody safe from the moment the work starts until the last worker leaves the site and the road is fully open once again.