1101-2 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN (TTC)
It is the Department’s responsibility to ensure that proper traffic control is implemented on the project through work zone traffic control reviews.
(A) GENERAL
Any time traffic control signs and devices are placed and/or revised, the Engineer should perform and document a daytime and nighttime work zone review. During this review, particular attention should be placed on ensuring that the work zone is clearly delineated.
(B) PHASING
It is the intent of traffic control phasing to allow the Contractor as much freedom to work as possible, subject to any contract time restrictions, physical construction sequence requirements, and traffic handling and safety. When the traffic control plans are presented for the final design field inspection, or for a traffic control plan review meeting, the Engineer should review them thoroughly for clarity and any construction-related problems. If the Engineer should notice phasing which is too restrictive or which makes construction unnecessarily difficult or impossible, the Traffic Control Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer should be notified. The Engineer should take into account the fact that traffic operations and traffic volumes often place constraints on how traffic can be maintained. Such feedback from field personnel will result in a better understanding of actual field operations and perhaps more effective traffic control plan preparation in the future.
Around the time of the final design field inspection, the
Work Zone Traffic Control Unit may hold an internal constructability review meeting with Division Construction personnel, the Area Traffic Engineer, the Division Traffic Engineer, and the Area Construction Engineer. The meeting is to review the staging concept for constructability problems and to look at traffic operations.
(D) ALTERNATE TO TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (TMP)
The Engineer should contact the Traffic Control Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer for assistance in reviewing Contractor’s submittals, or when substantial changes to the Traffic Control Plan are desirable or necessary. Requests from the Contractor for approval of alternate methods of traffic control should be in sufficient detail to fully cover the work to be performed and should include all affected portions of the plans and phasing.
Changes made to the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) should be documented through a plan revision or through concurrence with the appropriate Work Zone Traffic Control Unit personnel.
Changes that affect contract time, an intermediate contract time or compensation to the Contractor (either known or unknown) shall be approved by the Engineer.
Guidelines for proposed changes to the Traffic Management Plan (TMP)
- If the change is covered by a
Roadway Standard Drawing, it is probably okay.
- If you do not feel comfortable with the proposed change for any reason, call the Traffic Control Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer.
- If you are unsure or have questions about a proposed change, call the Traffic Control Project Engineer or Project Design Engineer.
1101-3 BLASTING ZONES
1101-4 CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE CROSSINGS
Vehicle crossings include moving a piece of equipment across a road and also hauling material across a road.
Roadway Standard 1101.03 sheet 9 of 9 should be used for Interstates and other high volume multilane roadways.
If a haul road is needed, use appropriate signing per
Roadway Standard Drawing 1101.05. When reviewing requests for vehicle crossings, the Engineer should consider the effect on traffic, the roadway, and construction operations.
Payment for flaggers used at vehicle crossings not involving a lane closure are incidental in accordance with
Article 1150-4.
1101-6 EXCAVATIONS WITHIN TRAVELWAY
Metal plates should only be used on roads with speed limits of
35 mph or less. The larger the hole, the thicker the plate needed to span the hole. The thicker the plate, the more the plate will move when hit, resulting in increased damage to vehicles.
1101-7 HAULING OPERATIONS
Review the Hauling restrictions as shown in the TMP.
Maintenance of Travel Way
Periodically sweep roadway debris and mud to make markings more visible and to maintain good stopping distances.
When possible, the number of access points used by the Contractor should be limited. These access points can be changed from day to day but should be signed properly and limited in number.
1101-8 MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE
The Contractor shall be required to locate construction vehicles and equipment and store materials a minimum of
40 feet away from active travel lanes. The Engineer may allow the Contractor to locate closer than
40 feet if it is determined that the existing clear zone is less than
40 feet. In no case shall the Contractor be allowed to locate construction vehicles and equipment and store materials closer to the travel way than the existing clear zone. The Work Zone Traffic Control Unit has referred to AASHTO’s (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)
Roadside Design Guide to help determine the clear zone. If you have any questions, please call the
Work Zone Traffic Control Unit.
1101-9 PARKING OF PERSONAL VEHICLES
Vehicles parked near the travel way, especially on freeways and interstates, cause motorist distraction and “rubbernecking.” It is up to the Engineer to determine if there is a suitable location within the right-of-way to park personal construction personnel vehicles that will not interfere with traffic or construction operations.
1101-10 PROTECTION OF HAZARDS
In many situations, protection of hazards progresses from the use of channeling devices to the use of positive protection such as temporary guardrail or barriers.
On roadways with posted speed limits of
45 mph or greater, backfill drop-offs, that exceed
2 inches. On roadways with posted speed limits less than
45 mph, backfill drop-offs that exceed 3 inches. Do not exceed a difference of 1½ inches in elevation between open lanes of traffic.
For situations where a minimum lift is
2 inches, special consideration should be taken for traffic control to mitigate the time traffic is exposed to 2 inches difference between lanes.
For those locations that are safety hazards or critical areas, (including traffic switches, etc.,) consideration should be given to illuminating them at night to increase visibility. If portable lighting is not included in the contract, consult the
Work Zone Traffic Control Unit to determine if it is necessary.
Drums, cones and skinny drums are preferred over barricades to mark hazards in the travel way, such as raised manhole covers.
1101-11 TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES
(A) GENERAL
Lane closures on multi-lane freeway-type roadways can be extended up to
1500 feet beyond the maximum length stated in the Traffic Management Plan to allow additional acceleration distance for the Contractor’s vehicles to obtain sufficient speed to safely merge with existing traffic. In this situation, a down stream taper does not have to be used. When installing a lane closure on a multilane roadway, install and activate the CMS (Changeable Message Sign) with a message to inform motorists of the upcoming activity. Once the lane closure is installed, be sure to change the CMS as shown in the plans for the future operation. If a TMA (Truck Mounted Attenuator) is included in the contract, utilize the TMIA for positive protection when installing and removing the lane closure. When removing the lane closure, back the TMA up such that it is protecting the collector’s vehicle. If the lane closure is being removed prior to daylight, the headlights of the TMA should be on while the collection vehicle’s headlights are off. Vehicle warning lights should be used. Another option to remove a lane closure on an Interstate or high volume multilane roadway is using
Roadway Standard 1101.02 sheet 9 of 9.
When portable lighting is included in the contract, consideration should be given to illuminating the merge area at night on multi-lane roadways to increase lane closure visibility.
(B) INTERSECTIONS
If possible, use police to direct traffic through large intersections with the signals activated to the flash mode.
1101-12 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES
All efforts should be made to notify the public of road closures by contacting adjacent property owners personally or working with the
Communications Office.
Make sure that when Department forces install off-site detour signing, it does not conflict with the signing the Contractor has installed. Once installed, drive the offsite detour and ensure all signage is correct.
This article includes permanent closings and openings as well as reopening of roads.
A meeting between the Engineer and the Contractor should be held prior to switching a traffic pattern or closing a road. Also, the Engineer should notify the US Postal Service, the local school system, and 911 services prior to any traffic pattern changes.
1101-13 TRAFFIC CONTROL SUPERVISION
The Contractor shall provide a Qualified Work Zone Supervisor for the project. The Work Zone Supervisor is not required to be on the project sight at all times, but should make periodic reviews and must be available to discuss concerns with the Engineer. The Qualification of the Work Zone Supervisor must be certified by a NCDOT approved training agency or other approve agency.
The Contractor and Department personnel need to be familiar with the documents used to handle traffic and have copies of these documents on site.
OSHA Inspectors are stopping in work zones and making reviews. OSHA Inspectors have the right to interview all employees on site. Make sure that all employees are aware of what documents they are working from.
All changes made to the plans need to be documented in the
project diaries.
1101-13 TRAFFIC CONTROL SUPERVISION
The Work Zone Supervisor is responsible for the installation and maintenance of pedestrian devices as described in the TMP. Pedestrian facilities should be maintained in a manner that is accessible to pedestrians with disabilities.
Pedestrian facilities should only be impacted to the extent necessary for construction. Storage of materials and/or parking of equipment should not impact pedestrian facilities.
1101-15 PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
The Work Zone Supervisor is responsible for the installation and maintenance of pedestrian devices as described in the TMP. Pedestrian facilities should be maintained in a manner that is accessible to pedestrians with disabilities.
Pedestrian facilities should only be impacted to the extent necessary for construction. Storage of materials and/or parking of equipment should not impact pedestrian facilities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
