IPWEAQ UPDATES
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT
Craig Moss Director, Professional Services
1 December 2021 marked the mandatory adoption of the new technical standards for temporary traffic management in Queensland. Central to the new standards is the emphasis on planning, with every project requiring a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) regardless of the duration of the works. This TMP is required to identify and manage potential hazards associated with the traffic environment during the project. The greater focus on planning is emphasised with the volume of guidance provided, with Part 2 of the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM) being dedicated to the planning process. While the sector has generally planned well for larger projects, the level of planning for shortterm and low-impact work has been lacking due to the perception that the development of a traffic management plan can take longer than the scheduled work. As traffic management is recognised as one of the highest risk activities on a road worksite, a level of planning is required to provide a safe environment for the road worker and the
road user. AGTTM outlines the information to be included in a TMP and the potential risks to be considered to achieve outcomes. The challenge for road infrastructure managers is how to balance the length and complexity of a TMP to be proportionate to the level of risk associated with the work.
project location and activities. The solutions could be:
In response to this issue, IPWEAQ formed a panel of experts from across the state to develop a solution that supports the planning and design of safe, costeffective and efficient temporary traffic management solutions for low volume Category 1 roads. This group devised a strategy that considered all of the requirements of the new standards to guide the Traffic Management Designer (TMD) to develop a compliant TMP that can be implemented on the worksite by an appropriately accredited worker. The Toolkit provides the road infrastructure manager with confidence that all relevant issues have been identified and a considered approach to each case developed.
• the design of a site-specific TGS
It must be noted that while you can outsource services to a traffic management company, you cannot outsource your responsibility for the risk associated with how traffic is managed traffic on your worksite. The road infrastructure manager must ensure that the TMP and the implementation of the identified risk control measures meet regulatory requirements. The Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) Toolkit reflects current best practice for short-term, low-impact works on roads up to 250 vehicles per day. It takes a risk-based approach by using a series of questions to guide the TMD towards the most appropriate solution for the
• the selection and use of a generic Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS) • the adjustment of a generic TGS within allowable tolerances • the modification of a generic TGS by, or in consultation with a TMD The TTM Toolkit includes: • Traffic Management Plan that provides an outline of how the works are integrated into the road network, providing for the safety of workers and road users. • Project Planning Tool addressing the site and projectspecific details, options analysis, risk assessment. • TGS Selection Tool that uses data from the project planning tool to identify the most appropriate Generic TGSs. • Standard forms to document the implementation and compliance of traffic management. • 115 generic TGS’s including supporting notes and treatments for side roads. The next part of the Toolkit will be a series of instructional videos based on case studies to support users of the Toolkit. While the Toolkit will apply to 80% of the state road network, the intent is to expand the solution to address high volume Category 1 roads in the future. IPWEAQ wishes to acknowledge our industry experts and to thank LGAQ and TMR for their support in the development of the Toolkit.
ENGINEERING FOR PUBLIC WORKS | DEC 2021
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