Temporary Traffic Management Toolkit

Craig Moss Director, Professional Services

1 August 2021 is a significant date for all roadwork worksites in Queensland as it marks the mandatory adoption of the new technical standards for temporary traffic management. These standards are made up of:

• Australian Standard

AS1742.3:2019; • Austroads Guide to Temporary

Traffic Management (AGTTM); • MUTCD Part 3 (2020); and • Queensland Guide to

Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM).

While the new standards have been available to use on a voluntary basis since 1 January 2021, many organisations across our sector have found the transition challenging and may not be ready for the mandatory adoption. This is due in part by the significant change in the structure of the guidance material, moving from a single document that has not changed significantly since the first edition in 2003, to a 10-part document with a much greater focus on planning and design of traffic management plans.

Another factor that has hindered take-up is the concern from councils that the adoption of the AGTTM would place an undue burden on work activities related to roads with traffic volumes of less than 1000 vehicles per day.

In response to these issues, IPWEAQ formed a Working Group to create a suite of products and resources for the use of local government and relevant industry stakeholders across Queensland. The group is chaired by Adam Brighouse of Toowoomba Regional Council and has representation from across the state. Work is well advanced in the development of a compliant toolkit to support the planning and design of safe, cost effective and efficient temporary traffic management solutions for low volume category 1 roads. The toolkit will be made up of: • standardised tools to assist a

Traffic Management Designer (TMD) make informed, riskbased decisions • a suite of generic traffic guidance schemes for all standard situations • a suite of traffic guidance schemes that can be modified to suit site specific requirements • guidance materials to assist in the consistent application of products and processes

Given the short timeframe, it was decided to take a staged approach with this body of work, focusing on a solution for roads with an AADT of 250 vehicles per day or less as this represents 80% of the road network. Once this has been achieved, the group will continue to develop the toolkit for higher volume category 1 roads.

The toolkit will be added to the existing range of technical engineering solutions that make up the Public Works Technical Subscription.

A Public Works TV (PW-TV) episode in late June 2021 will be dedicated to this Toolkit. For further information, or to contribute to this initiative, please email Craig.Moss@ipweaq.com