Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 1 (Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road). Designs 2009.pdf/101

SIGNING PRINCIPLES

Road works with three or more running lanes, of which the near side two lanes are contiguous, will generally permit wide loads of 2.9 m to 4.6m (wide load straddling the near side two lanes) to pass safely through the works un-escorted, while maintaining at least one running lane for other traffic. Signs to diagram 7292, variant "Straddle nearside two lanes" should be used for such cases and should be sited on the near side verge at 2 km and 1 km upstream of the works. These signs should be repeated at the start of the works and following any junctions within the road works site.

Where there are only two contiguous running lanes and no suitable diversion route around the road works, consideration should be given to the provision of a wide load escort facility. Signs to diagram 7292, variant "Contact police from emergency phone" should be used where the police provide a wide load escort service. The signs should be sited on the near side verge at 1 km and 2km upstream of the emergency telephone location. Where an escort service is provided by other agencies, suitable wording and signs authorisation will be required.

An "emergency telephone" sign to diagram 7293 indicating to drivers of wide loads the location of the telephone should be sited in the verge adjacent to the emergency telephone.

Designers should be aware that free-standing temporary emergency telephones, based on mobile phone technology, are available.

The "broken-down vehicles" sign to diagram 7291 should be used if the designer has decided it is necessary to provide a free recovery service. An initial pair of signs should be sited prior to the loss of a hard shoulder (generally between 500m and 1000m upstream of the start of works lead-in taper, although for major works sites this may be extended 2 miles upstream of the works taper), with repeater signs at approximately every 800m on alternate sides of the carriageway.

The "Free recovery End" sign variant should be located at the end of the recovery service (generally between 50 m upstream and 50m downstream of the "end of road works" sign). 100