Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 2- Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations) - Operations 2009.pdf/116

MOBILE LANE CLOSURE TECHNIQUE The first step in establishing a closure is to contact the local Highway Authority or police control centre as appropriate giving them advance notice of the works and letting them know which signals/signs are going to be needed. The control room will need to know which lanes are going to be closed in order to display the correct messages.

On site, the MLC supervisor should take up a position on the hard shoulder/verge where he or she can see the first of the signals/signs and confirm with the control room that they are operating correctly. Guidance on the position of the MLC supervisor is given in paragraph O10.13.4. Unless agreed otherwise, all on-site contact with the control room should be made using emergency roadside telephones.

Work can commence when the signals/signs are seen to be operating correctly.

As soon as the closure is removed, the police or regional control centre should be advised of the fact so that the signals/signs can be switched off. It is essential that they are advised promptly in order to maintain credibility of the matrix signals/VMS.

General works vehicle issues are dealt with in Section O5. This section relates specifically to MLC vehicles.

The block vehicles used to form the closure in live traffic lanes should be as specified for an Impact Protection Vehicle in paragraph O5.5.5 except that signing shall be in accordance with the relevant parts of Section O10.7 below.

All vehicles and trailers should be fitted with a roof-mounted amber warning light bar (comprising at least two independent light sources) or two independent roof-mounted flashing amber warning beacons, visible through 360° whether the sign display board is displayed or in the transport position. It is important that the rotating beacons are visible to oncoming drivers when the signs are being erected or folded. Subject to the requirements of paragraph O10.1.10, rotating beacons on block vehicles that are visible to the rear should not be used when the light arrow sign or four rear-mounted amber lanterns are in operation. Beacons shall comply with Section O5.3.

Block vehicles ideally should be loaded to have an on-the-road weight of between 10 and 15 tonnes. The block vehicle should not have an on-the-road weight of less than 10 tonnes. The choice of block vehicles should reflect the acceleration and manoeuvrability required of them by the method of working.

In view of the very low speeds at which some of these operations are undertaken, it may be advantageous to select vehicles with an appropriate low ratio drive.

To minimise the risk of vehicles cutting in between the working vehicle and the block vehicle, a sign to diagram 7403 should be fitted to the rear of the working vehicle or be trailer-mounted and towed by the working vehicle. If these two options are not practicable, then the working vehicle should carry a "keep left/ right" sign to diagram 610 with a diameter of 1500 mm.

The number of working vehicles may be varied according to the nature of the work being undertaken. Unless it is not practicable to do so, a sign to diagram 7403 should be fitted to the rear of each working vehicle or be trailer-mounted and towed by the working vehicle. See paragraph O10.7.5.

Personnel may experience difficulty reading marker posts at night so the fitting of an adjustable spotlight is advised. Before leaving the depot all lighting equipment should be checked. 114