Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8 - Part 2- Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations) - Operations 2009.pdf/37

 Where hard shoulders are to be used as temporary running lanes carrying heavy traffic during maintenance works, they shall be structurally adequate to carry the traffic for the period of such use and have a surface with skidding resistance similar to that of the permanent running lanes; see Part 1: Design, Section D3.18.

The use of road plates may be appropriate to bridge excavations in order to open the carriageway to traffic for example during traffic sensitive periods and should be used following a site specific risk assessment. The plates must be rigidly secured to the road surface and must either be sunk into the surface or suitable bituminastic material used to provide a ramp to plate level. Where a ramp is used, appropriate ramp warning signs should be used; see paragraph O3.16.8.

The particular requirements for traffic management arrangement relating to surface dressing operations are included in the RSDA/CSS document "Code of Practice for Traffic Safety and Control of Surface Dressing Operations".

The "loose chippings" sign to diagram 7009 is used during surface dressing operations to warn of the likelihood of loose chippings on the carriageway; see Chapter 4. This sign must be reflectorised if it is not directly lit. The sign must be retained in position until the danger from flying chippings has passed. It should be accompanied by an "advisory speed limit" plate to diagram 513.2 indicating an advised maximum speed of 10 or 20 mph during the period that the chippings are being embedded by the traffic. See Part 1: Design, Sections D3.7 and D3.29. Consideration should also be given to the use of a non-prescribed supplementary plate reading "Skid risk". Details of how this plate should be used, and authorisation for its use, can be obtained from the Overseeing Organisation.

Traffic, particularly from side roads, shall not be allowed to drive over unchipped binder. Where possible, drivers should be encouraged to use an alternative route.

During heating and planing operations, adequate space shall be allowed to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles, especially those with inflammable loads, are not endangered.

See Part 1: Design, Section D3.29 for further guidance on surface dressing.

It should rarely be necessary to store road working materials etc. on the central reservation of a dual carriageway road. However, any such obstruction on the central reservation should be kept as far as possible from the edges of the carriageways and in such a position that sight lines are not obstructed and that there is no interference with the proper functioning of any safety fence. Any signs stored in the central reservation should be laid down with legs pointing away from traffic flow.

Obstructions should be lit and marked with signs unless they have more than the required lateral clearance from the carriageway and/or safety fence. If signs and/or cones are required it should be remembered that traffic in the adjacent lane will require the maximum appropriate warnings and a coned taper should be provided; see Table A1.1 (Appendix 1).

On most construction sites the delivery, storage and access to materials can cause concern. On road works sites with the inherent constraints on space, detailed consideration needs to be given to ensure that materials are delivered safely, stored without encroaching into safety zones and can be accessed without undue difficulty. Access to and exit from the site have been considered in Section O3.11. 35