Anyone who has been in a chaotic chaos-filled construction zone can appreciate the instant annoyance it creates. There is no warning when the lanes join and signage can be confusing and traffic is backed all the way for miles. However, for project managers, utility companies or city planners managing this job site, poor traffic management can be more than just a minor inconvenience for commuters in the local area. It’s a major legal risk, a security risk, and a guaranteed way to drain your project budget with penalties and delays.
When you’re cutting up asphalt, installing fiber optics underground, repairing bridges, or paver the busy commercial intersection Your primary concern must be the work. There must be a way to keep heavy equipment as well as vulnerable workers and regular drivers safe and secure. This is why working with an experienced traffic control contractor is perhaps the most important operational decision you’ll make prior to beginning to dig.
The Hidden Complexities of the Roadway
Many people believe that traffic control is just throwing a few orange cones on the shoulder and then handing out the stop/slow paddle to whomever has time to spare on the team. In actuality the modern day traffic management is an extremely complicated, highly controlled logistical problem.
Each detour, lane closure or sidewalk bypass has to follow the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and in addition to extremely specific municipal and state laws. The attempt to handle this on your own without the proper expertise can lead to failed inspections, prompt closures of the site by the Local Department of Transportation, and expensive delays to projects.
What Does a Full-Service Partner Actually Do?
When you employ a specialized contractor, you’re taking on a team that will manage the entire process of your workplace’s safety and logistics. This approach is usually inclusive of:
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customized Traffic Control Plans (TCPs): Before a single cone is laid on the asphalt, skilled draftsmen create highly detailed specific site-specific blueprints. The plans outline the exact lengths of taper as well as buffer zones, and sign spacings in accordance with the speed limit and curvature of the road.
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Permits Acquisition Finding local municipal halls as well as transit authorities of the county to approve your lane closure could take weeks if aren’t familiar with the proper routes. Professionally trained contractors have already established relations with these cities and manage the whole permit process for you.
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Certified Flaggers Flaggers who direct traffic is the primary protection for you construction team. Flaggers with experience undergo a strict safety training and certification to learn how to handle dangerous drivers, control emergencies with access to vehicles, and ensure that they have a clear line of communication across the construction site.
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Equipment Setup and Rental: The management of traffic with a high volume requires a large amount of equipment that is specialized. A dedicated contractor will provide the equipment, set up, and then take down anything from the concrete Jersey bars and barricades with water to automatic flagger aid equipment (AFADs) along with solar-powered message boards.
Protection of your Crew From the Unpredictable
Construction zones are extremely hazardous working environments. Your team is working with heavy machinery as well as managing loud equipment and must be focused on their task. They can’t afford to continuously glance over their shoulders to look on distracted driving.
In a time when distracted driving by smartphones is at an all-time high an extremely robust and physically visible traffic control set-up can be a lifesaver. Professionals know how to utilize the impact absorbers (crash cushions) as well as channelizing devices to physically protect your workers from straying vehicles and ensure that everyone is able to return home to their family members at the end of their shift.
Maximizing Efficiency to Protect Your Bottom Line
At the end of the day time is money at construction sites. If your team has to spend the initial two hours of their morning setting up cones, and the final two hours taking them down, you’re losing a lot of labor-saving time.
When you outsource this vital job, your traffic control team will arrive before your team will. They create a secure work area, control the flow of commuters seamlessly all day long, and oversee the entire teardown process once your workers have finished. The skilled workers are able to complete the task they were hired to do: construct. In addition, by ensuring that traffic is moving as smooth as it can throughout the site, you will maintain an excellent relationship with the local community and local businesses, instead of being a victim of endless delays and noise.
Don’t let security of the team and the timeframe of your project to the chance. Make sure your site is secure and avoid fines from municipal authorities and ensure that the public is moving without a hitch by hiring a professional traffic management for your next major construction project.
