Temporary Traffic Control Devices

General
Federal regulations related to temporary traffic control devices are intended to reduce the likelihood of fatalities and injuries to road users and workers who are exposed to motorized traffic (vehicles using the highway for purposes of travel) while working on federal-aid highway projects.
Federal regulations exist concerning the use and payment of uniformed law enforcement officers, positive protection measures between workers and motorized traffic, and temporary traffic control devices on construction, maintenance and utility work zones. The regulations apply to all federal-aid highway projects, but state agencies are encouraged to adopt these on other types of projects as well. Guidance is also included in the administrative memorandum titled “Work Zone Safety and Mobility Guidelines” dated Nov. 20, 2008. This document can be obtained through the TxDOT district office from TxDOT’s internal website.
The
LGPM Guide
provides a discussion of the practices associated with the regulations, which require agencies to establish processes, procedures and/or guidance to systematically consider the use of the following:
  1. Positive protection devices
     to prevent the intrusion of motorized vehicles into the work space and other hazardous areas of the work zone. The use of positive protection devices must be based on an engineering study as described in the
    LGPM Guide
    .
  2. Exposure control measures
     to avoid or minimize worker exposure to motorized traffic and road user exposure to work activities. Examples of exposure control measures are provided in the
    LGPM Guide
    .
  3. Uniformed law enforcement
     and other traffic control measures to reduce work zone crashes. Each LG, in partnership with the FHWA, shall develop a policy addressing the use of uniformed law enforcement on federal-aid highway projects. The policy may consist of processes, procedures and guidance. In general, the need for law enforcement is greatest on projects with high traffic speeds and volumes and where the work zone is expected to result in substantial disruption to or changes in normal traffic flow patterns. In addition, if law enforcement is used, they must be trained as required in
    23 CFR §630.1008(d)
    . The
    LGPM Guide
    lists specific project conditions that should be examined when determining the need for law enforcement.
  4. Safe exit and entry of work vehicles
     into and out of the work area from the travel lanes. The agency processes, procedures and guidance should also address safe means for work vehicles and equipment to enter and exit traffic lanes and for the delivery of construction materials to the work space. The guidance should be based on individual project characteristics and factors.
  5. Payment for traffic control features and operations
     must not be incidental to the contract or included in payment for other items of work not related to traffic control and safety. Separate pay items must be provided for major categories of traffic control devices, safety features and work zone safety activities. Method-based specifications, unit price pay items, lump sum pay items or a combination thereof may be used. Specifications should include provisions to require and enforce compliance with implementation and maintenance of the project transportation management plan and related traffic control items.
  6. Traffic control quality guidelines
     shall be developed and implemented by each agency to help maintain the quality and adequacy of the temporary traffic control devices for the duration of the project. A level of inspection necessary to provide ongoing compliance with the quality guidelines must be provided.
Federal Requirements
  1. 23 CFR Part 630 Subpart J
    – Relates to work zone safety and mobility.
  2. 23 CFR Part 630 Subpart K
    – Relates to bid items for temporary traffic control.
  3. 23 CFR §630.1008(d)
    – Provides training requirements, both for the design of work zones and the operations, maintenance, enforcement, flaggers, etc.
State Requirements
  1. No comparable statute.
Required Practices
In general, the LG must either adopt TxDOT’s temporary traffic control program or submit an alternate program for approval as described in the required practices in the
LGPM Guide
.