Section 3: Construction Regulatory and Advisory Speeds
Introduction
Transportation Code, Section 472.022 defines barricades and warning signs and makes it unlawful to disobey their instructions. Studies have shown that in the absence of enforcement no significant differences will occur in drivers’ speeds between sections signed with advisory construction speed signs and with regulatory speed signs.
Transportation Code, Section 472.022 also refers to disobedience of warning signs in construction or maintenance zones.
From the standpoint of enforcement, when a regulatory speed zone has been established and signs are posted, the speed values shown on the signs are the maximum lawful
prima facie
speeds. An advisory speed sign serves to advise drivers of safe speeds that are recommended for certain roadway conditions, such as horizontal curves. It does aid the enforcement officer, however, in determining reasonable and prudent speeds. A driver might be cited for exceeding the posted value of an advisory speed zone on the grounds that they were driving at a speed that was not reasonable and prudent for the conditions existing at the time and location.Traffic control in work sites should be designed on the assumption that drivers will only reduce their speeds if they clearly perceive a need to do so; therefore, reduced speed zoning should be avoided as much as practicable.
Advisory Construction Speeds
Advisory speed plates (CW13-1) in conjunction with construction
warning signs can often be used more appropriately than construction
regulatory speed signs. The advisory speed can be altered as needed
by project conditions, and several different advisory speeds can
be used for varying conditions throughout the project. The advisory
speed plates are intended to supplement construction warning signs
advising drivers of a safe speed to drive through the section signed.
See Part 6 of the
Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices
(
)
for sign detail and typical application diagrams.Regulatory Construction Speed Zones
Regulatory construction speed limits should be used only for
sections of construction projects where speed control is of major
importance and enforcement is available. Regulatory construction speed
signs (R2-1) must be removed during periods when they are not needed
to minimize interference with traffic (see Part 6 of the
for
sign detail).
A misconception that construction speed zones are required
to improve TxDOT’s position in the event of a tort claim prompted
the Occupational Safety Division to seek an opinion on the matter from
the Attorney General’s Office. The response indicated that TxDOT’s
best defense against a tort action would be to have strict compliance
with the TMUTCD.
According to Part 6 of the
,
reduced speed zoning should be avoided as much as practicable.
Reduced speeds should only be posted in the vicinity of work
being performed and not throughout the entire project.
For example, it may not be desirable to post a construction
speed zone when concrete traffic barriers are used in traffic control
plans, since these barriers normally provide sufficient protection
for the construction workers and the traveling public. In addition,
traffic control plan designs should, as much as possible, accommodate
the speeds existing prior to construction. These decisions, however,
require engineering judgment depending on the nature of the project
and other factors which affect the safety of the traveling public
and construction workers.
On sections of highway under construction, speed studies and
other studies normally made in determining speeds to be posted for
a regulatory speed zone are not required. In selecting the speeds
to be posted, however, consideration should be given to safe stopping
sight distances, construction equipment crossings, the nature of
the construction project, and any other factors which affect the safety
of the traveling public and construction workers.
Only those speed limits authorized by Transportation Commission
minute order, city ordinance, or county ordinance are legal, and
no other speed limits should be posted using regulatory speed limit signs.
Construction speed zones are automatically canceled when construction
is complete.
Request for Regulatory Construction Speed Zones
When a district desires construction speed zoning for projects
or portions of a project outside the limits of incorporated cities,
the district should prepare and submit TxDOT Form
,
“Request for Construction Speed Zone,” to the Traffic Operations
Division (TRF) for review and processing for Transportation Commission
action. The “Request for Construction Speed Zone” form is self-explanatory,
with instructions contained on the reverse side. The form is available
via hyperlink (click on the form number above) or from TRF.
Cities have the authority to establish construction speed
zones within their corporate limits, and this should be encouraged,
since the city will likely be responsible for enforcement. However,
if a city desires the Transportation Commission to establish the
zones, then the district should have a written request from the
city on file.
Advisory Speed Construction Warning Plates (CW13-1)
The CW13-1 ADVISORY SPEED plate may be used in conjunction
with any construction warning sign to indicate the maximum safe
speed for passenger cars around a curve or through a hazardous location.
It shall not be used in conjunction with any sign other than a
construction warning sign, nor shall it be used alone.
The CW13-1 plate shall always be mounted on the same post
with, and immediately below, the construction warning sign to which
it applies.
The CW13-1 plate is classed with the construction warning
signs because, when used, it is in effect a part of a construction
warning sign.
Regulatory Construction Speed Limit Signs
R2-1 SPEED LIMIT signs shall be used for signing construction speed zones.
Speed limit signs shall be erected only for the limits of the section of roadway where speed reduction is necessary for the safe operation of traffic and protection of construction personnel. In most cases, this will involve only a short section of roadway where work is in progress, but in some cases, it will involve partially completed sections extending for some distance.
It is imperative that proper speed limits be posted in construction work zones. Improperly posted work zone speed limits adversely affect the flow of traffic by:
- encouraging driver disrespect for all speed limits
- endangering the driver who observes an unreasonably low posted speed limit.
The reduced speed limits are effective only within the limits where signs are erected, even though the entire length of the project may be covered by Transportation Commission minute order. Figure 2-3 shows typical signing of a construction speed zone.
Figure 2-3. Typical construction speed zone.
Covering or Removing Temporarily Unnecessary Reduced Speed Signs
If the reduced speed limits are not necessary for the safe
operation of traffic during certain construction operations or those
days and hours the contractor is not working, the regulatory construction
speed limit signs must be made inoperative by one of the following
methods:
- moving the signs to the edge of the right-of-way and facing them away from the roadwayor
- covering the signs when the reduced speed limits are not necessary (care should be taken, however, to delineate the sign post so it does not become an invisible obstacle at night adjacent to the roadway).
Leaving speed limit signs in place when not needed has at
least three adverse effects:
- drivers ignore the signs, and by doing so, they are subject to arrest
- respect for all speed limit signs is lessened
- the law abiding driver becomes a traffic hazard by observing the reduced speed.
Signs Installed by the Contractor
Even though a contractor is allowed to furnish and/or install
speed limit signs on a construction project, the engineer must see
that the contractor does not erect any signs of their own design
with speed limits of their choosing.
Except under the
immediate direction of the engineer, the contractor has no responsibility
whatsoever for the design, location, or maintenance of speed limit
signs
.