In constructing roadways, safety is paramount. Both on-site team members, and the citizens in the vicinity, are an integral consideration in any Traffic Management Plan (TMP). A solid TMP will give peace of mind to those on the ground, those licensing the work and goes a long way towards alleviating any mishaps.
TMPs as outlined by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) for British Columbia states “the Proponent’s specific plan to implement the project’s Traffic Management Strategy.” Every Traffic Management Strategy (TMS) must follow the Ministry’s guidelines, and the TMP will help break down the strategy, ensuring guidelines are met at every step of the project.
When is a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) used?
TMP’s are used for all major Ministry and non-Ministry funded projects including roadwork on highways and many roadways. During these projects, temporary closures aren’t feasible because of the significant inconvenience to the public. In these cases, a TMS is developed to ensure the nature of the project is thoroughly outlined and that a risk assessment is completed. The TMP that is created, following the approval of the TMS, is a working document that will provide the guidelines including the level of impact the project will have on everyone. It will also include where traffic control personnel will be situated during the course of the project.
A TMP document has sub-plans including:
– Traffic Control plans: This plan is developed based on texts, layouts, and drawings that will identify the traffic control measures needed for the project. A complete description of the work area, including the placement of traffic control devices, is necessary to provide a reliable plan. The Ministry provides a template for Traffic Control Plans here, see Appendix C.
– Public Information Plans: This plan outlines the communications strategy used to inform the public about the level of disruption this work will cause. This plan may include elements such as informing the public through the media, on TV or radio, through signage, social media, or possibly meetings depending on the level and scale of the project.
– Incident Plans: There are two components to the Incident Plan:
- Incident Response Plan– This plan will identify the possible risks and incidents that could occur, and how your team will respond to an incident. The measures of responding to an incident might include; contacting an emergency response agency, informing the Ministry, stopping work due to the level of incident, and methods of recording the incident for reporting purposes.
- Incident Management Plan – This plan will ensure any emergency incidents are managed correctly and will include a list of priorities and procedures to guarantee the proper management of the incident.
- Implementation plan: This plan outlines the method for implementing the sub plans listed above. The plan will name the responsibilities and duties of members of the project to make sure every sub-plan is coordinated and implemented. This might include assigning a designated supervisor or manager.
For more information, please take a look at the Ministry’s Traffic Management Guidelines for Work on Roadways.