5. Robie Creek G-Z Traffic Control Plan.pdf

TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN

ROAD CONSTRUCTION/RECONSTRUCTION, ROAD MAINTENANCE, LOGGING, AND THINNING

OPERATIONS

This document is only a part of the Traffic Control Plan. Contractor and Forest Service shall agree to a specific Traffic Control Plan as required in 39. SAFETY AND BT6.33 SAFTEY.

Contractor shall furnish, install, and maintain all temporary traffic controls (TTC) which provide the user with adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, associated with the Contractors operations. The following are specific requirements that must be met on this contract during all phases of operations for road construction/reconstruction, road maintenance, and logging and thinning operations.

1. All signs must be manufactured & installed as specified in the latest version (2009 with Revisions 1, 2, and 3, dated July 2022) of the FHWA "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD) and the FS publication "Standards for Forest Service Signs & Posters"( EM 7100-15). For all contract related activities, this means:

a. Signs shall be either diamond-shaped or rectangular.

b. Signs shall have a black legend and border on an orange retroreflective background unless specified otherwise.

c. Sign lettering (legend) shall be a miniumum Series “C” alphabet, conforming to Standard Alphabets for Highway

Signs. Lettering shall be a minimum of 4 inches in height, and the border shall be from 1/2 to 3/4 inch in width, 1/2 inch from the edge for 30 x 30 inch signs. Larger lettering will be necessary for signs larger than 30 inches.

d. Signs shall maintain retro-reflectivity at or above the miniumum levels shown in Table 2A-3 in the manual.

e. Sign substrate material may be High Density Overlay (HDO) Plywood, Aluminum, Fiberglass

Reinforced Plastic, Corrugated Plastic or Roll-up Fabrics.

f. Hand-painted, homemade signs are not acceptable.

2. Signs below are not a complete listing of signs that may be needed. The decision to use a particular traffic control device at a specific location shall be made by agreement. Sign numbers are from MUTCD. An ‘F’ before the sign number indicates a Forest Service sign and the last number indicates sign size, generally in the horizontal direction. The sign sizes in the signs below are for low-volume roads with a speed of less than 35 mph. Larger signs shall be used whenever higher road volume and higher speed dictate (See Item #10).

Figure 5: Typical Signs

FW11-10a-30 FW11-10b-30 FW11-10d-30 FW11-10c-30

W22-1-36 W22-3-30 W20-1-30 W21-3-30

FR5-11-c 42 W7-3a-24* W13-1P-18** W16-2P-24*

* Specify Distance

** Specify Speed

2. Trucks Entering and Heavy Truck Traffic warning signs shall be posted on all roads along the haul route that the public has access to. Signs shall be posted prior to hauling.

3. Equipment Working and Road Construction signs shall be posted on all roads along the haul route that the public has access to during all road construction/reconstruction and road maintenance activities.

4. When falling operations are occuring, signs shall be posted on both sides of the falling operations. Where trees are being felled next to a road or a tree(s) has the potential to reach the road, a flagman shall regulate traffic, or the road shall be blocked until the tree(s) is on the ground. All debris shall be removed from the roadway in a timely manner to allow traffic to pass at scheduled intervals. Signs shall be posted prior to the start of operations.

5. Signs shall be moved as often as necessary to correspond with active operations. Signs shall not be left posted in areas of no activity or the sign message is not applicable unless they are completely covered for the period of inactivity.

6. Signs should generally be located on the right-hand side of the roadway. When special emphasis is needed, signs may be placed on both the left and right sides of the road. (See Figure 6F-1 below for typical installations).

7. Signs shall be mounted on posts (See Item #8) or portable sign stands (See Item #9) at a height that the message is clearly visible to all road users.

Figure 1: Lateral offset and mounting height for warning signs on rural roads.

8. Signs are to be mounted on separate posts. Supplemental signs such as Speed Advisory plates are to be mounted on the same post as the primary sign. Do not mount signs on trees or other signs. Posts may be wood, metal, carsonite or similar material and must meet breakaway standards if within the clear zone. Wood posts that are 4 inches by 4 inches or have a cross-sectional area of 24 square inches or smaller are considered to meet breakaway standards when installed in normal soil conditions. (See Figure 6F-1 above for typical installations).

9. Portable supports may be used for short-term, short-duration, and mobile conditions. MUTCD defines this time period as one work shift, 12 hours or less. All portable supports must meet MUTCD standards, including breakaway. These must be a minimum of 1 foot above the road surface or more if visibility requires it.

Figure 3: Examples of Temporary/Portable Supports

10. Sign size is a factor of speed and MUTCD & FS standards. Where conditions of speed, volume, or special hazard require greater visibility or emphasis, larger signs shall be used. Minimum sizes for the most common signs can be found in Figure 4:

Table 4-1(EM7100-15) of which a portion of the table is shown below. Larger signs shall be used whenever necessary for greater legibility or emphasis. Refer to the EM 7100-15 and MUTCD for additional sign sizes.

Figure 4: Table 4-1 Temporary Traffic Control Sign Sizes

11. Signs must be located 100-500 feet (both ends of the activity) prior to the temporary traffic control activity based on speed

(higher speed farther out), to warn traffic and allow for adequate perception and reaction time of the driver as listed in Figure 2: Table 4A.1 (EM7100-15). The distances are intended for guidance purposes only and should be applied using best judgement based on circumstances.

Figure 2: Table 4A.1 Recommended Spacing of Advance Warning Signs

12. In certain circumstances a barricades may be appropriate. Type 3 barricades are used to close or partially close roads for TTC activities. Type 3 barricades are a minimum length of 48 inches with 6 stripes. Traffic control signs may be installed on Type 3 barricades. Refer to the MUTCD, section 6F.03. Typical signs installed on these barricades include:

• ROAD CLOSED, AREA CLOSED

• ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC

• LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY

• DETOUR

• ONE WAY

Type 3 Barricade

*warning light optional

13. All roads designted as KO on the contract area map shall be continuously kept open unless otherwise agreed in writing.

FHWA’s MUTCD 2009 Edition, with Revisions 1, 2, and 3, dated July 2022

CHAPTER 6G. TYPE OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL ZONE ACTIVITIES

Section 6G.01 Typical Applications

Support:

01 Each TTC zone is different. Many variables, such as location of work, highway type, geometrics, vertical and horizontal alignment, intersections, interchanges, road user volumes, road vehicle mix (buses, trucks, and cars), and road user speeds affect the needs of each zone. The goal of TTC in work zones is safety with minimum disruption to road users. The key factor in promoting TTC zone safety is proper judgment.

02 Typical applications (TAs) of TTC zones are organized according to duration, location, type of work, and highway type.

Table 6H-1 is an index of these typical applications. These typical applications include the use of various TTC methods, but do not include a layout for every conceivable work situation.

03 Well-designed TTC plans for planned special events will likely be developed from a combination of treatments from several of the typical applications.

Guidance:

04 For any planned special event that will have an impact on the traffic on any street or highway, a TTC plan should be developed in conjunction with and be approved by the agency or agencies that have jurisdiction over the affected roadways.

05 Typical applications should be altered, when necessary, to fit the conditions of a particular TTC zone.

Option:

06 Other devices may be added to supplement the devices shown in the typical applications, while others may be deleted. The sign spacings and taper lengths may be increased to provide additional time or space for driver response.

Support:

07 Decisions regarding the selection of the most appropriate typical application to use as a guide for a specific TTC zone require an understanding of each situation. Although there are many ways of categorizing TTC zone applications, the four factors mentioned earlier (work duration, work location, work type, and highway type) are used to characterize the typical applications illustrated in Chapter 6H.

Section 6G.02 Work Duration Support:

01 Work duration is a major factor in determining the number and types of devices used in TTC zones.

The duration of a TTC zone is defined relative to the length of time a work operation occupies a spot location.

Standard:

02 The five categories of work duration and their time at a location shall be:

A. Long-term stationary is work that occupies a location more than 3 days.

B. Intermediate-term stationary is work that occupies a location more than one daylight period up to 3 days, or nighttime work lasting more than 1 hour.

C. Short-term stationary is daytime work that occupies a location for more than 1 hour within a single daylight period.

D. Short duration is work that occupies a location up to 1 hour.

E. Mobile is work that moves intermittently or continuously.

Support:

03 At long-term stationary TTC zones, there is ample time to install and realize benefits from the full range of TTC procedures and devices that are available for use. Generally, larger channelizing devices, temporary roadways, and temporary traffic barriers are used.

Standard:

04 Since long-term operations extend into nighttime, retroreflective and/or illuminated devices shall be used in long-term stationary TTC zones.

Guidance:

05 Inappropriate markings in long-term stationary TTC zones should be removed and replaced with temporary markings.

Support:

06 In intermediate-term stationary TTC zones, it might not be feasible or practical to use procedures or devices that would be desirable for long-term stationary TTC zones, such as altered pavement markings, temporary traffic barriers, and temporary roadways. The increased time to place and remove these devices in some cases could significantly lengthen the project, thus increasing exposure time.

Standard:

07 Since intermediate-term operations extend into nighttime, retroreflective and/or illuminated devices shall be used in intermediate-term stationary TTC zones.

Support:

08 Most maintenance and utility operations are short-term stationary work.

09 As compared to stationary operations, mobile and short-duration operations are activities that might involve different treatments. Devices having greater mobility might be necessary such as signs mounted on trucks.

Devices that are larger, more imposing, or more visible can be used effectively and economically. The mobility of the TTC zone is important.

Guidance:

10 Safety in short-duration or mobile operations should not be compromised by using fewer devices simply because the operation will frequently change its location.

Option:

11 Appropriately colored or marked vehicles with high-intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights may be used in place of signs and channelizing devices for short-duration or mobile operations. These vehicles may be augmented with signs or arrow boards.

Support:

12 During short-duration work, it often takes longer to set up and remove the TTC zone than to perform the work.

Workers face hazards in setting up and taking down the TTC zone. Also, since the work time is short, delays affecting road users are significantly increased when additional devices are installed and removed.

Option:

13 Considering these factors, simplified control procedures may be warranted for short-duration work.

A reduction in the number of devices may be offset by the use of other more dominant devices such as high-intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights on work vehicles.

Support:

14 Mobile operations often involve frequent short stops for activities such as litter cleanup, pothole patching, or utility operations, and are similar to short-duration operations.

Guidance:

15 Warning signs and high-intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights should be used on the vehicles that are participating in the mobile work.

Option:

16 Flags and/or channelizing devices may additionally be used and moved periodically to keep them near the mobile work area.

17 Flaggers may be used for mobile operations that often involve frequent short stops.

Support:

18 Mobile operations also include work activities where workers and equipment move along the road without stopping, usually at slow speeds. The advance warning area moves with the work area.

Guidance:

19 When mobile operations are being performed, a shadow vehicle equipped with an arrow board or a sign should follow the work vehicle, especially when vehicular traffic speeds or volumes are high. Where feasible, warning signs should be placed along the roadway and moved periodically as work progresses.

20 Under high-volume conditions, consideration should be given to scheduling mobile operations work during off-peak hours.

21 If there are mobile operations on a high-speed travel lane of a multi-lane divided highway, arrow boards should be used.

Standard:

22 Mobile operations shall have appropriate devices on the equipment (that is, high-intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights, signs, or special lighting), or shall use a separate vehicle with appropriate warning devices.

Option:

23 For mobile operations that move at speeds of less than 3 mph, mobile signs or stationary signing that is periodically retrieved and repositioned in the advance warning area may be used.

Section 6G.03 Location of Work Support:

01 Chapter 6D and Sections 6F.74 and 6G.05 contain additional information regarding the steps to follow when pedestrian or bicycle facilities are affected by the worksite.

02 The choice of TTC needed for a TTC zone depends upon where the work is located. As a general rule, the closer the work is to road users (including bicyclists and pedestrians), the greater the number of TTC devices that are needed.

Procedures are described later in this Chapter for establishing TTC zones in the following locations:

A. Outside the shoulder, B. On the shoulder with no encroachment, C. On the shoulder with minor encroachment, D. Within the median, and E. Within the traveled way.

Standard:

03 When the work space is within the traveled way, except for short-duration and mobile operations, advance warning shall provide a general message that work is taking place and shall supply information about highway conditions. TTC devices shall indicate how vehicular traffic can move through the TTC zone.