Convoy Working at Road Works

[a_c_skinner]

Driving down Ullswater this pm the Mrs asked me why a convoy behind a transit van (all on my council tax!) rather than simple traffic lights. I speculated it enabled more throughput or that it controlled speed as a safety thing for the workforce. Then I knew someone on here would know.

Andrew

[WHBM]

Done wholly for safety of the work crew, who were likely needing to work closer to the remaining live traffic lane than is normally allowed without hard barriers. If not done to control the speed of those passing, any work crew will describe people barrelling through at full speed, clipping cones and such like as they go.

Because of the way Schedules of Rates for works normally go, the additional cost is normally borne by the various organisations, not the local taxpayer.

Did you even notice how close the crew were working to your tyres ? Was it highways maintenance or (more likely) utilities work. What was the speed limit there ? Derestricted ?

[a_c_skinner]

Thank you.

I noticed that we were very close to the works. As to what it was I was concentrating on driving. Safety by restricting speed makes most sense which is why I speculated as much. The other place I've seen it recently was at night on the dual carriageway bits of the A66 and again it was a work site close to the live running lane.

Edit: It may have been part of the storm Desmond repairs.

[c2R]

I've seen it on single track roads in Scotland and the Islands before, especially during overnight working; presumably because the carriageway being driven on is actively being worked on while remaining open, and convoy operation allows vehicles to be escorted through and work to be paused.

[Berk]

I’ve only seen it done in those circumstances, yes. Usually with a 10mph limit.

That reminds me of when I was trying to cross the Forest of Dean 2 years ago, and for some reason it was time for the A4136 to be resurfaced.

The bloke with the Stop/Go sign was having a laugh, he let more traffic back towards Gloucester than on to Coleford.

Took nearly 45 mins to get through 2 or 3 miles of road. The queues stretched back all the way to the A40 at Hartley. Wasn’t impressed, I can tell you.

[Fenlander]

I’m just trying to remember where it was but the other day I watched a single worker manning a 3 way stop/go. The car behind me was the last to get GO, he turned that to STOP then walked behind us to the other end where presumably he turned that to GO, I was just out of sight of it so couldn’t see.

[Nwallace]

I think I know where you are referring to, I rode through there a few weeks back, think they're fixing the walls at the lake side, it's not exactly a wide bit of road to start with.

[Ruperts Trooper]

Done wholly for safety of the work crew, who were likely needing to work closer to the remaining live traffic lane than is normally allowed without hard barriers. If not done to control the speed of those passing, any work crew will describe people barrelling through at full speed, clipping cones and such like as they go.

Because of the way Schedules of Rates for works normally go, the additional cost is normally borne by the various organisations, not the local taxpayer.

Did you even notice how close the crew were working to your tyres ? Was it highways maintenance or (more likely) utilities work. What was the speed limit there ? Derestricted ?

The cost eventually comes back to taxpayers and/or consumers however charged directly

[KeithW]

Convoy working is quite common in rural parts of the United States. Often the carriageway is being completely rebuilt and the traffic is diverted over a temporary dirt road. The reason for a pilot is partly to ensure vehicles dont stray off the route but mainly to hold speeds down and reduce dust and wear on the dirt road.

[Herned]

Because of the way Schedules of Rates for works normally go, the additional cost is normally borne by the various organisations, not the local taxpayer.

The last few significant temporary works around here seem to have needed a couple of blokes in a van from the traffic light company full time anyway!

[Herned]

Convoy working is quite common in rural parts of the United States. Often the carriageway is being completely rebuilt and the traffic is diverted over a temporary dirt road. The reason for a pilot is partly to ensure vehicles dont stray off the route but mainly to hold speeds down and reduce dust and wear on the dirt road.

Yes.. some years ago near-ish to the Grand Canyon I came across some roadworks, with just a red light and a sign saying 'wait for convoy truck' or something. So waited for at least half an hour and then the convoy the other direction appeared, and we got our turn. It must have been 10 miles or so of works being done at once

[mikehindsonevans]

Convoy working is quite common in rural parts of the United States. Often the carriageway is being completely rebuilt and the traffic is diverted over a temporary dirt road. The reason for a pilot is partly to ensure vehicles dont stray off the route but mainly to hold speeds down and reduce dust and wear on the dirt road.

Yes.. some years ago near-ish to the Grand Canyon I came across some roadworks, with just a red light and a sign saying 'wait for convoy truck' or something. So waited for at least half an hour and then the convoy the other direction appeared, and we got our turn. It must have been 10 miles or so of works being done at once

What a coincidence about the Grand Canyon - we had this on honeymoon in 1993 (again on the northern approach to the North Rim, probably south of Jacob Lake on SR69) with a similar distance of road being worked on; fortunately, we arrived and joined the queue about a minute before the convoy leader set off.

[KeithW]

What a coincidence about the Grand Canyon - we had this on homeymoon in 1993 (again on the northern approach to the North Rim, probably south of Jacob Lake on SR69) with a similar distance of road being worked on; fortunately, we arrived and joined the queue about a minute before the convoy leader set off.

Its a wonderful drive but that road as you probably know is closed in winter and seems to take a beating most years. It was 2000 when I went through and we were sent on a detour round a washout in Pleasant Valley. Minor nitpick its Arizona SR 67 not 69. It was early June before it fully opened that year.

[WHBM]

Its a wonderful drive but that road as you probably know is closed in winter

Even more spectacular was convoy working in BC Canada over the Hope-Princeton pass in a winter blizzard. Diverted by The Mounties into a car park of a cafe at the bottom of the pass, everyone checked for winter tyres or (a few) chains, eventually a huge snowplough and its convoy turned up, they went and had a quick coffee, then we set off back, snowplough, heavy trucks first, a Greyhound bus, cars, and The Mounties in a 4x4 (at a time when they weren't commonplace) at the back to see nobody fell off along the way.

[Glen]

Convoy working is pretty standard at resurfacing and surface dressing works, where work has to take place up to the centre line, rather than contained within one lane.
It's purpose is to enforce the 10mph speed limit through the works for the safety of those working on the carriageway.

[skiddaw05]

I've seen some convoy setups where really the road should be completely closed for safe working as there isn't sufficient width for a live running lane. Unfortunately pressure from highways authorities to keep the network open sometimes seems to override H&S issues.

[Bertiebus]

I've seen it on single track roads in Scotland and the Islands before, especially during overnight working; presumably because the carriageway being driven on is actively being worked on while remaining open, and convoy operation allows vehicles to be escorted through and work to be paused.

It's not unusual for night works on the (dual carriageway) A90 to be conducted with a convoy system.

[Dougman]

I've seen it on single track roads in Scotland and the Islands before, especially during overnight working; presumably because the carriageway being driven on is actively being worked on while remaining open, and convoy operation allows vehicles to be escorted through and work to be paused.

It's not unusual for night works on the (dual carriageway) A90 to be conducted with a convoy system.

There's three sets of work tonight on the A90 through Dundee that are convoy working this week alone!

[djw1981]

I came across a set of roadworks here https://goo.gl/maps/g8oWsP5MrVs today. They had convoy vehicles sat ready, but for anything below HGV size, they were divering via the forestry tracks and past the campsite to rejoin the main road about a mile further on (https://goo.gl/maps/DBSQceNk7oC2). The track was an interesting one with some fairly deep pot holes (well deep for a normal car). Interestingly, the google car went that way in 2011!

[novaecosse]

I've seen it on single track roads in Scotland and the Islands before, especially during overnight working; presumably because the carriageway being driven on is actively being worked on while remaining open, and convoy operation allows vehicles to be escorted through and work to be paused.

It's not unusual for night works on the (dual carriageway) A90 to be conducted with a convoy system.

There's three sets of work tonight on the A90 through Dundee that are convoy working this week alone!

Unsuitable diversion