Manning of temporary traffic lights

[avtur]

I've noticed that when temporary traffic lights are in use, particularly through the working day, there usually appears to be an operative assigned to monitoring the traffic and sometimes appearing to switch the lights manually. I've also noticed that the signs advising of temporary lights always state that 2, 3 or 4-way control is in place.

Has there been changes in the regulation around the use of temporary lights, I'm sure these two observations were less applicable years ago.

[Glen]

The normal "when red light shows wait here" sign is used for two-way signals.
The "wait here until green light shows" sign should be used for three or four-way signals.

For much work, particularly by utility contractors, the traffic management is carried out by another contractor, so their crew set it up and take it down at the start and end of the work and will be sat in their van monitoring for the remainder of the time.

Manual control may be used at busy location, either all the time, or just at peak times, to keep queues to a minimum.

[Ruperts Trooper]

I've seen manual control used where construction vehicles block the remaining route for a period of time.

[traffic-light-man]

I've seen it a few times locally, usually where one of the city's many S4s is reduced to single lane working. Never seems to do much for the queues that build up on either side, mind you.

As for the signs, as Glen said, the '2-WAY CONTROL' signs on shuttle working are a non-compliant bodge.

I can't recall off the top of my head if the amount of 'ways' refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, or the amount of stages in the signal configuration. I think it's the former, but if it's the latter, I suppose a '2-way control' could be feasible if there's only two stages to the signals.

[WHBM]

After more than one stuck-on-red at some nearby works, which I engaged the local highway authority in discussion over, the LA engineer instructed the contractor to supply manual control. I think we covered this one here before.

It probably helped that the engineer passed a comment at the end that the signals were on their own way to work, and apart from London Buses complaining they had been inconvenienced as well ! The contractor was back a couple of weeks later for a continuation, I noticed with a different TM subbie.

[avtur]

..... For much work, particularly by utility contractors, the traffic management is carried out by another contractor, so their crew set it up and take it down at the start and end of the work and will be sat in their van monitoring for the remainder of the time.....

Ah, that makes sense, I've seen quite a number of temporary lights set up and now I think about the operative is often sat in their car at one end or the other of the works. I'll look for logos on their hi-viz in future. I'd say there are probably only a couple of traffic management contractors who appear to cover all the works in our area.

[Conekicker]

I can't recall off the top of my head if the amount of 'ways' refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, or the amount of stages in the signal configuration. I think it's the former, but if it's the latter, I suppose a '2-way control' could be feasible if there's only two stages to the signals.

The number of ways refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, up to a maximum of 4. This is partly down to technology for temporary kit and also the delays that could result if there were 5 or more.

This is a useful page:

https://www.srl.co.uk/

[Chris Bertram]

I can't recall off the top of my head if the amount of 'ways' refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, or the amount of stages in the signal configuration. I think it's the former, but if it's the latter, I suppose a '2-way control' could be feasible if there's only two stages to the signals.

The number of ways refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, up to a maximum of 4. This is partly down to technology for temporary kit and also the delays that could result if there were 5 or more.

This is a useful page:

https://www.srl.co.uk/

We had 5-way control just down the road from us a year or two back, when the roundabout was being dug up. I think I posted a photo on FB.

[Conekicker]

I can't recall off the top of my head if the amount of 'ways' refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, or the amount of stages in the signal configuration. I think it's the former, but if it's the latter, I suppose a '2-way control' could be feasible if there's only two stages to the signals.

The number of ways refers to the amount of controlled entry arms, up to a maximum of 4. This is partly down to technology for temporary kit and also the delays that could result if there were 5 or more.

This is a useful page:

https://www.srl.co.uk/

We had 5-way control just down the road from us a year or two back, when the roundabout was being dug up. I think I posted a photo on FB.

That will have been something to TR2500, the Urban64 system or similar.

[Al__S]

non-compliant signs is hardly surprising- "Safety at Street Works and Road Works" seems to very often be ignored by traffic management specialists (thus the sheer number of non-compliant white on red "cyclists dismount" signs in existence).

I've seen messages sometimes from Project teams that have indicated that they put staff in place for a few days after set up of long-term temporary lights, in order to fine tune timings (and even set up different timing for different times of day, if possible) or have them on-hand at peak times to intervene.

[darkcape]

AFAIK you can only manually control TTLs with permission from the highways authority as you normally have to submit proposed red/green times per arm on the drawings for your roadspace/streetworks booking for approval.

Not that it stops people from doing it, particularly in rural areas where there's less chance of an inspector passing. With a good TM op manually-controlled lights can work miles better than sequenced.

A lot of authorities also specify an op needs to be on site in case of failure, others give a response time e.g 1 hour which is why you see some manned and some not. Some are also manned just for security, to stop the batteries getting nicked or vandalism if in a troublesome area.

[traffic-light-man]

non-compliant signs is hardly surprising- "Safety at Street Works and Road Works" seems to very often be ignored by traffic management specialists (thus the sheer number of non-compliant white on red "cyclists dismount" signs in existence).

My favourite lately is ones that say "CAUTION CYCLISTS ROAD WORKS" in black on yellow, in a derivative of Impact font . I've also noticed it's become the de-facto norm to use two-lane wicket signs on S4 roads, which I thought was a no-no.

[Conekicker]

I've also noticed it's become the de-facto norm to use two-lane wicket signs on S4 roads, which I thought was a no-no.

It's fine as long as there's no chance of traffic being directed into the opposing traffic stream. Ideally the sign should include an opposing traffic arrow - white with a black edge, pointing downwards. That assumes the firm involved actually possesses such signs in the first place and that the designer can be bothered to specify them of course.

Which is why 2 lane wickets are encountered. Basically laziness and ignorance.

TSM Chapter 8, Plans SC6 and SC8 show the basic principles, which can be adapted to suit a nearside or offside/centre lane closure on an S4. As included in a certain well-known piece of TTM software.