Developers and contractors are responsible for the safety of the workforce and public at their work sites.
Temporary traffic management measures, including directive barriers and signs, must be put in place to ensure people can travel safely through or around work sites.
Temporary traffic management plans for construction and road work sites provide a means of assessing how all likely road users will be affected by the works and what measures could be implemented to minimise disruption. These users include pedestrians and cyclists.
Factors to consider when developing a temporary traffic management plan include:
- impacts on on motorists including motorcyclists
- impacts on pedestrians and cyclists
- detours
- night works
- working adjacent to traffic
- safety barriers
- access to adjoining properties.
For information please view the guiding principles for temporary traffic management plans (PDF 131KB).
See the process of submitting a Temporary Traffic Plan application (PDF 1.2 MB).
Fees and charges for these applications apply. Please refer to the fees and charges page for further information.
August 2020 update
Traffic management consultants and specialists should be aware of significant changes to the temporary traffic management process in Australia, which came into effect in late 2019. These changes included:
- Australian Standards introduced a revised Manual of uniform traffic control devices Part 3: Traffic control, for works on roads
- Austroads introduced a new set of Guides to Temporary Traffic Management: Part 1-10.
These documents provide better advice to practitioners and harmonise the national approach to traffic management. In so doing, they improve the safety for road workers and the public, provide greater opportunities for interstate working and improve career pathways within the temporary traffic management industry.
From 1 August 2020, all temporary traffic management applications are expected to include the following documentation:
- Traffic Management Plan: A document describing all essential traffic management matters associated with roadworks or road related areas (i.e. verges, paths, etc). This includes risk assessment, traffic demand and accommodation, traffic routing and control and provision for vulnerable road users and special vehicles such as buses, trams or over-dimensional vehicles.
- Traffic Guidance Scheme: An arrangement of temporary traffic control devices to warn traffic and guide it around, through or past a worksite or temporary hazard. A Traffic Guidance Scheme will be required to be submitted for all stages of works. A separate Traffic Guidance Scheme will also now be required to be submitted for works during the day, night work, weekend work and any ‘out of hours stages’.
In addition to the above requirements, Roads ACT will also require the following documents to be included where applicable:
- Vehicle Movement Plan: A document which shows how construction vehicles will safely access and egress work sites and this will also include the proposed haulage routes. This may be applicable where high volumes or movements occur during the construction phase (i.e. during demolition, excavation and construction activities) or areas where there are site constraints / limited access as examples.
- Construction Parking Plan: This document will identify where workers associated with a construction sites will be able to park legally and in accordance with the Australian Road Rules.
Traffic Control Devices
Any road construction or building work that requires the removal, placement or replacement of traffic control devices, including guide signs, needs to be approved by Roads ACT. You will need to visit us with your proposed traffic control device location/relocation plans for comment or authorisation and submit a Traffic Control Device Transmittal Form.
If you need to place or replace a guide sign you will need to complete a Traffic Control Device Sign Inventory Form. You will need to detail the design aspect and dimensions of the affected sign(s) and the proposed location of the sign(s).
Upon the resolution of any issues the developer or contractor will be advised to submit final plans for final approval in hard copy and electronically in CAD format.
Traffic management at Christmas light displays
Christmas light displays can be a great way for Canberrans to celebrate Christmas and boost community spirit. In most cases, Christmas light displays do not need any involvement by the ACT Government. However, in limited cases ACT Government involvement is required because the scale or nature of the display causes traffic, parking and safety implications or potentially leads to neighbourhood tension by attracting significant night time traffic to the street.
The traffic management at Christmas light displays fact sheet (PDF 179.3 KB) has been developed to help people understand the difference between small-scale and large-scale Christmas light displays and the requirements involved. The fact sheet also outlines the steps that need to be taken when planning Christmas light display activities and the responsibility of event organisers.
Working in the Light Rail Corridor
With the commencement of Light Rail services, please be aware of the new CMET (Canberra Metro’s Operations) requirements as the Operator and Maintainer of the Light Rail corridor.
For any works proposed in the proximity of the Light Rail corridor, defined as the “Operating Phase Area”, a Permit to Work may be required. For mor information see application information.
Any requests for information, including design considerations or work access constraints in and around the Operating Phase Area should also be directed to CMET via the permits@cmet.com.au contact.
Please note the following CMET guidelines when preparing Temporary Traffic Management Plans for works in and around the Operating Phase Area:
- Where possible all signage shall be placed on verges and not adjacent to the rail.
- Minimum offset for any signage to the edge of rail to be 1200mm.
- There may the requirement for a CMET Permit, lookout induction and general induction if working on or close to the rail.
- Signage must be of suitable material, tied or secured to ensure it cannot blow or move into the path of a Light Rail Vehicle.
- Change to pedestrian or traffic routes that cross or interfere with Light Rail will require a permit – including stop access.
- Changes to light rail traffic signalling operation (phase, duration, outage) will require a permit.
- Signs placed on or near the rail shall be installed for the minimum possible time.
- Signs shall not be placed on pits, covers or any other structure within the OPA.
- Traffic management shall not restrict access to the OPA at any time.
For further information, visit CMET's website.
Apply for Minor Temporary Traffic Management
Roads ACT can authorise special vehicle access and parking in certain situations:
- Vehicle access to open space where vehicles are not usually permitted. This will only be granted for access to events or vendor operations. Areas could include parks, reserves, gardens, easements or high pedestrian areas.
- Temporary parking either on-street or in public carparks. This will only be granted for event access or trade contractor vehicles accessing a residential construction worksite.
Please note: It is difficult to review and approve applications within short timescales. The required period for review and process is 5 working days. Whilst we endeavour to review all applications in a timely manner, your application may not be approved if sufficient time is not provided to review the application.
Please apply for authorisation using the Minor Temporary Traffic Management application form.
