Forthcoming Conference Presentation

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Are Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) in local streets for maintenance and minor works lacking a common-sense approach? 

Case Study 1 – A SEQ Council’s tree management operation spent more than $400k pa on TTM support for two tree crews. The TTM company advised this was required to meet new TMR requirements. A project review identified the TTM as excessive at most sites compared with alternative compliant provisions. Design support, training and a package of generic diagrams, allowed Council to reduce expenditure by more than 80% and achieve a three-fold increase in crew productivity with no reduction in safety. 

Managing WHS risks and the safety of all workers and road users when working on / near roads is a core Council responsibility. Industry changes in recent years appear to have led to TTM Companies being used more frequently. Overwhelming council feedback is the costs and productivity impact from “so-called compliant” TTM are excessive. Occasionally, TTM ends up a bigger task than the works and excessive local road treatments lack a common sense for the works scale and risks. 

With TTM costs often 20-50% of the total job costs, more appropriate solutions are needed.

Case Study 2 – A CQ Council central median works scoped by a TTM company required 25 signs, 575 cones and three crews for set up. This extent of TTM required the works be completed over three days. Consulting directly with the works crew, a small change to the works methodology reduced TTM requirements to 8 signs and 2 spotters with works completed in a single day. 

TTM design should be balanced to the level of risk. However, excessive TTM for low impact works continues to lead to adverse outcomes. Treatments are defended as “conservatively safe”, however often create greater risks than those mitigated. Options for specialist approval for new practices outside of the guidelines also are permitted considering the risk balance. 

Case Study 3 –Council rural road grading - TTM company advice was active Traffic Control (Stop / Slow) was required. After spending $150k in three months on TTM for roads with less than 20 AADT, an alternative RPEQ opinion was sought and a risk assessed / approved variation practice developed allowing grading to proceed with signs and a supporting works vehicle only. 

Local government has called for new guidance to suit the local road network. However, this presentation will demonstrate that much of the guidance is already there but feels like it is hidden. Alternative cost effective, risk-based approaches are not typically recommended by many TTM providers claiming to be experts, possibly because in many cases these alternatives mean TTM crews are not actually needed on site. 

This presentation demonstrates a range of practical real alternatives and details further case examples where alternative compliant practices have been applied to significantly improve the TTM arrangements at the site. As well as being more cost-effective and reducing the impact on the team productivity, these alternatives actually end up being “Safer Overall”, a key measure of the WHS legislation.