Welcome to the final issue of the ‘In the Zone’ temporary traffic management newsletter for 2023. 

In this issue, we will cover the recent amendments to the Traffic control at work sites (TCAWS) Manual, the recently launched Standards Portal, and highlight some new signs in the What’s New. 

From the whole of the Roads and Traffic Engineering team we would like to wish everyone a happy festive season and safe new year. 

‘In the Zone’ is a Transport for NSW (Transport) newsletter designed to keep the temporary traffic management industry, as well as Transport’s delivery partners and project teams, informed and up to date on all things temporary traffic management related.  

Key changes

The Amendment 1 (TD 00031:2022) technical direction addresses an error in TCAWS Issue 6.1 where the requirement for the placement of Speed limit ahead (G9-79) signs was wrongly stated. This amendment has corrected this error by stating that these signs are only required where the existing traffic speed is 35km/h or more than the temporary speed limit.

The key changes in the Amendment 2 (TD 00003:2022) are:

• providing for pedestrians – clarifying that signs and devices on footpaths must not reduce the usable width to less than 1 metre unless an alternative facility is provided.
• sequence for installation and removal of signs and devices:
  1. use of automated work vehicles as work site plant, including automatic cone placement trucks
  2. motorways and other high-risk, multi-lane environments
• projected pavement arrows - images projected onto the pavement surface by a road image projector
• signposting traffic hazards i.e., such as pavement damage, before rectification works can take place
• traffic guidance scheme (TGS) approval – clarification that a TGS must be reviewed and approved by a PWZTMP qualified person who is not the designer or modifier.

Factsheet

To support the implementation of these amendments, a fact sheet is available that details the changes within each section of TCAWS.

Questions

For more information on any of the changes, please contact the Temporary Traffic Management team at: standards@transport.nsw.gov.au

The portal provides users with customisable search and watch options to allow for fast and efficient access to standards relevant to their projects across all transport modes.

The Transport Standards Portal can be accessed at   https://standards.transport.nsw.gov.au/

Key features of the portal are:

• Find a Standard – search and locate the relevant standard via variety of search parameters (i.e. keyword, transport mode, date published, document discipline etc)
• Shortcuts to view the latest standards or those open for consultation
• Concessions – Links to key forms and documents for Transport’s concession process

Register on the Portal to:

• Save search filters – save search filters for quick access later
• Favourite standards – save standards to favourites and access your personal list of standards
• Receive alerts – get notifications of upcoming updates to your saved standards by email
• Participate in consultations – provide comments on standards open for consultation 

The TCAWS Manual and its related technical directions can be accessed via the Transport Standards Portal as well as via the existing TCAWS webpage. 

What's new?

More visible traffic queues - Turn on Hazard Lights signs

A new temporary sign (t1-280n - Turn On Hazard Lights When Stopped) has been introduced as an additional end-of-queue management control to assist in reducing rear-end crashes at road works.

Why was the t1-280n sign developed?

The t1-280n sign was developed in response to the use of a similar sign at road work projects being delivered by the Newell Highway Program Alliance (NHPA). The use of the sign saw favourable results which led to it being incorporated as a standard control at NHPA roadwork sites. 

A similar strategy and sign are also used at some Queensland work sites.

Traffic hazard signs

A range of new traffic hazard related signs are now available to provide clearer and more effective sign posting of traffic hazards, such as pavement damage. These signs are on the Traffic sign register and guidance on their use is provided in the recently published Amendment 2 to TCAWS Manual 6.1.

Note: the Reduce speed (t1-278n) sign must only be used with a road condition sign or another sign that explains why there is a need to reduce speed – that is, signs such as Potholes, Rough surface, Slippery (symbolic) etc – See Amendment 2 to TCAWS 6.1.