Traffic

Preparation Guidelines:

• Traffic control plans do not need to be prepared or stamped by a professional engineer, nor must they be drawn to scale or on full-size plan sheets.
• Plans must be based on a review of actual field conditions and demonstrate understanding of the Texas MUTCD and practical experience.
• Plans should clearly communicate to the crew responsible for setup. If unsure about your qualifications, consider delegating this work to a specialist.

Essential Items to Include in the Plan:

1. 1. Type of Work: Clearly state the type of work being performed.

   2. Relevant Parties: List all involved parties (e.g., developer, agency, general contractor, traffic control contractor) and include contact information, with a 24-hour number for the traffic control contact.

   3. Project Duration: Specify the expected duration of the project.

   4. Traffic Control Hours: State the hours during which traffic control will be in effect. Note that these hours differ from work hours. No activities affecting traffic can occur outside approved traffic control hours.

   5. Compliance: Traffic control must comply with the Texas MUTCD or reference typical drawings from this manual.

   6. Excavation Notification: If excavation is involved, note that DigAlert must be notified at least two working days before starting.

   7. Plan Details:

      • Show a north arrow.
      • If the plan is to scale, identify the scale.
      • Label street names accurately.
      • Include dimensions as needed (e.g., right of way, sidewalk, median).
      • Clearly define all tapers, as most design issues are related to them.

   8. Speed Considerations: Traffic control should be designed for prevailing speeds, typically approximated by the posted speed limit.

   9. Conflicting Signs: Identify any conflicting signs or markings that need to be covered.

   10. Night-time Measures: Include special measures for night-time traffic control if necessary.

   11. Temporary Parking Restrictions: If required, state that appropriate signs will be posted 72 hours in advance.

   12. Bike Lanes: On arterial streets with Class II bike lanes, if lane No. 2 is closed, place cones with a 4-foot offset from the lane line to provide a relocated bike lane.

   13. Upstream Lane Modifications: If closing a lane downstream of an intersection, assess the need to close or modify upstream lanes, especially in cases of dual turn lanes turning into single receiving lanes.

   14. City Boundaries: Indicate if traffic control spans a City boundary.

   15. General Notes: Include standard notes, such as:

       • Traffic control shall conform to the latest edition of the Texas MUTCD.
       • All traffic control devices must be kept in proper positions at all times and repaired, replaced, or cleaned as necessary.
       • Channelizing devices shall be 28” cones or 39” tubular markers.
       • Specify spacing for channelizing devices on tapers, tangents, and radii.
       • All open excavation or construction work should be a minimum of five feet from operating traffic lanes where possible.

Submission for Review:

• Submit all traffic control plans to the Traffic Engineering Department for review and acceptance prior to implementation.