Good morning,
Welcome to our first edition of the Temporary Traffic Management newsletter for 2022.
Safety of road workers remains a high priority area for the department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and ensuring well designed, implemented and controlled worksites is critical in achieving this objective.
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Concerningly we have seen a number of crashes at the ends of traffic queues in recent times. In response to this, TMR have produced a safety alert about this matter.
Also, please note that the new Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM) contains significant guidance on calculating queue lengths and developing contingencies. This topic was also discussed in detail at our training events for traffic management designers last year. I encourage you to view the online version of this training session by completing the registration form in the article further down in this newsletter.
As always I welcome your feedback on this edition and any suggestions you may have for topics you would like covered in future editions.
Dennis Walsh
Chief Engineer
Engineering and Technology
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Adoption of AGTTM on 1 December 2021
Two years after its initial release in December 2019, Queensland formally adopted the new nationally harmonised temporary traffic management standards on 1 December 2021: Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM).
The adoption of these guidelines in Queensland will be supported through a newly harmonised Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) part 3 and the introduction of the new Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM).
Updated QMUTCD – impacts for existing projects
In conjunction with the mandatory adoption of the AGTTM, QGTTM and Queensland MUTCD on 1 December 2021, clarification about the applicability of the new standards to existing projects was sought from members of the construction industry.
For contracts in place prior to 1 December 2021, the version and applicable parts of the Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (QMUTCD) and QGTTM that were specified in the tender (and then in the contract documents) are still considered to be applicable for the duration of the project.
Click here for the Transitional Guideline Approved Notice.
Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme Approved Procedure
The 2022 release of Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme Approved Procedure (TCASAP) includes updates to align with the Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM Part 7 – Traffic Controllers).
The TCASAP specifies the operational procedures and other requirements that traffic controllers must comply with when performing their duties on Queensland’s roads. This document also sets out the obligations on employers of traffic controllers and site supervisors to ensure that traffic controllers are being monitored and well supported when performing their role.
The revised TCASAP retains much of the 2017 version but adds practical explanations to assist traffic controllers in applying their procedures when faced with varying road and traffic conditions at each site.
The new TCASAP was developed in consultation with industry representatives and includes information on:
- setting up and using portable traffic control devices
- using two-way radios
- the importance of good preparation, including pre-start meetings
- explanations around sight distances, sign locations and end of queue monitoring
- awareness of changing conditions and traffic controller responsiveness
- the need for additional signs and traffic controllers if warranted
- incident management, reporting and on-site risk assessment, and
- maintaining a professional image on the job.
The Traffic Controller Accreditation Scheme Approved Procedure can be viewed on TMR’s website.
New Technical Note about Traffic Guidance Scheme
A new Technical Note (TN195) about Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS) was recently published by TMR. This technical note provides worked examples of the TGS development applicable for various work and road type scenarios.
The purpose of this Technical Note is to provide assistance to Traffic Management Designers in applying the requirements of the harmonised Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM) approach in designing TGSs by providing a worked example with explanations and references to given scenarios.
Click here to access TN195. (Under the ‘Traffic Engineering’ heading)
New Technical Specification about boom barriers at road works
A new Technical Specification (MRTS267) about boom barriers at road works was recently published by TMR. This technical specification provides technical requirements for boom barriers intended to be used at road work sites, both independently and in conjunction with Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS).
The publication of this specification is in response to industry feedback that safety at road work sites can be improved through the use of physical barriers in conjunction with PTSS. This specification defines the physical, electrical and functional requirements for these boom barriers, while the QGTTM Part 3 defines the operational requirements for boom barriers.
Click here to access MRTS267. (Under the ‘Electrical and ITS’ heading)
Applying for a Traffic Controller licence
Do you need to renew or request a new Traffic Controller licence?
The process commonly takes up to six weeks and involves the following steps:
1. Lodge your application
The Traffic Controller lodges their request with TMR.
Applications should be lodged with the Statement of Attainment (SoA), however if the SoA is not provided during the initial application, it must be provided within three months of lodgement of application.
As part of the application process, applicants are recommended to sign up with TMR to receive emails. This will allow your interim industry authority to be emailed directly upon approval of your application.
2. National Criminal History Check
A National Criminal History Request (CHC) is a mandatory requirement for all Traffic Controllers in Queensland.
TMR will forward your CHC to Queensland Police Service (QPS) to action and respond.
The CHC processing time can vary due to complexities such as living in multiple states, having alias, or applicants having multiple/similar names.
TMR monitors responses from QPS regarding CHC daily. If no response is received from QPS within 30 working days, TMR follows up with QPS regarding the delay.
If applications are still outstanding after 30 working days from date of lodgement, applicants are to make personal contact with TMR to investigate.
3. Application is granted, lapsed or denied
You will be notified by email when your application is granted or denied.
Applications that are not finalised due to outstanding requirements, such as training documentation, will become lapsed resulting in a partial refund back to applicant.
If an applicant requests to proceed with an application after it has lapsed, the applicant will be required to reapply and meet full requirements including the payment of all fees.
Traffic Management online training
During 2021 TMR hosted a number of online training sessions to assist traffic management designers (TMD’s) to build their knowledge about the new temporary traffic management standards. An ‘on-demand’ version of this training session has now been made available for anyone who was not able to make one of the live sessions.
The session runs for 1¼ hours and provides an overview of:
- national harmonisation of temporary traffic management
- how to use the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management
- adoption of the AGTTM in Queensland and TMR’s technical document framework.
It also provides an introduction to some key technical changes such as:
- road categorisation
- changes to sign spacings
- calculating queue lengths and advance warning of traffic controller stations
- device installation and removal processes
- use of portable traffic control devices
- configuration of multi message signs.
This session is hosted by Troy Hansen (Senior Project Manager, Traffic Management Harmonisation) and David Jorgensen, (Principal Technologist, Traffic Engineering Practice).
To view this online training session, please complete the registration form.
New road categories for temporary traffic management
TMR has released a beta version of the Temporary Traffic Management Road Categories map layer in Queensland Globe. This online tool provides users an interactive experience to viewing temporary traffic management road categories regardless of your location.
In the initial release all category 2 and category 3 roads have been mapped for TMR Districts and 44 Local Government Areas (LGA). TMR and local government are continuing to work together to map the remaining roads. A list of the LGAs included in the initial publications is published on the QGTTM website under the ‘Temporary Traffic Management road categories’ heading and will be updated continually as work progresses. Any questions regarding the assigning of road categories should be directed to:
For TMR Roads: trafficengineering.support@tmr.qld.gov.au
For Local Government Roads: Your local government Road Infrastructure Manager.
Following feedback from industry in Queensland, TMR has worked with Austroads and participating agencies to refine the road category definitions. Whilst it will be some time before the new definitions are updated in the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management, TMR will adopt the new categories in Queensland in through the QGTTM in our March 2022 publication cycle.
What are the new road categories?
TTM Category 1 includes single carriageway roads with a posted speed limit of:
- less than 60 km/h where the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) is less than 10,000, OR
- 110 km/h or less where the AADT is less than 3,000.
TTM Category 2 comprises anything not in Category 1 or 3, and roads with:
- any signalised intersection
- multiple lanes in a single direction (excluding overtaking and turn lanes).
TTM Category 3 includes:
- expressways (ie: freeway, motorway, or tunnel) and associated on-ramps or off-ramps, OR
- grade separated roads with:
- posted speed limit greater than or equal to 90 km/h, AND
- AADT greater than 20,000.
Why are the road categories important?
The Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management specifies some differences in device usage and practices depending on the road category.
Also, the national temporary traffic management training framework proposes to align training for traffic management designers, implementers and controllers to these road categories. Doing so will improve safety for our workers by ensuring that training is suitable for the complexity of the road environment which they are expected to work in.
How to access the new Road Categories via Queensland Globe:
- Click on ‘Layers’
- Click on ‘Add Layers’
- Scroll down to the ‘Transportation’ category and expand the layer list using the dropdown arrow
- Select the ‘Temporary Traffic Management road categories’ layer by checking the tick box.
Please note that the layer is only visible at certain zoom levels, so navigate to your area of interest and zoom in to view the current TTM Road Categories. To enhance the visibility of the TTM category layer, unselect other road network layers and use the ‘Queensland basemap grey’ layer in place of the imagery layer. You can toggle them on and off as required.
If you are new to the Queensland Globe, there are a range of tutorial videos available under the Help section.
For any further information about the project or temporary traffic management0 standards, please contact trafficengineering.support@tmr.qld.gov.au.
Speed cameras in school zones
A pilot program where speed cameras will be installed in road and street signage at school zones and road worksites will commence in the coming months.
With road safety TMR’s number one priority, TMR is committed to doing all we can to protect vulnerable school children walking to and from school, as well as road workers. TMR will run this pilot program in partnership with the Queensland Police. The pilot program will involve 10 cameras to be installed in six Flashing School Zone Signs and four Flashing Road Works Signs. The new signs will be installed in high-risk school zones and road work areas, deployed on a rotational basis.
The cameras will operate in the same way as existing speed cameras. However the key innovation for these cameras is that they are light in weight, allowing them to be mounted in signage at school zones and road worksites.
With regard to the location of these camera signs, school zones for the pilot have been identified following a comprehensive risk assessment. Wider deployment will follow evaluation of the pilot.
Road worksites will be identified through a review of speed-related crash data, previous speed survey findings, near-miss incidents with road workers and associated risk assessments.
Why are these cameras being installed?
School zones and road worksites have been recognised as presenting challenges for traditional methods of speed enforcement, due to high levels of vulnerable road users in the area, as well as limited space/access for deploying traditional enforcement tools such as mobile speed camera vehicles.
Where traditional enforcement has been possible, there remains an unacceptable number of people exceeding the speed limit both at more than 13 km/h and 20 km/h.
Additionally, Queensland’s Department of Education and traffic road worker industry groups have requested TMR/QPS provide increased speed enforcement to address the high level of speed non-compliance which has been identified at many sites.
These new cameras are capable of being deployed in these areas which would otherwise be very difficult to enforce. Instead of a mobile speed camera occupying a parking space in a busy school zone at pick up time, these cameras have the same footprint as existing Flashing School Zone Signs.
TMR urges all motorists to slow down and obey the signed, speed limits in both school zones and at road worksites and remain alert at all times.
Helpful resources
To help support the Queensland industry through the harmonisation period, TMR has implemented a range of measures including:
updating our existing Queensland Manual Uniform of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 3, to harmonise with the 2019 release of the Australian Standard (AS1742.3), Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Part 3: Traffic control for works on roads.
creating a new Queensland guidance document – Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management – to advise how the AGTTM should be applied practically in Queensland and identifies where Queensland’s practices exceed those in the AGTTM national standard
released our Points of Differences study which identified key differences between the practices outlined in the former Queensland MUCTD Part 3 and Supplement and the new AGTTM.
