Posted By Deborah 2012 Traffic management experts read on ....PLEASE ! Scenario Local authority approve a contractors scheme to replace fibroptic cable on a very old lane which has no pavements, its only passable a car at a time (in parts) and low level of street lighting. Lots of ageing and vulnerable residents, by any normal persons evaluation a high risk TM scheme. What is the job ? Replacement cable run top of the lane to bottom. Sub, sub, sub contractor turns up, and the protection of the excavation (from either car driving in or pedestrian falling in) varied from a sign at one end of the works indicating drivers should bear right, and a few cones. I think you are getting the picture, no consistency, other days it was simply one line of red and black barriers that with a slight push by a vandal or being struck by a vehicle easily topple over as they have no structural stability. And were not illuminated in anyway. Throughout the duration of the work it was winter time so high winds and rain were common, but no sand bags deployed?! For the sharp cookies, yes they had two utility strikes and members of the public plus assets were damaged! Very poorly run and managed. My queries are - how should these red and black barriers be deployed to ensure structural stability and is it acceptable that they are multipurpose ie to keep pedestrians and vehicles out of the excavation? Oh and a final sneaky one, if the adjacent residents are vulnerable shouldnt the barriers or scheme have been illuminated ? Thanks a million Debs

Posted By Robert K Lewis If the acop is not sufficient for this work you can all then go to the Traffic Signs Manaual under Chapter 8 of the Road Traffic Act. This latter document is available online I seem to recollect but cannot find link in my contact info at this moment. Beware it is very large but it does cover almost every conceivable situation. Yes if lighting might be an issue because of the proximity of an excavation etc that makes the access problematic then additional is required. All cones should be lit at darkness hours, the only issue is whether these are flashing or continuous. At 40mph and below they should be flashing in general terms. Bob

Posted By Ron Hunter Or perhaps a temp. road closure would have been the most appropriate measure in this instance?