How
to Manage Site Traffic on a Large Construction Project
In
a large construction project, the project itself isn't
the only thing that needs to be managed. As the project
owner, you also must think about how the project disrupts
the neighbourhood around it, how debris and dust from
the project affect people, and how the presence of
the project influences traffic in and around the site.
The
latter is more important than many realise. There
are a lot of risks to mitigate, which makes good site
traffic management that much more important. Fortunately,
there are simple tips that you can follow in order
to manage site traffic in and around a large construction
project better, and we are going to review those tips
in this article.
Leverage
Timing
A
good way to minimise
potential issues with traffic is by separating
different traffic categories. Pedestrians, heavy machinery,
cars travelling around the project site, and even
supply runs can be managed better with careful timing
and separation.
Schedule
heavy machinery movement at times when pedestrian
traffic is at its lowest to avoid accidents. You can
do the same with the supply of larger materials for
the project. You can go a step further and create
a pedestrian exclusion zone once the heavy machinery
is in place.
Create
Designated Routes
For
on-site traffic, it is also a great idea to create
designated routes for different purposes. Pedestrian
traffic must not occupy routes designed for vehicles
and vice versa. Again, separation is the key here.
Before you can manage the flow of traffic, you need
to first focus on safety.
Once you have routes in place, add signs and incorporate
software-based traffic management to help you keep
things running smoothly. Several training sessions
will also get everyone involved in ensuring maximum
safety and a good flow of traffic.
Secure
the Premise
It
is not uncommon for large projects to also disrupt
the flow of traffic outside and around the project
site. In larger cities, even the slightest disruption
can lead to hours of traffic jams and thousands of
angry citizens. You definitely don't want these issues
to haunt your project early on.
Work with a good traffic
management contractor in controlling and directing
traffic. Kwik Logistics, a leading traffic management
company, can provide you with more than just traffic
signs. The company's team of experienced traffic controllers
and its fleet of vehicles can help you get things
under control.
Evaluate
Often
One
last key to successful traffic management is constant
monitoring, followed by in-depth evaluation. You need
to know whether your traffic management strategy works.
When it doesn't, you need to have the ability to react
quickly and make an adjustment to the strategy.
When
the timing and traffic flow reduce productivity, for
instance, you can make the decision to reschedule
certain traffic or switch to an alternative safety
measure for better separation. This way, you can balance
safety, good flow, and productivity.
With
these tips in mind and the right traffic management
partner by your side, you will have no trouble at
all managing site traffic on even the largest, most
challenging project in your portfolio.
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