Traffic Signs for Use at
Road Works
Reference:
 Code of Practice for the Lighting,
Signing and Guarding of Roadworks,
Highways department, Second Issue
October 1990
Warning, Regulatory &
Informatory Signs

Details of sign face to comply with Transport
Department (Road Safety and Standards
Division)
 Reflective material to BS 873 or
internally/externally illuminated to the
satisfaction of Director’s representative of
Highways
 Temporary emergency signs (for use less
than 24 hours) at least 300 mm above the
ground.
Traffic Control Equipment
 Minimum
carriageway width for two way
traffic is 5.5 m
 Maximum carriageway width 3.7 m and
minimum 3 m for alternate one way
working with traffic light signals or
“Stop/Go” signs
Traffic Control Equipment

a)
b)
c)
d)
Portable traffic light (Approved by the
Transport Department) signals are preferred
where:
length of control over 30 m
length of control < 30 m and view of
oncoming traffic is obscured
during hours of darkness
If control length < 15 m, one sign is required
and located centrally
Cones

Boundaries of roadworks to be clearly
delineated by cones
 Cones to comply with BS 873
 White portions to be reflectorised
 Red portions either reflectorised or in
florescent finish
 Traffic cylinders fixed into metal bases may
be used or in combination with cones on high
speed roads
Cones

Spacing:
3m
- low speed roads
9m
- normal spacing
18 m - for long stretches of dual
carriageway high speed roads
2m
- for normal lead in tapers
1m
- 45 degrees tapers where traffic
control is used or at end tapers
Barriers

Portable, stable under adverse weather
conditions and appear substantial, where
necessary to protect pedestrians and the
road work themselves
 To be visible by day and night, preferably
carried with traffic signs or lanterns
 Wooden or tubular steel poles must not be
used as horizontal barriers
Barriers
 Steel
barriers should not be used on
high speed roads
 Excavations on or near footways must
be guarded with secure barriers to give
warning to blind persons
Road hazard warning
lanterns

To light up obstructions during hours of
darkness
 Lanterns to comply with BS 3143 Parts 1-4
 Yellow in color with amber lenses
 May show a continuous, intermittent or
revolving light
 Flashing lantern flash or revolve 90 - 150
times per minute
Road hazard warning
lanterns
 Fitted
with a supplementary reflector at
least 50 cm2 in area
 Mounted maximum 1.2 m above road
level
 Kerosene burning lanterns are not
recommended
 Low intensity battery operated lanterns
are generally preferred
Road hazard warning
lanterns
 Lanterns
should be placed at regular
intervals along the line of the
obstructions.
 To be placed midway between
successive traffic cones: 3, 9 or 18 m in
conjunction traffic cone spacing
 Flashing lanterns at lead-in tapers to be
placed in 8 m spacing
Roadmarkings
 Self-adhesive
materials used
temporarily to delineate the carriage
way edge or to divide the carriageway
into traffic lanes
 To be removed as soon as it has served
the purpose
 Existing markings, if needed, should be
removed instead of being covered.
Roadmarkings

Or, they should be masked with proprietary
black tape and not be black painted.
 Opposing streams of traffic to be separated
by providing a temporary 100 mm wide
reflectorised warning line comprising 2 m
gaps for speed limit not grater than 70 km/h
 Line comprising 6 m marks and 3 m gaps for
speed limit greater than 70 km/h
Roadmarkings
 A “when
Red Light Shows Wait here”
sign or a transverse white reflectorised
“Stop” line to show where a driver
should stop
Work on Footways and
Verges

A minimum width 1.5 m to be maintained for
pedestrians
 2.5 m footway width in high density
residential or commercial areas
 Where it is not practical to provide the
minimum widths, Director of Highways o his
representative and the Police should be
consulted if the adjacent carriageway is to be
used for the roadworks.
Work on Footways and
Verges

Spoil, plants and materials to be protected
adequately by continuous barriers and not
obstruct any sight lines at the road junction in
particular.
 Warning signs on carriageway are not
required if the guarding is further than :
 0.5 m from the edge of the carriageway for
ordinary roads;
 1.2 m from the edge of the carriageway for
high speed roads, and
 does not force pedestrians onto the
carriageway.
General Road Works Signs
 Traffic
Sign numbers and Drawing
Number series CT174/51-1 to CT
174/51-5 are obtainable from the Road
Safety and Standards Division of the
Transport Department
Procedures during Road
Works
 Place
traffic signs, cones and barriers
facing oncoming traffic, starting from the
‘Road Works’ sign, progressing in
sequence moving back towards the site
 Tools and materials not to be left
outside the area
 Site traffic and equipment to be parked
within the works area
Procedures during Road
Works
Site traffic restricted to ‘off peak’ periods
 Site to be kept tidy, adjacent carriageway and
footpaths kept free of loose stones, debris
 Provide and maintain in good conditions
temporary footways for pedestrians
 If safety clearance between the works &
traffiked carriageway is not possible, methods
of reducing traffic speed should be employed

Minor works & Minor Roads
Minor Works
 Works completed within the day time of
the day
Minor Roads
 (e.g. local distributor road, speed limit ,
50 km/h, infrequent bus-serviced and
low pedestrian flows)
Minor works & Minor Roads

Both minor works and minor roads may
require fewer signs and need not be lit
 Moving works (e.g. gully emptying, lighting
maintenance) to be carried out during periods
of low risk and inconvenience
 Full lane closures for any road works next to
central reservation except an operating
vehicle is equipped with a multiple sequence
warning sign (type and location to be
approved by Transport Department and
Director of Highways)
Expressways
 Separate
procedures and requirements
for works on expressways
 Engineer Representative must be
consulted prior to any commencement
of the work
Arrangement of Signs at
Road Works

Signs to be placed on the verge wherever
possible
 Prior to heavy rainstorm or typhoon, portable
signs to be secured or adequately weighted
at the bottom
 Where works impose a temporary height
restriction less than 5 m, the warning of
“Height Restriction” sign to be attached to the
structure(s) built over the carriageway
Arrangement of Signs at
Road Works
 Height
restriction less than 4.7 m to be
avoided
 Height gauge to warn drivers should be
provided
Siting Distance and Size of
Signs
 Refer
to the recommendations and
tables stipulated in the Code of Practice
Cones & Tapers

A very important feature of all road works
 When traffic control is provided, a much
shorter approach taper is required
 The line of cones at 45 to the line of the road
placed at 1 m spacing ( for both approach
and exit tapers)
 Road hazard warning lanterns showing
intermittent light to be placed between each
successive cone at 1 m spacing( for both
approach and exit tapers)
Check list for designing
roadworks layout
 Operate
traffic control if the road width
is restricted to 5.5 m or less
 Check signing, lighting and guarding
works comply with the Code
 Consult the appropriate authorities
before starting the work
 Erect the signs before commencing
work and check the layout
Check list for designing
roadworks layout
 Ensure
all signs are regularly
maintained
 Keep the site tidy
 Remove the signs after the road works
are completed