Lane closure

I'm sure we've all been in that place where the left hand lane has been closed for the supposed safety of workmen but the workmen aren't actually working on the road or even immeadiately adjaecent they have just closed the lane for the convienience of parking their vehicles. This morning I noticed that the left lane was closed on Resevoir Road alongside MacDonalds. Workmen were working on the building, not on the pavement or the road. So the lane was closed to save them having to walk 10 metres to the MacDonald car park, there were 3 vehicles parked in the closed off lane. It's a very busy section of road with traffic on route for Tea Tree Plaza, Modbury Hospital (including abmbulances), Modbury Tafe etc and the entire lane was blocked off thus forcing cyclists out into the outside lane.

So my question is can anybody just close off a lane by sticking out some witches hats or is there some kind of permit system and if one suspects that there is some illegal activity is it a police matter, local council or Dept of Tspt issue

 

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Permalink Reply by Sophia MacRae on July 19, 2012 at 8:33

Good question!

Permalink Reply by Straps on July 19, 2012 at 8:55

You need to have a workzone traffic management ticket to be able to alter the roadway as far as lane closures, restrictions, signage and changing the posted speed etc. Generally any vehicles that are contained within the designated 'workzone' should have a visible amber light (either revolving of flashing).

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/educational/training/workzone/index.asp - This will give you some additional information.

DPTI manage the relevant legislation. Nothing really to do with local government, even if it were their road - however if the workzone is casuing a safety issue then they may follow up with the authorised person on site or Safework SA can be contacted if they are in breach of the legislation with reagrds to their workzone set up etc...

 

Cheers

Shane 

Permalink Reply by David Case on July 20, 2012 at 12:05

In relation to comment "nothing really to do with local government" in relation to Reservoir Road, this may well be the case, if the road is owned and maintained by DPTI. As most of us aware, some roads are owned by local councils and others (usually referred to main roads and/or arterials) are owned by DPTI (or whatever they have changed their name to this week). I believe that a link has previously been provided that provides details of State Gov owned roads.

The following infomation was gained from Charles Sturt Council website, http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=765

Public Space Occupation

Certain activities associated with development sites require approvals separate from the "Development Approval" process. This includes any activity which is undertaken on public land. The following is a sample of the activities which require approval from the Council prior to the work commencing:

  • Installing electrical services beneath a footpath;
  • Installing stormwater pipes (drains) beneath a footpath;
  • Placing an industrial bin or building materials on Council land;
  • Erecting a hoarding or scaffold on Council land;
  • Activities that obstruct footpaths or roadways, such as the placing of cranes or other plant equipment or the operation of a concrete pump;
  • Protecting a building site / work area;
  • Temporarily closing a road / footpath. 

Please ensure that the Application Form and accompanying documentation are lodged with the Council at least five (5) business days prior to the relevant work commencing, so that the matter can be considered and approvals issued to avoid costly delays.

Permalink Reply by heather on July 19, 2012 at 10:20

Straps, interesting about the amber light because the work vehicles I see in such closures do not have operating lights.

From a previous discussion on AC, an occasion when a cyclist contacted DPTI and changes made. Regarding the all too common roadworks signs placed in bicycle lanes.

Clive, if you contact authorities, let us know how it goes.

Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on July 19, 2012 at 10:25

Not a lot of point in following this up after the event, but if it's a safework issue and safework have the authority to do something it would be handy to have their number in the mobile

Permalink Reply by heather on July 19, 2012 at 10:27

From an earlier AC discussion:
Should you wish to report any unsafe work activity which may be putting either employees or members of the public at risk of harm, please call the SafeWork SA Help Centre on 1300 365 255.

Permalink Reply by heather on July 19, 2012 at 10:25

The following from Austroads. View AS 1742.3 at the State Library.

Austroads 'Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice: Part 14 – Bicycles'
pages 147, 149: Appendix B
Signing and Delineation of Works
The signing and delineation of construction and maintenance works on roads and footpaths should be performed in accordance with Australian Standard AS 1742.3 and any relevant local codes of practice and regulations. In general, provision for works on paths should be made in accordance with the principles of these standards. Additional consideration of cyclists should be made in accordance with the details set out below.

Provision for cyclists on roads should be made in the following circumstances:
– where bicycle lanes exist;
– arterial roads.

Where containment fences are used, to avoid catching the pedals of cyclists the fence should be set back from paths used by cyclists by at least 0.3m. In the case of mesh fencing particular care is needed to ensure it remains tightly stretched and that it is supported regularly along its length.

Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on July 19, 2012 at 14:17

Some people just cant contain themselves when they get their hands on a few road cones......

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on July 20, 2012 at 13:21

In all fairness McDonald's do not provide car parking of adjoining businesses.

However I would hope that lanes or roads should only be closed for safety reasons and not for "VIP" parking.

I would also hope that any closure were done in a manor not to cause a hazard and the minimum inconvenience to the public.

Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on July 20, 2012 at 22:58

You make 3 comments Don, re read the opening statement that I made and it's fairly obvious that all three comments that you make are nonsense.

The workmen were working on the MacDonalds property

It appeared that the workmen were working on the property and were using the road for parking.

THe closure was causing danger and inconvieience.

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on July 21, 2012 at 2:19

This morning I noticed that the left lane was closed on Resevoir Road alongside MacDonalds. Workmen were working on the building,, I am uncertain how I meant to know what building the workmen were working on by this sentence. I assumed it was the building "alongside McDonald's"

certainly as they were involved with McDonald's it would be reasonable to use their car-park I did not realise this from the original post.

After all if you had meant there were workers doing work at MacDonald's wouldn't they have been in-front of McDonald's?

However I would hope that lanes or roads should only be closed for safety reasons and not for "VIP" parking.

so if you disagree with this can I assume that you think this road closure was reasonable for the tradie parking.

I would also hope that any closure were done in a manor not to cause a hazard and the minimum inconvenience to the public. (but from what you say it wasn't)

so if you disagree with this can I assume that causing a hazard is ok and excessive inconvenience is ok as well.

It seem I have done a poor job of expressing myself.

English and written expression is not my strongest point.

Having been involved with private parking areas some people think that private parking areas are fair game for people to use at any time for anything.

However they are not.

Many people would get grumpy if someone who was nothing to do with them parked in their driveway.

I think heathers answer

SafeWork SA Help Centre on 1300 365 255

is the best answer.

Keep well

Don

Permalink Reply by Gordon Byles on July 23, 2012 at 14:29

If a road is maintained by DPTI, a permit must be issued before Workzone Traffic Management controls are used by anyone. One of the factors would be to ask if the restriction is necessary. As Reservoir Rd is a Department road this would have been the case. If you have a problem, ring the Traffic Management Centre on 1800 018 313.

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