Adapting Traffic Management For Urban and Rural Environments

Traffic management is essential for safely keeping traffic moving during construction projects and special events. Directing and controlling the flow of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists helps mitigate congestion and protect both the public and your team.

As everyone who has spent time in both types of environment knows, urban and rural roads are different. Densely populated urban areas are buzzing hubs of activity. Country roads have traffic volumes but come with other challenges. So it makes sense that urban traffic management requires a different approach than you would use in small towns and on country highways. While urban areas come with greater congestion and increased risk of collision with pedestrians and cyclists, rural areas have unique hazards of their own, like low visibility and roaming wildlife.

In NSW, working on or near a public road requires a PCBU to write a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) outlining the hazards likely to arise during the course of the work and the safety measures you’ve put in place.

Other vital documents include a traffic control management plan (CTMP) to document your actions for safe traffic control and a traffic control plan (TCP), an action plan with traffic control instructions, emergency procedures and more. When working on or near the road in NSW, you’ll also need to apply for a Road Occupancy Licence (ROL) for the specified duration of the project or event.

There’s a lot of planning and preparation involved in ensuring both rural and urban traffic management. Working with traffic control experts like SSTC can help you meet all legal requirements and adapt your safety strategy for both rural and urban traffic. Here’s the SSTC guide to urban and rural traffic management and the most common strategies for both.

Urban Traffic Management Strategies

As cities expand and populations rise, the challenges involved in managing a densely connected network of streets increase. The largest and most populous city in Australia, Sydney has a population of more than five million people and high amounts of traffic, particularly during peak hours and on arterial roads. In a city this size, challenges that make traffic management more complex include congestion, complex road networks and potential dangers to pedestrians.

Some commonly used urban traffic management strategies include:

Traffic signal systems

In the city, traffic lights and signage are essential for managing traffic flow, which is frequently complex and convoluted. Traffic lights use a combination of timers and sensors to regulate traffic movement at busy intersections. Traffic signal equipment for inner-city usage includes LED signals, video detection systems and portable traffic signals.

Emphasis on public transport

In cities, robust public transport networks reduce the amount of congestion on the road and give travellers more options for getting around. Increasing public transport options during special events reduces congestion and chaos during busier than usual periods. One strategy is working alongside local public transport agencies to account for changes in traffic flow (e.g. by increasing the number of services).

Smart technologies

In cities, smart technology is integrated into daily life in order to improve road safety. Smart technologies work to identify the causes of congestion and other issues on our motorways and to improve the flow of traffic. Cameras, sensors and GPS-based navigation systems send information to traffic control centres to identify hotspots and allow warning signs and traffic rerouting. Some forms of smart technology, like variable speed limit signs, assist traffic control workers in urban areas with managing vehicles.

Dedicated bus, taxi and cycle lanes

Urban areas always have a range of different vehicles sharing space. Dedicated pedestrian, bus, taxi and bicycle lanes stop various vehicles from crossing paths. Ensure safe pedestrian pathways around the perimeter of your project or event and clearly mark bicycle lanes.

Rural Traffic Management Strategies

Despite their common perception as quiet, low-traffic areas, rural roads frequently contain a number of unique dangers of their own. They have higher speed limits, which increase the risk of a fatality in the event of a collision. Dusty roads, tall trees and burn-offs can all interfere with visibility. In the case of an accident, medical care is usually significantly farther away.

Common rural traffic management strategies include:

Wildlife management

In country areas, collisions with animals are far more likely. Warning signs, wildlife crossings and reduced speed zones all exist in these areas to reduce these risks.

Clear signage and road markings

Due to limited visibility and road monitoring, temporary signage is essential when carrying out construction work or roadworks in rural locations. LED signals, reflective warning signs and other temporary signs warn motorists in advance of changes.

Traffic control personnel

In rural locations where roads are often single-lane, traffic controllers are necessary to help direct traffic through construction sites and around obstacles. Personnel should be positioned at key points, such as entry and exit points and places where they can direct motorists along alternate routes.

Emergency response management

In areas where emergency response is some distance away, responding quickly to emergency situations is a matter of life and death. Having a trained emergency response team on hand is a must.

How Urban and Rural Traffic Management Strategies Differ

Rural vs. urban traffic management strategies differ due to urban areas having higher populations, levels of traffic and available resources. Some significant points of difference include:

• Traffic volume and congestion, which is significantly higher in urban areas.
• Infrastructure and road design, which is more complex and more highly developed in urban areas.
• Traffic control and signage, which exists in both areas but is usually simpler in rural locations.
• Use of technology, which is often more limited in rural locations.
• Emergency and access routes, as facilities like hospitals and police stations are further away in country areas.

Whether your project or event is in an urban or rural location, it helps to work with a traffic control company that understands the challenges and specifications of both areas.

Effective Traffic Management with SSTC

SSTC can help you safely manage the flow of traffic around your project and event both in the heart of Sydney as well as in the regional and rural areas of NSW.

A company with 25+ years of combined experience, SSTC is a trusted name among many of Australia’s leading construction companies. Traffic control for construction sites is one of our specialties, and we work closely with our clients to make sure all traffic control measures comply with the Australian Standards for Traffic Control Devices (AS1742) and local council regulations. Our traffic management plans (TMPs) are tailored to meet the needs of each construction project and include measures like road closures, detours and temporary traffic signals. We have fully trained and certified traffic controllers, state-of-the-art equipment and a fleet of Utes purpose-built for the task at hand.

As a traffic control company in Sydney, we’re a one-stop shop for traffic control personnel as well as plans, permits and documentation. Highly trained in the management of both construction environments and events, our safety-focused team can implement the right traffic safety measures in the thick of the big smoke or out in the countryside.

To find out more and get a free quote, get in touch with the SSTC team.