New Roads & Street Works Act 1991

The need for a supplement to the Code (Supplement) specifically arises from the problems of working in narrow streets and roads which do not allow 'Safety at Street Works and Road Works - A Code of Practice', (the Code), or the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual (Chapter 8) to be complied with.

This supplement has been adopted by the Welsh Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC)

It is important to acknowledge that this supplement may only be used when it can be demonstrated that every effort has been made to comply with the Code and Chapter 8.

It is intended that this supplement, along with written records of any risk assessment taken when it is necessary to use it, be regarded as a safe method of working, as provided for in paragraph 3 of the Code.

The safety of workers and road users in the vicinity of street works is of paramount importance and the principal aim of this supplement is to ensure that street works are carried out safely, efficiently and with absolute minimum disruption and optimum safety of both workers and road users.

Anyone implementing this supplement must be aware that it does not excuse or exempt them from any legal duty and obligations under any Statutory requirement, but merely to show that every possible precaution was taken to ensure the safety of all concerned. Every site must be judged on it`s merits and the work planned in a responsible manner. The following guidance notes are intended to assist in this objective.

All persons working in the highway should note that County Councils may operate a bilingual policy and are requested to adhere to it as far as is reasonably practicable.

If a standard layout from the Code of Practice cannot be employed, then a risk assessment of the site conditions, using the appropriate "Risk Assessment for Signing/Guarding of Street Works and Excavations" must be implemented to determine an alternative layout to the Code of Practice.

The suggested pro forma for footway works is shown in Appendix 1, for Chicanes in Appendix 2 and for an "All Red Phase" in Appendix 3. The Risk Assessment formats may be combined or amended to suit individual requirements, but should include at least the information contained in the examples.

Where assessments have taken place during the planning stage, the utility must indicate whether they intend to implement these Guidance Notes on the Form N Notice (Notification and Response).

Where risk assessments are made immediately prior to the commencement of works, the Undertaker must ensure that the Risk Assessments are kept on site and made available for inspection by Street Authority staff or any other person having the appropriate authority.

3.1 Provision for Pedestrians (see Appendix 1)

The erection of barriers to provide a temporary pedestrian footway in the carriageway will be required when works in the footway leave less than 1.0m width available for pedestrians.

Problems will occur in narrow streets, and when barriers are erected opposite other carriageway works or footway works.

At a typical small footway opening where a vehicle could pass the works in a maximum period of 5 seconds or a pedestrian pushing a pram or in a wheelchair could pass the works in a maximum period of 20 seconds, in a one minute period it would be possible for one pedestrian and two vehicles to pass with a large safety margin. Extending this to a three minute period utilised in the Code it can be seen that three pedestrians and six vehicles could safely pass such an opening

Therefore consideration can be given to not erecting a temporary pedestrian footway in carriageways when:

• the two way vehicle flow is six vehicles or less in three minutes, and

• the total two way pedestrian flow is three pedestrians or less in three minutes, and

• the speed limit is 30mph or less, and

• the length of the footway obstruction is no more then 7.5m (10.0m absolute maximum), and

• drivers can see the works from 46m distance minimum.

In a planned works situation a "Safety at Street Works" letter to local residents likely to be affected should be used, as required by Section 5.5.5 of the Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters. A sample letter is included as Appendix 4

3.2 Guarding of Works

Barriers must be used to fully enclose all types of works where excavation takes place in footways.

3.3 Larger scale works in Footways

Where larger sections of footway are to be occupied, and the erection of temporary footways in the carriageway is impractical, pedestrians may be diverted to the other footway, where one exists, where the 2-way vehicular traffic flows is less than six vehicles in a three minute period.

Traffic control should be used where the criteria require and temporary traffic signals must be used at all such works on Trunk and Principal Roads in Urban Areas and for all works on unrestricted rural roads.

4.1 Provision of Safety Zones

The Code requires that at speeds above 40mph, a 1.2m safety zone is required. Reducing speeds to 40mph or less allows the safety zone to be reduced to 0.5m. At sites where it is not possible to maintain a safety zone together with an absolute minimum lane width for the type of traffic expected, the safety zone may be minimised if speeds are reduced to 10mph or less.

One practical method of reducing speed is the use of chicanes combined with the use of temporary traffic signals. (see Appendix 2)

In circumstances where vehicle speeds need to be reduced, temporary traffic signals and appropriate signs and cones should be placed in accordance with Appendix 5 to create a chicane at each end of the works.

4.2 Works in Very Narrow Roads. (See Appendix 3)

To overcome some of the problems associated with very narrow roads the following should be considered in respect of Minor Works.

With the approval of the Street Authority, the use of temporary traffic lights giving the facility of an 'extended all-red phase' may be used for Minor Works on very narrow roads with low traffic flows (definitely not Trunk roads, or on A or B Class roads) where works including the use of plant etc. reduces the road width to below the absolute minimum lane width for the type of traffic expected, a 1.0m footway cannot be maintained and where there are no practical alternative routes.

The operatives must be able to see both ends of the works at all times, and are responsible for re-arranging the works so that minimum road widths can be established to allow vehicles and/or pedestrians to be guided past the works

The siting and distances of signs and cones must be in accordance with the Code with additional signs as necessary. The delay to vehicles must not exceed 5 minutes.

A "Long Delays Ahead" sign should be placed at junctions leading to the works.

The Street Authority will notify the Emergency Services, in advance, of the location of planned works carried out but Undertakers and others using the provisions of this Supplement.

The Undertakers and others using the provisions of this supplement to carry out emergency or urgent works must notify the Emergency Services immediately of the location.

Immediate access must be given to Emergency Services who should be advised in advance of the location of such works

In circumstances where it is not possible to rearrange works to establish minimum road widths in accordance with this supplement to the Code, a ROAD CLOSURE must be applied for.

It should be noted that the period required to process a Road Closure may vary between County Councils and this should be checked before works are programmed.