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HAUC
HAUC

Short-duration works

Short-duration works involve a single vehicle or a small number of vehicles undertaking one or more intermittent stops of:

  • up to 15 minutes – could be used for activities such as street light maintenance, pole testing, road markings, compliance testing, jetting of sewers, jet or velocity patching, etc; or

  • between 15 and 60 minutes (between 15 and 30 minutes in Scotland) – could be used for activities such as pothole repairs, leak detection, fault finding, tree cutting or felling, installation of traffic loops, coring. This time period must include all time needed to set up and dismantle signing, lighting and guarding.

Short duration stops less than 15 minutes on a single carriageway road
Short duration stops less than 15 minutes on a single carriageway road Notes
  1. For dimension D, see table in the Setting out site section of this Code.
  2. Where a risk assessment determines that it is necessary to display signs on the vehicles, they must comply with TSRGD (TSR (NI) in Northern Ireland).
Short duration stops less than 15 minutes on a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 40 mph or less
Short duration stops less than 15 minutes on a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 40 mph or less Notes
  1. For dimension D, see table in the Setting out site section of this Code – dimension D = 275 m (300 yds) in this example.
  2. The need to place signs in the central reservation must be assessed before you proceed and you should consult your supervisor, manager or other competent person.
  3. It is recommended that, on dual carriageways, works are carried out with an impact protection vehicle to safeguard operatives.
  4. Where a risk assessment determines that it is necessary to display signs on the vehicles, they must comply with TSRGD (TSR (NI) in Northern Ireland). For offside closures, it is strongly recommended that vehicle-mounted signs are provided.
Short duration stops more than 15 minutes on a single carriageway road
Short duration stops more than 15 minutes on a single carriageway road Notes
  1. For dimensions D and L see table in the Setting out site section of this Code.
  2. See the Traffic control section of this Code for guidance on unobstructed width past the works.
Short duration stops more than 15 minutes on a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 40 mph or less
Short duration stops more than 15 minutes on a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 40 mph or less Notes
  1. For dimensions D, T and L, see table in the Setting out site section of this Code – dimension D = 275 m (300 yds) in this example.
  2. The need to place signs in the central reservation must be assessed before you proceed and you should consult your supervisor, manager or other competent person.
  3. It is recommended that on dual carriageways, works are carried out with an impact protection vehicle to safeguard operatives.
  4. This dimension only applies where an impact protection vehicle is present and there is a 5 m gap between the front of this vehicle and the rear of the working vehicle. Where no impact protection vehicle is present, use dimension L instead.
  5. Where a risk assessment determines that it is necessary to display signs on the vehicles, they must comply with TSRGD (TSR (NI) in Northern Ireland).

Works involving stops that are expected to last more than 60 minutes (30 minutes in Scotland) must have the signing and guarding as for a fixed site. The estimate of the time taken to complete a specific task should include an allowance for work not going smoothly. If works overrun significantly, you must review your risk assessment and consider whether to revert to the requirements for a fixed site or to proceed as quickly as possible to clear the road.

Caution: Mobile and short-duration static works should only be carried out when there is good visibility and during periods of low risk. Consult your supervisor, manager or other competent person if work is to take place in the centre of the carriageway with traffic passing on both sides.