Construction & Property

Set up traffic management for road works

How to plan and set up traffic management for road works in England, Wales, and Scotland. Covers Chapter 8 signing and guarding requirements, traffic management plans, temporary traffic signals, qualified operative requirements, and obtaining highway authority approval.

UK-wide
Guide summary

If you do road works on a public road, you must set up signs, lights, and barriers to keep everyone safe. Follow Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 rules for different road types and speeds. Get approval from the highway authority before starting. Check your workers have the right qualifications.

  • Sign and guard all road works for safety
  • Follow Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 rules
  • Use approved traffic signals for narrow roads
  • Keep 1m clear path for pedestrians
  • Check workers have Sector Scheme 12AB or 12D certificates
  • Get highway authority approval before starting
  • Use correct cone heights: 450mm for 30mph roads
  • Barriers needed around excavations with reflective markings
  • Report to National Highways for motorway works
  • Fines for unsafe works up to £5,000
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UK-wide

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If you are carrying out works on or near a public road, you have a legal duty to sign, light, and guard the works so that road users can pass safely. This applies to all works on the public highway, from a small footway excavation to a multi-lane motorway closure.

The requirements come primarily from Section 65 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, which makes it a criminal offence to carry out street works without adequate signing, lighting, and guarding. The detailed rules are set out in the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8, published by the Department for Transport.

Getting traffic management wrong creates serious risks. Poorly signed works endanger road users, pedestrians, cyclists, and your own workforce. It can also result in Fixed Penalty Notices, permit revocation, and criminal prosecution.

Chapter 8 signing and guarding categories

The Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 is the primary reference for all traffic signing at road works. It is divided into two parts: Part 1 covers design principles, and Part 2 covers operational layouts for specific road types and situations. Compliance with Chapter 8 is not optional; it is a statutory requirement under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

The level of traffic management you need is determined by the road type and speed limit, and by the impact of your works. The Safety at Street Works and Road Works code of practice (the "red book") covers works on lower-speed roads, while Chapter 8 Part 2 layouts apply to higher-speed roads and more complex situations such as lane closures or contraflow arrangements. If you are unsure which layout applies, use the more demanding standard until the highway authority confirms otherwise.

Prepare your traffic management plan

Every set of works that affects traffic flow requires a traffic management plan. This must be submitted with your permit application or notice, and the highway authority must approve it before works begin. For works on the strategic road network (motorways and trunk roads), the plan must be approved by National Highways.

Your traffic management plan must include:

  • Signing layout showing the position of every sign, cone, barrier, and lamp, drawn to scale with dimensions
  • Phasing if the works will be carried out in stages with different signing arrangements
  • Diversion routes if any road or lane is fully closed, with signed alternative routes
  • Pedestrian and cyclist provision showing how safe routes are maintained throughout the works
  • Risk assessment covering road user safety, worker safety, and specific hazards at the site

On high-speed roads (speed limit of 50 mph or above), your plan must show advance warning signs and lead-in tapers at the minimum distances specified in the Chapter 8 Part 2 tables for the road type and speed limit. Check the current tables rather than relying on rule-of-thumb figures.

Set up traffic management step by step

  1. 1

    1. Determine the signing requirements

    Assess your works against the road type and speed limit. The Safety at Street Works and Road Works code of practice covers footway works and works on lower-speed roads, while Chapter 8 Part 2 layouts apply to higher-speed roads and works needing significant traffic management such as lane closures, temporary signals, or full road closures. The road type and works impact determine the scope of your signing layout and the equipment you need.

  2. 2

    2. Check operative qualifications

    All traffic management operatives must hold the appropriate Sector Scheme qualification. National Highways Sector Scheme 12D covers temporary traffic management on rural and urban roads (the lower-speed local network). Sector Scheme 12A/B covers static temporary traffic management on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, and 12C covers mobile lane closures. For works on the strategic road network, Sector Scheme 12A/B (or 12C for mobile works) is mandatory. Verify that all operatives carry valid proof of registration before they begin work.

  3. 3

    3. Prepare the traffic management plan

    Draw up a signing layout showing every sign, cone, barrier, and lamp position. Include phasing, diversion routes, and pedestrian and cyclist provisions. Reference the relevant Chapter 8 diagram numbers. Include a risk assessment covering site-specific hazards such as junctions, gradient, visibility, and proximity to schools or hospitals.

  4. 4

    4. Submit for approval

    Submit your traffic management plan with the permit application to the local highway authority (for local roads) or National Highways (for the strategic road network). For major works, allow at least 10 working days for permit processing. Multi-way temporary traffic signals require specific highway authority approval before installation. Do not begin any works until you have received the approved permit with traffic management conditions.

  5. 5

    5. Install signing and guarding

    Set out signs, cones, barriers, and lamps exactly as shown in the approved plan. Use the correct cone heights for the speed limit. Ensure all barriers around excavations have retroreflective markings. Place warning lamps at all works during hours of darkness. Check that pedestrian routes maintain a minimum width of 1.0 m (1.2 m preferred) and include tapping rails for visually impaired users.

  6. 6

    6. Monitor and maintain throughout the works

    Inspect signing at least twice daily and after severe weather. Replace damaged or displaced signs immediately. If the scope of works changes, apply for a permit variation before altering the traffic management layout. Breaching permit conditions while a permit is live attracts a Fixed Penalty Notice, and continuing to work after your permit expires without a variation is treated as working without a permit.

Temporary traffic signals

Where road width at the works is reduced below safe two-way passing, you must install temporary traffic signals to control traffic flow. All temporary signals must be an approved type complying with TSRGD 2016 Schedule 14 (Part 6 covers portable light signals), and portable signals need traffic authority approval before use.

Portable signals are suitable for most short-duration works on single carriageway roads. You must use manual control where vehicle detection equipment cannot operate effectively, for example at sites with poor approach visibility or unusual geometry.

Multi-way signals (three-way or four-way) require specific approval from the highway authority before installation. Apply for this approval as part of your permit application, allowing additional processing time.

The highway authority may also impose temporary speed limits of 20, 30, 40, or 50 mph at works under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These are set by the authority, not by the contractor, and require a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order.

Penalties for non-compliance

Traffic management failures attract serious penalties. From 5 January 2026, Fixed Penalty Notice amounts for street works offences in England were doubled. Understanding the financial consequences helps you budget for compliance.

Working without a permit because your traffic management plan was rejected or your permit was revoked attracts the highest FPN of 1,000 pounds (600 pounds discounted). Breaching permit conditions, such as using incorrect signing or working outside approved hours, attracts an FPN of 240 pounds (160 pounds discounted).

Where works require a permit under a TMA 2004 permit scheme, the permit fee itself varies by the category of works:

Beyond FPNs, persistent or serious traffic management failures can result in criminal prosecution, permit scheme sanctions, and exclusion from working on the highway authority's network. If inadequate signing contributes to an accident, you may face both criminal and civil liability.

What to do next

Once your traffic management is set up and approved:

  • Check reinstatement standards before you begin excavation work. Your reinstatement must comply with the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH) and the guarantee period depends on the reinstatement category
  • Verify SWQR qualifications for all operatives carrying out the street works themselves, not just the traffic management. The Location and Avoidance unit is mandatory for everyone working in the highway
  • Apply for permit variations promptly if the works scope, duration, or traffic management arrangements change. A variation application costs up to 45 pounds; continuing past your permit end date without a variation counts as working without a permit (a 1,000 pound FPN), while breaching permit conditions attracts a 240 pound FPN
  • Plan for night works if required. Enhanced signing with Class RA2 retroreflective markings is mandatory, and all cones, barriers, and signs must be visible to drivers

For works on the strategic road network (motorways and trunk roads managed by National Highways), additional standards from the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) apply. Contact National Highways early in your planning process.

Official guidance and legislation