By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: A new Work Zone Traffic Management Guide launched by Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday makes it mandatory for road contractors to ensure safety of pedestrians at work zones. The guide also makes it compulsory to make temporary arrangements for pedestrians during road works.
Developed by Ashghal to replace the Traffic Control and Road Works Guide, the new guidelines emphasise that facilities must be provided for pedestrians that are appropriate to existing routes and provide segregation from work activities.
The new guide launched by Nasser Ali Al Mawlali, President of Ashghal, at Hilton Doha, took immediate effect.
It directs construction contractors and other entities on safety policies that need to be followed in all roads projects. The guidelines will be revised annually.
Describing temporary traffic measures that are meant to be used at work zones across all road networks, the guide instructs that traffic diversion plans must ensure safety and international standards should be followed for long- and short-term work.
Work should be done during off-peak hours as much as possible, extra planning should be made if work is done at night and work-related vehicles should not be parked on busy roads.
The guidelines make it compulsory for contractors to ensure that there is enough visibility for motorists to see warning signs. Improved road signs in yellow colour should be displayed.
Speed limits for motorists will be enforced strictly and monitored by radar and surveillance cameras. The planning and assessment of risk should also include an emergency plan so that work in progress is not disturbed.
“The Work Zone Traffic Management Guide will improve traffic management around work sites as it prescribes best international safely standards and regulations,” said Yusuf Abdulrahman Al Emadi (pictured), Head of Major Road Projects.
“Temporary traffic management will be implemented according to the nature of the road and required work,” he told a press conference on the sidelines of the guide’s launch.
The guidelines are being mandated in all Ashghal contracts, and existing projects are given six months to comply with the new requirements. Inspectors at Ashghal will visit work sites to ensure the new guidelines are followed by the contractors.
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