One of the largest challenges in getting planning approval for any project of considerable size is issues around construction and how the impacts of building on the surrounding community are managed. Concerns regarding road closures, parking of construction workers, and the need to place cranes and other infrastructure into public spaces are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Partly in response to this, a requirement we are increasingly seeing is the requirement for Construction Traffic Management Plans (CTMP) which detail the works undertaken by a builder, outlining disruptions to the local community and any special arrangements to be implemented during the course of the works.
A CTMP is required for any large work or as required as part of the provisions for a planning permit. The CTMP typically sits within a Construction Management Plan (CMP) and the permit conditions associated with construction.
An active document, a CTMP is a reflection of the methodology that take place on the construction site and the requirements imposed around the subject site to protect vehicles and pedestrians.
A CTMP will include all technical details about the ongoing build and site management, including details of the truck movements and frequencies, pedestrian access arrangements, detours (if required), and hours of construction.
CTMPs will also contain traffic guidance schemes for each general stage of development and plan maps where temporary bollards, loading and signage will need to be implemented.
It’s advisable to have a transport engineer prepare a CTMP to ensure all technical elements of the document are addressed.
While contractors can prepare a rudimentary plan, a transport engineer will ensure the mechanics of the plan, such as swept path assessments (which calculate a truck’s entrance and trajectory around the site) are both projected and feasible.
Many clients may not realise a CTMP is required until the conclusion of their work as many requirements are succinctly included in the overall construction management requirements prior to construction commencing, though not in as greater detail as laid out in the CMTP.
Similarly, while some clients seek a CTMP at the outset of their work, it’s more efficient from a time and cost perspective to wait until a builder has been retained before engaging a consultant to prepare the document.
Since a CTMP is a reflection of the contracted builder’s practices, the CTMP consultant must liaise directly with the builder to ensure all variables within the plan are addressed.
These include such specifics as what type of cranes are being used on site, if the builder is pumping concrete, what size trucks will be entering the sites (and how many days/ times a week will they be visiting the site), if demolition is required, disturbances to neighbouring site, which road closures are necessary etc.
The builder will liaise directly with the transport consultant to prepare the document detailing these procedures and timelines with information prepared in their project outlines.
A CTMP may detail the closing off or rearranging access points to the street which can be inconvenient to stakeholder including adjoining property owners, road users and passing pedestrians. Should works be occurring on roads where public transport operates, the transport team will directly engage with operators during the approval stage to coordinate the temporary works and day-to-day traffic.
Detailed within the CTMP are specifics around the ongoing construction and alterations to street access that need to be communicated to these stakeholders and how these will be practically signposted via major traffic control devices, including altered speed signage, traffic signals or no turn signs.
The Department of Transport and Planning will take between 20 business days to 6 weeks to approve completed CTMPs submitted by consultants.
Where a CTMP is required on Council assets (such as local roads), approval times vary based on size of project and jurisdiction the site is in.
Ratio’s dedicated team of transport professionals have extensive experience preparing CTMPS across a range of developments across the residential, commercial, mixed-use and public realm sectors.
For queries about how our team can assist you with your next project, reach out to Ratio here.
