8Apply#

Applying temporary restrictions on SCRs includes identification and notification, assessment, and restriction:

8.1Identification and notification#

Identification and notification of the need or likely need for a temporary restriction on a SCR can be received from various sources, including:

  1. 1.Transport and Main Roads' hotspots – sections or ‘hotspots’ known on the SCR network which Districts are aware are impacted based on historical data, for example, flooding records
  2. 2.Transport and Main Roads' Traffic Management / Coordination Centres – local or statewide traffic management or coordination centres receive calls from road users or other stakeholders as well as receiving intelligence from devices and/or information feeds
  3. 3.District road operations / inspection / delivery services – local road operations / inspection / delivery services personnel become aware of unplanned events impacting the SCR network
  4. 4.Contract holders – Contractual arrangements, for example, road maintenance performance Contracts that undertake various activities, including emergency call-outs that consist of assisting with temporary restrictions on SCRs
  5. 5.review of existing temporary restriction – existing temporary restrictions may require review as they progress through event lifecycle or circumstances of the restriction change, for example, progressing from unofficial to official or apply to remove, and
  6. 6.Transport and Main Roads legal delegate – legal delegates can direct the installation of temporary restrictions on State-controlled roads under various circumstances.

8.2Assessment#

Following identification and notification, an assessment is to be undertaken to determine if a temporary restriction on a SCR is required.

8.2.1Threshold assessment for flooding#

Transport and Main Roads' threshold60 for applying temporary restrictions on a SCR occurs where there is a depth of still water at or greater than 300 mm.

Qualified by:

  1. 1.if water is flowing, depending on the speed of the flow, a temporary restriction on a SCR may be applied at a lower depth. The faster the flow, the lower the depth for a temporary restriction on a SCR, and
  2. 2.if upstream catchment rainfalls, flows or other intelligence likely to result in depth of still water at or greater than 300 mm in the near future and it is practical to do so, a temporary restriction on a SCR may be applied.

8.2.2Threshold assessment for bushfire and other hazardous events#

Authorised fire officers (such as QFES authorised fire officers) can take reasonable measures to protect persons, property or the environment from danger or potential danger caused by a fire or a hazardous materials emergency. 61 This may include closing any road or access whether public or private.62

In circumstances where an authorised fire officer seeks to have a temporary restriction applied on a SCR due to a bushfire or other hazardous event (such as a lithium battery fire or major chemical spill), they typically consult with Transport and Main Roads and/or the QPS as necessary to apply the restriction. The exact tactics and authority are determined as part of the consultation.

Similarly, a police officer can take measures to prohibit, divert, or direct traffic where they reasonably suspect an emergency exists.63 In circumstances where a police officer seeks to have a temporary restriction applied on a SCR due to a bushfire or other hazardous event, they typically consult with Transport and Main Roads and/or QFES as necessary to apply the restriction. The exact tactics and authority are determined as part of the consultation.

There may be other events where liaison with additional personnel, agencies, or Transport and Main Roads' organisational units, such as RoadTek or Transport Network Security and Resilience, may occur.

8.2.3Other factors for consideration#

Once the threshold assessment has been undertaken and it is determined to apply a restriction on a SCR, a range of other factors may be considered. They may include, but are not limited to:

  1. 1.temporary restriction type and supporting measures – regard may be had to the type of temporary restriction, signage type and construction, signage installation requirements, use of supporting measures, requirement for physical inspection by appropriately qualified and experienced professionals
  2. 2.availability and suitability of alternative and diversion routes – regard may be had to vehicle classes, volumes, asset manager, point of restriction in proximity to facilities / necessities, terrain, scale, and type of event
  3. 3.access requirement and availability – regard may be had to whether access to the SCR that is subject to the temporary restriction is a requirement, including whether it is available, for example, application to drive past restricted road use notice, requirement for physical inspection by appropriately qualified and experienced professionals, and
  4. 4.other stakeholder input and impact – regard may be had to what other requirements are necessary in the context of other agencies, for example, multi-agency where not already involved, economic and social impacts on impacted communities.

8.3Restriction#

Following a determination to apply a restriction, the physical action required, notifications, legal delegate approval requirements should occur.

8.3.1Physical and management requirements#

Signage#

Signage is to be installed at an appropriate location that accords with the authority, signage requirements and assessment outcome.

Relevant signage details should be recorded, including, but not limited to:

  1. 1.type and construction, for example, warning, regulatory or advisory signage, electronic or physical signage
  2. 2.how signage is secured
  3. 3.date and time-stamp of installation, and
  4. 4.location of signage, for example, chainage and global positioning service coordinates.

Temporary restriction details#

Following installation of signage, the contextual details of the temporary restriction should be recorded according to localised process. This may include, but is not limited to:

  1. 1.SCR name and identifier
  2. 2.unplanned event description
  3. 3.chainage start and end
  4. 4.suburb / locality and postcode
  5. 5.restriction type, for example, closed
  6. 6.direction, impact, proximity to other localities or other major SCRs (if applicable), and
  7. 7.other identifiers (if applicable), for example, STREAMS-SIMS job numbers.

8.3.2Notification requirements#

Following placement of signage and recording of temporary restriction details, relevant notifications are to be made according to localised notification arrangements and formats, for example, wet weather council closure report, EPS This may include, but is not limited to:

  1. 1.Transport and Main Roads' legal delegate
  2. 2.Transport and Main Roads' Traffic Management / Coordination Centres
  3. 3.other Transport and Main Roads' District / Region points of contact, and
  4. 4.third party Contract holder arrangements.

Notifications should ensure they have sufficient information to allow for the Transport and Main Roads' chief executive or departmental legal delegate to exercise their delegation fully and appropriately in addition to allowing for appropriate oversight and management of the event lifecycle.

Following notification, the Transport and Main Roads' legal delegate is required to make a decision regarding the temporary restriction on the SCR. This may include:

  1. 1.reviewing the identification, notification, assessment, and restriction details
  2. 2.if sufficient information (quality, type) is received to enable the legal delegate to exercise their delegation, then having regard for all matters, make a decision. Where insufficient information is provided or outcomes from having regard for all matters dictate otherwise, further investigation may be required prior to exercising delegation, and
  3. 3.where the decision made is to approve the temporary restriction (importantly, the placement of signage) on the SCR, the legal delegate should ensure they have recorded all relevant details, including signing-off the temporary restriction in a suitable format. For example, EPS, where not already entered.
Source: Op Std Temporary Restrictions (Unplanned Events) · pages 26–29 Open PDF at this page Search this document