A Guide to Preparation of a Traffic

Management Plan for Movement of

Oversize Loads

Prepared By:
Date
:

Rene Kastner
27 March 2002

MAIN ROADS Western Australia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.

GENERAL..................................................................................................................3

2.

PLANNING................................................................................................................3
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

3.

AUTHORITY..........................................................................................................3
SOURCE AND DESTINATION..................................................................................3
SIZE OF LOAD.......................................................................................................3
HEIGHT AND WIDTH LIMITS..................................................................................3
STRENGTH LIMITS.................................................................................................4
USE OF DESIGNATED ROUTE.................................................................................4
USE OF OTHER ROADS..........................................................................................4
A TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN..........................................................................4

ACCESS FOR THE LOAD......................................................................................4

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

WEIGHT................................................................................................................4
WIDTH..................................................................................................................5
HEIGHT.................................................................................................................5
COST.....................................................................................................................5

4.

SAFETY......................................................................................................................5

5.

INSURANCE OR GUARANTEE............................................................................5

APPENDIX 1 : CONTENTS OF A TYPICAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN. 6

MAIN ROADS Western Australia

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1.

GENERAL

The following notes include most of the items that should be taken into account when
planning how to move an abnormal load. The list is not exhaustive.
2.

PLANNING

2.1

Authority

In Western Australia, Main Roads WA issues permits for combinations that exceed the
normal as of right dimensions. This includes oversize loads. It is important that Main
Roads Heavy Vehicles Operations be involved in the planning for the movement of
exceptional loads from early in the process.
2.2

Source and Destination

The source and destination of the load need to be known to allow a suitable route to be
assessed and, if necessary, modified.
Travel off gazetted roads, such as on minesite or factory roads, is not included in this
assessment, as these are not public places and the site rules will apply.
2.3

Size of Load

Load size and shape affects the planning process and the availability of routes. Length
and width affect the number of escorts needed, while height limits the usable roads
because of overhead clearance.
2.4

Height and width limits

The following table shows the level of control needed to move different size of loads.
Length
under m
25

Width
under m
3.5

Location

Escort

Comments

City/country

Nil

4.5

City/country

1 accredited pilot

30

5.5

2 accredited pilots

40

5.5

Within 30 km of
Perth GPO
Beyond 30 km of
Perth GPO

Most locations
accessible
Many locations
accessible
Often accessible

30

2 accredited pilots

Often accessible

2 accredited pilots
plus Police escort

Access reduces as
size increases

thereafter

As the size increases, access reduces, so that the largest loads need the greatest planning
and preparation.
Loads under 3.5 m wide may move at the speed of general trucks, so are unlikely to cause
any significant disruption to traffic. Loads under 4.5 m wide are limited to 80 km/h.
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2.5

Strength limits

Bridge strength is a problem for some of the heavier loads. Where there is any doubt,
Main Roads Structures Branch will assess the suitability of bridges, and may either veto
the load, require temporary support, or require a certain configuration of trailer.
2.6

Use of designated route

The load should travel along designated heavy load routes where possible. Knowledge of
previous transfers along them will assist in planning the trip, while these routes are
accepted by Shires as being used for exceptional loads.
2.7

Use of other roads

This should be minimised. Approval from the Shire is necessary to carry loads exceeding
4.5 m wide or 25 m long on Shire roads, and unless it is likely that other loads will use
the same route, any changes made will tend to be temporary and thus relatively
expensive. Where there are likely to be several loads to or from the one destination, it is
worthwhile considering making permanent changes to the road.
2.8

A Traffic Management Plan

Where the load is large, then its movement is likely to cause delay to normal traffic. The
scope and complexity of the plan is likely to increase as the load and degree of
congestion to others increases. A loaded vehicle less than 5 metres high and 3.5 metres
wide is likely to be able to keep up with the traffic. The plan for such a move will largely
cover the route to be taken, ensuring there are no low bridges or other obstructions.
As the vehicle size increases, then co-operation with the pilots and police must be
arranged. If the load is using busy roads, then the timing of the run becomes important, as
well as ensuring there are adequate opportunities to allow other traffic to pass in both
directions.
3.

ACCESS FOR THE LOAD

3.1

Weight

The High Wide Load route is intended to allow the passage of a 200 tonne load. It will
gross about 310 tonnes on its trailer. Other routes will have different load limits, which
will depend on bridge strength.
As noted before, an assessment of bridges will be made for loads above this mass on the
High Wide Load route. Bridges will also be assessed on other routes. It is often possible
to get an exceptionally heavy load across the bridges if appropriate trailer configurations
are used.

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3.2

Width

It is possible to get loads up to 5.5 metres width to most parts of the road network in WA
(State and local roads). Transport of wide loads will restrict the number of roads that can
be used, either for physical reasons (the load will not fit) or because of disruption to other
road users. Main Roads is developing sets of roads that can be used for certain sized
loads.
3.3

Height

Loads over 4.6 metres high will often be very close to overhead powerlines. There are
significant restrictions on the range of roads that are usable. Those planning the
movement of high loads should ensure they have approval from Western Power to use the
route, together with advice on what actions are needed (eg propping power lines or even
disconnecting them and taking them down) to allow the loads through.
3.4

Cost

All costs required for modifying the road and its surroundings are the responsibility of the
carrier. The road should be returned to a condition no worse than before the movement of
the load.
4.

SAFETY

Safety to other road users and lack of damage to the road and road surroundings are
major items in a successful plan.
Escorts will operate under their code of practice. Where necessary, the carrier will
arrange the removal and replacement of obstructions to the passage of the load.
Since obstruction to other road users will tend to make them act impatiently, and so take
unwarranted chances, removal of obstructions will be done, where possible, before the
arrival of the load, so that it may proceed without interruption.
If the load must be stopped, there must be a means of passing it. If this requires a
temporary deviation to be set up, then temporary signage, to Main Roads standards for
road maintenance, must be provided.
5.

INSURANCE OR GUARANTEE

The carrier of a load exceeding 8 metres in width must provide proof he has insurance or
a guarantee of at least A$10 million that will cover injury, damage or loss caused to
roads, roadside furniture or road users that will cover him during the transport of the load
against claims resulting from the transport of the load

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APPENDIX 1 : Contents of a Typical Traffic Management Plan

Introduction
This will summarise the details of the project, what is being transported, from where to
where.
It will summarise the size and weight of the load(s) and the total combination(s)
It will identify the choke or activity points (stopping/passing points, bridges, townsites,
intersections, overhead impediments etc)
It will state who is involved in piloting and escorting the load (police, pilots etc)
It should also summarise any other relevant information included in the remainder of the
plan.
Traffic Management Personnel
This lists those involved in the movement and their responsibilities and contact details.
In some cases, specific individuals will not be known, so that it may only be possible to
include a generic contact. (Eg WA Police Escort Unit, for example)
Communication
What communication is used between pilots, escorts and truck drivers.
Who else need be communicated with (Eg those doing work on the road or powerlines to
allow the move)?
Who is the contact in case of emergency?
What communication equipment is used (CB, other radio, mobile phone, satellite phone,
etc)
Community Awareness
This may include methods used to inform other road users of the movement of the load,
its effect on traffic, location of the load at any time and possible detours that can be used.
For small loads, the only method used is either a sign on the front of the truck or the
leading escort/pilot vehicle.
For large loads, it may be appropriate to provide news releases to radio stations along the
route.
Procedures at Constriction or Activity Points
These are the standing orders about how the different problems are to be tackled and
may include:
Parking bays & traffic control points, where the load is either stopped overnight or
where other road users are cleared past the load.
Bridges, including details of temporary supports, vehicle positioning as it crosses
the bridge, speed limits etc.
Townsites and intersections, including procedure for installing, controlling and
removing temporary road blocks and diversions. It may also include details of
where contra-flow movements at intersections are required.
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 Overhead impediments, including powerlines over the route and how these are to
be treated (eg lifted or removed/replaced and by whom)
Other relevant situations
The Route
This will identify the route and actions that may be needed at the different parts of it eg
location of traffic control points, townsites, intersections, overhead impediments, bridges
and other problem points.
It will also identify the type of traffic control needed, eg where oncoming traffic must be
stopped to allow the load past, where the route is wide enough for oncoming traffic to be
allowed to pass.

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