Signing procedures

It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure the work zone is adequately lamped. However, the Department’s signing contractors are responsible for lamping all temporary signs they place in relation to road closures or traffic management measures such as ‘Road Closed’, ‘Road Ahead Closed’, ‘Diversion’ and ‘One-Way’ signs etc.  Some of the main contractors that have been approved by the Department can install ‘Road Closed’ and ‘Road Ahead’ Closed signs themselves with prior permission of the Department and the responsibility for maintaining/lamping these then rests with the contractor.

If signs are required to be placed out or collected outside of the Signs and Lines Department’s contract hours then a charge will be made to the contractor.

Opening the road

At the completion of works in a closed road, the road-closed signs should be turned face in to the wall by the contractor so that the road is open to traffic as soon as possible. These should be left in a safe place, making sure that they will not be a hazard to pedestrians or motorists.  Of course, if the closure involves ‘One-Way’ or ‘No-Entry’ signs or complete diversions, we will arrange for our contractors to carry out this work, as removing only some of the signs can cause confusion to drivers and can be dangerous if one-way roads are not fully cleared. 

Contractors must notify the Department’s offices when a road is to be reopened.  This is important so that staff can sign off the application on the IRIS system and advise the emergency services, media and bus company.

Parking Suspensions

Requests for parking to be suspended must be received two working days before the signs are required. 

Traffic Lights

An application must be received by the Department 2 weeks before the signals are required.

Contractors must take care in ensuring that the duration of each phase is set in relation to high/low traffic flows and that these are altered to take into account morning/evening flows. This is essential on the main routes in/out of St Peter Port, particularly along the coast road between St Peter Port and St Sampson’s harbour. The Department will probably only grant permission for temporary traffic lights to be installed if they are manually operated at peak times (7.45 – 9.15am, 12 – 2pm and 4 – 6pm). If the Department receives complaints about the timings of temporary traffic lights these will be investigated. If it is discerned by the Department that the timings have been set incorrectly, the necessary alterations will be undertaken by Department staff or its engineers. The contractor will be liable in respect of the costs incurred by the Department in rectifying the problem.

With regard to road works at or in the vicinity of permanent traffic signal junctions, which will result in a requirement for these to be switched off/on, the Department requires a minimum of 2 days notice to organise for an engineer to carry this work out. Any damage caused to any of the loops must be reported immediately as this significantly alters timings and subsequently causes traffic delays. Contractors will be liable for meeting the cost of repairs to the loops. 

Stop/Go Boards

If the application involves the use of STOP/GO boards the applicant must accept full responsibility for any accident occurring on the stretch of road in which the STOP/GO boards are being operated that is found to have been caused directly as a result of the use of STOP/GO boards.  The advice outlined in the Department’s STOP/GO boards advice sheet (which is available on this site) must also be adhered to.

An application form needs to be completed to obtain permission for operating Stop/Go boards and requests must be received a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. 
 
Use of road humps during roadworks

An application form needs to be completed to obtain permission for installing road humps and requests must be received a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.  The form includes a section for completion by the relevant Parish Constables with their views and comments on the application.  You will need to ensure that the Constables have completed this section before submitting the form to the Department.

Road humps must not exceed a height of 75mm and the design must be approved by the Public Services Department.  An information sheet on the use, design, installation and signing of road humps is available on this site.

Removal of permanent traffic signs and lines

Contractors must give at least 2 days prior notification to the Department of traffic lines that will be obliterated and signs that will be removed due to roadworks.  A notification form must be forwarded to the Department so we can replace the necessary signs and lines. Failure to do so may have significant implications for traffic management and road safety.

Skips

Skips that are placed on the public highway should be signed and lit (during the hours of darkness) as in accordance with the guidelines in the Department’s “Safer Roadworks” Booklet.  A lamp and an amber reflector should be placed in each of the skip’s upper corners.  Please note that it becomes the responsibility of the hirer of the skip to maintain the signing and lighting, when the skip under the hiring agreement has been in place a period of one month or more. 
Also, a wooden board must be placed under the skip to avoid damage being caused to the road surface. 

An application for a skip to be placed on the public highway must be submitted on the relevant application from entitled “Application for permission for a road obstruction”, at least 2 days in advance.  Should parking suspended be necessary then a parking suspended form should be completed.  There is no requirement for a road obstruction form to be completed in addition to the parking suspended form.

The name and telephone number of the skip company should be clearly visible on each skip.

Scaffolding

If an application involves scaffolding being placed on the public highway (road or footpath), then permission must be obtained from the Department and a permit must also be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive, Commerce and Employment Department.