This is one in a series of Traffic Advisory Leaflets providing guidance on methods of working and innovative techniques aimed at reducing traffic congestion due to road works. The series is aimed at utility companies, highway authorities, contractors, equipment suppliers and others involved in road (or street) works. Each leaflet in this series is based on research carried out by TRL Limited on behalf of the Department for Transport and Transport for London. This Traffic Advisory Leaflet gives guidance on the use of road plates for temporarily returning roads with unreinstated excavations to service. Information is provided on the different types of plate and plate arrangements, and advice is given on their design, installation and maintenance during the works. Users of the information contained in this advisory leaflet must satisfy themselves that their plans and designs are appropriate for the specific circumstances. The main reason for using road plates is to reduce traffic congestion during peak times - this is especially useful at heavily trafficked sites. The use of road plates can be particularly attractive where lane rental schemes are in operation or where a highway authority forbids lane closures at certain times. As road plates can often be installed and removed quite quickly, they can make short term returns to service more practicable and this can enhance public acceptance of the works. However, using road plates can extend the overall duration of site occupation due to the time needed to install and remove them. It is therefore important to take this into account when deciding whether they should be used. Road plates are also useful for longer term returns to service. Road plates may be useful at times such as: morning and evening peak periods; overnight when working in the day, and vice versa; weekends when working on weekdays, and vice versa; when specific events (e.g. parades, market days, public holidays) are taking place; and when there is no activity on site due to unforeseen delays. Road plates can be used for various types of excavation such as: wide transverse trenches (TRL tested systems spanning up to 2.2 m): longitudinal trenches up to 700 mm wide; and large rectangular excavations. (Author/publisher)
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