O3.19.6 On minor roads where the parking of vehicles is usual and parked vehicles are likely to be present for the duration of the works, advance warning of works which are taking place in the space between the parked vehicles should normally be provided by a "road works" sign (7001) if it is practical to do so. Advance warning shall always be provided if the delineated area (including working space and safety zones) extends into the carriageway beyond the line of vehicles, a line of cones should be placed in the carriageway along the length of the works in line with the parked vehicles. The works should have a continuous barrier on the footpath side at all times to safeguard pedestrians (see Section O3.13 and Part 1: Design, Section D3.10), and provision made for the installation of any necessary additional barriers and coning to safeguard the perimeter of the works when parked cars are moved.
O3.19.7 For works on the carriageway with parked vehicles:
- a line of cones should be placed on the traffic side at all times. To allow for the eventuality of the parked cars being moved, when the works are unattended there should be a continuous barrier on the footway side to safeguard pedestrians (see Part 1: Design, Section D3.10) and the guidance given in paragraphs O3.19.3 and O3.19.4 should be adopted. If the delineated area, which includes a safety zone, extends into the carriageway beyond the line of vehicles a "keep left/right" sign to diagram 610 will be required;
- if a works vehicle is present at this type of work it may occupy one of the parking spaces next to the site. For a visiting works vehicle the space can be kept clear by the provision of cones; and
- if the majority of the parked vehicles are removed so that the site of the works becomes exposed to traffic, it will then be necessary to revert to the arrangements described in paragraphs .O3 and O3.19.4.
O3.20MATRIX SIGNALS
O3.20.1 Permanent motorway matrix signals are generally located at intervals on the central reservation and at junctions. On some sections of motorway these signals are placed on gantries and used to display temporary restrictions, e.g. controlled motorways. Matrix signals form part of the national motorway communications network and are operated either by the police or the highway authority from regional control centres. Motorway telephones are also connected to the regional control centres.
O3.20.2 Permanent motorway matrix signals are intended for use in connection with incidents or specific circumstances, where other means of control are unlikely to be effective. Standard practice for road works is to use normal signing and coning with the use of signals being restricted to those situations where the normal methods cannot cope. Signals can be used to assist during the setting-up, alteration, or removal of temporary traffic management arrangements, when the signs can display a message such as "WORKFORCE IN ROAD" (see paragraph O3.6.3), but as soon as the normal static signs and cones have been installed and the workforce are clear of the remaining live carriageway, the message should be switched off. The precise arrangements to be adopted should be a matter for agreement between the Highway Authority, or the agent acting on its behalf, and the police.
O3.20.3 When traffic management is set up to close traffic lanes or divert traffic onto the hard shoulder at locations where there are matrix signals on overhead gantries or in the central reservation, there is a risk that the matrix signals could be set to give contradictory or confusing indications. In such cases the police or local traffic control centre should be notified and kept informed so that they can take account of the changed lane situation if the matrix signals need to be activated.
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