Design and oversight of work zone operations

Design of work zones in Maine is the responsibility of the contractor, with Construction, Traffic, and Safety personnel reviewing and approving the plans. Some projects may have work zones designed in-house.

Work zone design for highway maintenance activities: Traffic Control is based on the MUTCD, and maintenance crews are trained in the basic temporary traffic control applications that they use in normal day-to-day activities, i.e. one-lane roads with flagger, shoulder work, mobile operations. Bridge maintenance operations that are long-term have a TCP drawn up by the safety department. Any maintenance operation that involves a detour has a TCP drawn up by the safety department.

All maintenance crews are instructed to seek help if they have any questions on what type of TTC to use. This help is available from the regional traffic engineers, the regional safety coordinators, and the safety department.

Work zone design for contract projects: The contractor on a project is responsible for designing a TCP and submitting it to the safety department for approval. A project may not begin until the TCP is approved by the Safety Department.

Oversight of work zone traffic control for maintenance activities is provided by the Regional Traffic Engineers, the Regional Safety Coordinators, and the Safety Department. The Maine Bureau of Labor has inspectors that monitor TTC for maintenance activities.

Oversight for contract projects is provided by: a) the contractor-designated employee responsible for traffic control, b) the department’s Resident Engineer, c) Regional Traffic Engineers and Safety Coordinators, and d) the Safety Department. The Safety Department schedules work zone traffic control inspections of projects, sometimes with an FHWA engineer, throughout the construction season to further ensure compliance with all regulations. Federal OSHA also monitors private contractors working on public roads.

Work zone policy is determined by Project Development with input from Traffic, Safety and Community Services.
Work zone operation rules are consistent for anyone working within the ROW, though the application differs widely especially among private entities and municipalities.