Traffic Management Layouts with Improved Capacity For Major Roadworks Narrow Lanes and Tidal Flow Operations

The layout commonly used at major motorway sites in the United Kingdom is the full contra-flow, which carries two traffic lanes in each direction on one carriageway, releasing the other carriageway for reconstruction. To improve operational efficiency, two adaptations of this layout, which operate with a reversible (or tidal) lane, and narrow lanes, have been developed and successfully tested. The operational experience of these systems is described, together with details of the layout and signing requirements. The cost/benefit implications of these improved layouts are discussed, and compared with the conventional contra-flow system.