When anyone in Victoria is planning construction that will impact the public roads in any way, or planning an event that will do the same, then one of the less glamorous but absolutely essential bits of paperwork that they have to get right is a traffic control permit application. But what are these permits? Why are they necessary? When are they necessary? We’ll explain in more detail below.
What is a Traffic Control Plan?
Getting your traffic control permit to redirect or otherwise manage traffic around your planned construction or event first requires a proper traffic control plan, also known sometimes as a traffic management plan. This is a plan of action that is designed to help ensure that all stakeholders: pedestrians ,drivers, workers, and other road users such as cyclists and scooter riders, for instance, are able to continue to have fair and proper access to public roads while any construction or event is ongoing.
As you can probably tell from the list of stakeholders, these plans can get quite complicated, which is why event organisers, construction companies, and contractors tend to source expert assistance to help them with the preparation of the plans and permit applications. This way they can be sure that all requirements are satisfied, and that little if anything is left to chance.
Traffic Control Permit Vs. Memorandum of Authorisation
If you’ve ever looked into getting a traffic control permit for your planned construction or event, you may have come across an alternative permit known as a Memorandum of Authorisation or MoA for short. These are actually both specific types of permits issued by authorities here in Victoria but under slightly different circumstances.
The main difference is found in who owns and manages the roads in question. When you are proposing a plan that will disrupt council-owned roads, then you need a traffic control permit. When you are proposing a plan that will disrupt VicRoad-owned roads, then you need an MoA. It’s quite possible that you’ll need both, depending on the size and scope of your project. Always consult with your experts to know for sure which you need and how to get them.
Another good thing about working with a company with expertise in this area is that they are often “pre-qualified” with these organisations like VicRoads, making the process a hell of a lot easier!
Making the Traffic Control Plan
As we mentioned before, if any activity you are planning will cause disruption to public roads, then you have to have the traffic control permit, the major part of which is an approved traffic control/management plan made to satisfy or exceed state or city requirements.
In Melbourne, for example, it is required that a traffic control plan include mention of all “temporary changes to traffic conditions, road and footpath occupation and traffic detours,” be they short term or long term. Even if you think you know how to satisfy those requirements, the other news is that Melbourne requires these reports to be prepared by a “suitably qualified professional,” hence our recommendation to bring in an expert consultant to help.
The reports include a very specific format that has to be followed, which is another reason to allow those with the right experience to prepare them for you. If you are already on the clock to get your event or construction project underway, then you need this management plan and permit to be processed right away.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The time it takes to secure a traffic control permit varies between individual applications because some are allowed to put forward grounds for expediting their processing. Without such expediting, it typically takes 15 days for the council or VicRoads to receive and handle the application, so be sure to get everything in place in good time.