How to Minimise Traffic Impact on Development Sites

When planning a new development, there are lots of variables to consider. One of these things is how the construction will impact traffic near the development. Often roads need to be partly closed and traffic lights put in place to control motorists; this can cause a backlog of traffic. In addition, some construction sites have large machinery and equipment that needs to be transported in and out of the premises; this can also impact the nearby roads and traffic in the area. In this article, we examine how construction companies can minimise their impact on local traffic.

Encourage sustainable travel 

To help reduce the traffic around a development site, workers and those impacted should be encouraged to use sustainable forms of transport. This could include public transport such as trains and buses. Other sustainable forms of transport workers can use to minimise the impact of traffic in the area include walking, biking, and car sharing. The construction company can use incentives such as a cycle-to-work scheme to encourage people to use bikes. Alternatively, they could provide free or discounted bus passes to those that wish to travel by bus. Informing staff of sustainable ways to travel to work is the bare minimum that any development company should do to help minimise how many people travel to work by private car.

Maximise accessibility 

Companies need to maximise the site accessibility to enable staff, residents and visitors to travel by public transport and other more sustainable forms of transport. A temporary bus stop could be added to help staff get to work. In addition, the construction company could organise a private bus service for employees to use to get to and from the development site. A safe place to store bikes can also encourage people to travel by bike. Cyclists will be willing to ride to work if a secure storage facility is provided. Sites also need to ensure the paths and walkways are suitable for use by pedestrians and cyclists. For locals that want to walk to work, a well-lit, clean, and even pathway is essential to prevent injuries and encourage people to travel by foot.

Traffic impact assessment 

It's important to complete a traffic impact assessment to understand how development sites impact traffic in the local area. A traffic impact assessment report will look at all elements of the development plan and identify what measures need to be taken to deal with the anticipated impact on traffic. After the traffic impact assessment is completed, a traffic plan often follows with more detail on the measures and actions needed to be implemented. Several companies can provide your construction business with detailed and professional traffic impact assessment reports. If you’re unsure, contact a professional that will be able to advise further. 

Peak travel times

Another strategy that can be used to minimise the impact on traffic is altering the start and finish times of staff. This will stop there being as many cars on the road during peak travel hours. Some development sites can extend their hours of operation by employing this strategy along with a shift pattern. For example, some workers could start at 6 am and finish at 2 pm, and the next set of workers could then start at 2 pm and finish at 10 pm. There may be noise restrictions that prevent this schedule from working, but even a small change in working hours to minimise travel in peak hours can help to minimise traffic impact. In addition, development sites may need to restrict the times they bring large vehicles on and off the site, especially if the site is in a busy residential area near a school or other areas with high foot traffic.

Adequate parking facilities

Development sites need to make sure they have enough parking facilities to cater for all of the local residents, visitors and staff. If staff and residents are expected to park on nearby roads, it can lead to a build-up of traffic and potentially more accidents occurring. Failure to provide the correct parking facilities can also result in complaints and frustrated local residents. As part of the planning process, the number and location of parking spaces should be assessed. 


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