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Chapter 8 Traffic Management Services
Expert traffic management for contractors, developers, and authorities requiring complete regulatory compliance
Every roadwork that affects traffic flow on public highways must comply with Chapter 8 standards. No exceptions.
Hit a road without proper traffic control and you’re looking at Fixed Penalty Notices starting at £500, escalating to £2,500+ for serious breaches. Worse still, you’re risking site shutdowns, contract disputes, and genuine safety incidents that destroy reputations and programmes.
Get your traffic management right from day one
You need systems designed to Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 standards, installed by SWQR-qualified operatives, monitored throughout, and documented for authority sign-off.
We deliver this across the South West, South Wales, and the Thames Valley. From initial Traffic Management Plan design through to removal and close-out documentation, with NHSS 12A/B/C/D accreditation proving our competence.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why traffic management schemes fail, and how it wrecks your programme
The real-world impact...
There's a safer, more professional approach...
Sites running safely, traffic flowing, authorities satisfied. One partner handling everything from design to removal
NHSS-accredited expertise you can verify:
We hold NHSS 12A/B/C/D certification for motorway contraflow, standard schemes, mobile lane closures, and stop-and-go operations. Plus SWQR for all operatives.
Design approved first time:
Traffic Management Plans meeting Chapter 8 Part 1 standards, complete permit packs, stakeholder coordination sorted. NRSWA permits approved on first submission typically.
Deployed when you need it:
Standard mobilisation within 48 hours. Emergency response achieving 4-hour deployment for urgent incidents or service strikes.
Monitored throughout, adjusted as needed:
On-site supervision maintaining compliance, responding to incidents, adjusting for conditions. Not just installed and forgotten.
Documentation ready for sign-off:
As-built drawings, inspection records, permit close-outs, photographic evidence. Everything required for Section 278/38 adoption or contract completion.
One invoice, transparent pricing:
Fixed fees for defined scope. Clear variation processes for genuine scope changes, not gaps in what we quoted.
Why main contractors and developers choose Highways Plus
You’re managing programmes where delays cost thousands per day and safety incidents destroy reputations. You need traffic management that works first time, every time – not suppliers learning on your project.
What sets us apart
Accreditations that prove competence, not just claims:
NHSS 12A/B/C/D for every traffic management category. SWQR-qualified operatives and supervisors. ISO 45001 health and safety management. Inspectors check our credentials and move on.
We've managed complex schemes others avoid:
Twenty-five years delivering motorway contraflows, major junction works, utility coordination, emergency responses. The difficult stuff that needs experience, not guesswork.
Rapid response when programmes demand it:
Emergency deployment within four hours, 24/7 availability. Equipment pre-positioned across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley. We’ve saved programmes others would’ve abandoned.
Permits approved, not rejected:
Our Traffic Management Plans achieve first-time NRSWA approval in 95%+ of submissions. We know what councils need because we work with them daily.
Integration with your other works:
Traffic management coordinating with surfacing, drainage, utilities, adoption requirements. Not a separate silo creating interface problems.
Documentation sorted for adoption:
Complete TM records, compliant installation evidence, permit close-outs. Section 278 and Section 38 authorities get everything they need without chasing.
A clear, structured process that keeps your site compliant
Good traffic management needs proper design, qualified installation, active monitoring. Full documentation proving compliance at every stage.
What you get...
Most schemes run through phased delivery – design and approvals first, installation coordinated with your programme, ongoing monitoring throughout works, systematic removal once complete.
Typical timelines: NRSWA permit approval 7-15 working days depending on work classification, TMP design 3-7 days for standard schemes, installation 4-8 hours for typical setups, removal 2-4 hours with final sign-off documentation within 48 hours.
Site assessment and TMP design:
Desktop review of site conditions, traffic volumes, speed limits, vulnerable user routes. You get CAD-based Traffic Management Plan meeting Chapter 8 standards, risk assessment documentation, method statements.
Permit applications and approvals:
NRSWA permit packs compiled and submitted via Street Manager, stakeholder coordination with councils and emergency services, TTRO preparation where required. Approvals tracked, you're updated on progress.
Installation and commissioning:
SWQR-qualified operatives installing to approved TMP design, advance warning sections placed first working outwards, final safety checks before handover. Site ready for your works to start safely.
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance:
Daily inspections maintaining compliance, sign and barrier condition checks, Traffic Safety Control Officer supervision where required, real-time adjustments for incidents or condition changes. Active management throughout, not install-and-forget.
Removal and close-out:
Systematic removal sequenced to maintain safety, permit scheme notifications closed out via Street Manager, as-built documentation compiled, photographic evidence provided. Complete compliance records for your files or adoption authorities.
Chapter 8 traffic management services CASE STUDY
Major junction improvement scheme, South Gloucestershire
The Challenge:
- Local authority junction upgrade requiring 16-week programme affecting 40mph distributor road with 18,000 vehicles per day.
- Main contractor needed traffic management maintaining two-way traffic flow throughout works whilst protecting workforce in carriageway excavations. Peak-hour congestion already problematic; scheme couldn't worsen it significantly.
- NRSWA Major Works classification requiring 15 working days permit lead time. Stakeholder concerns from emergency services regarding response routes and local businesses worried about access disruption.
Our Solution:
- Phased Traffic Management Plan designed in consultation with authority and emergency services - three-stage approach maintaining single-lane two-way operation via temporary signals.
- Detailed coordination with utility companies whose apparatus required temporary diversions. Traffic signal timings optimised for peak flows, with SCOOT integration maintaining network efficiency.
- NHSS 12B-compliant installation with full advance warning sequences, VMS boards providing real-time updates to motorists, dedicated Traffic Safety Control Officer supervision throughout.
- Night-time installation of critical phases minimising daytime disruption. Emergency access routes maintained at all times with direct liaison phone line to fire and ambulance control.
The Outcome:
- Traffic management approved first time, 15-day permit lead time met exactly
- Installation completed over one weekend, zero daytime lane closures required
- Peak-hour delays averaged 4-6 minutes versus 15-minute authority threshold
- Zero safety incidents throughout 16-week programme with 24,000+ workforce hours
- Main contractor programme delivered two weeks early with full compliance documentation
- Section 278 adoption achieved within six weeks of completion due to complete TM records
Proven delivery of traffic management across diverse sectors
Whether you’re maintaining highways, building developments, installing utilities, or managing emergency repairs, you need traffic control that keeps workers safe and inspectors satisfied.
Sectors that rely on us:
Main contractors and civil engineers:
Surfacing projects, junction improvements, highway maintenance requiring compliant traffic management integrated with construction programmes. Single partner coordinating TM with enabling works and adoption requirements.
Developers and housebuilders:
Site access construction, Section 278 works, estate road building needing traffic control on public highways. TM designed to accelerate adoption sign-off with complete documentation.
Utility companies and infrastructure:
Gas, water, electricity, telecoms installations requiring emergency response capability and permit coordination. 4-hour deployment minimising service outage duration.
Local authorities and highway authorities:
Planned maintenance programmes, reactive repairs, winter operations needing NHSS-accredited contractors. Proven track record with regional councils across our service area.
Commercial property and retail:
Car park resurfacing, access road maintenance, delivery route upgrades requiring operational continuity. Off-peak installation minimising business disruption.
Event organisers and facilities:
Temporary road closures, diversions, access control for public events and private functions. Professional traffic management maintaining safety and community relations.
Your Chapter 8 traffic management services questions, answered...
Do I need Chapter 8 traffic management for all roadworks?
Any work disrupting traffic on public highways requires Chapter 8 compliance. Motorways and high-speed roads (50+ mph) need formal NHSS-accredited systems. Urban roads require Chapter 8 principles scaled to risk. Even minor works need basic traffic control meeting safety standards. We’ll assess your specific requirements during consultation.
What accreditations should my traffic management contractor have?
NHSS 12A/B/C/D certification for different scheme types (motorway contraflow, standard schemes, mobile closures, stop-and-go). SWQR qualification for all operatives and supervisors – this is mandatory. ISO 45001 for health and safety management. Highways Plus holds all these accreditations and can provide evidence on request.
How long does NRSWA permit approval take?
Major works (11+ days duration) need 10-15 working days notice. Standard works (4-10 days) need seven working days. Minor works (up to three days) need five working days. Immediate works (emergencies) are retrospective within two hours. Well-prepared applications typically get approved first time without delays.
Can you deploy traffic management outside normal working hours?
Yes. Many schemes require off-peak or weekend installation to minimise disruption. We coordinate multi-shift operations, night-time mobilisation, weekend deployment as needed. Emergency response achieves 4-hour deployment 24/7, 365 days per year.
What's included in your traffic management pricing?
TMP design and CAD drawings, NRSWA permit applications, all signs/barriers/cones/equipment, qualified operatives and supervision, daily inspections and maintenance, removal and close-out documentation. Excludes only TTRO advertising costs (if required) and authority permit fees which we itemise separately.
How do you minimise traffic disruption during installation?
Phased installation sequenced to maintain traffic flow, off-peak deployment where feasible, advance warning sections placed early, real-time monitoring with flow adjustments. Most standard schemes install in 4-8 hours with minimal delay impact. Emergency deployments prioritise safety over convenience but still maintain one-lane operation typically.
What happens if traffic management needs changing mid-project?
We maintain flexibility for scope changes, weather adjustments, discovered utilities. Our on-site supervision can modify schemes within approved permit parameters. Significant changes requiring new permits are assessed immediately with cost and programme impacts provided within 24 hours. Safety maintained throughout transitions.
How does traffic management affect Section 278/38 adoption timelines?
Professional TM documentation accelerates adoption by providing complete compliance records, approved TMP design evidence, installation photographs, inspection logs, permit close-out confirmations. Authorities need this for sign-off. Missing or inadequate TM records delay adoption 6-12 weeks typically. We compile everything required from day one.
Can you coordinate with utility companies during our works?
Yes. We manage traffic control around utility diversions, apparatus installations, emergency service works. Direct liaison with utility operators ensuring safe working zones, maintaining access for their crews, coordinating phased operations. Single traffic management envelope covering multiple trades where possible.
Need to understand what's required to keep your project compliant?
Book a Free, No-Obligation Chapter 8 traffic management services Assessment
We’ll review your site conditions, assess traffic management requirements, identify permit and approval timescales, provide a written quotation with clear scope and pricing.
No obligation, no sales pressure – just expert advice from NHSS-accredited specialists who’ve managed traffic control across hundreds of highway and construction projects.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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