Temporary traffic management is the signs, cones, barriers, stop/go boards and temporary traffic lights that keep drivers, pedestrians and workers safe when work takes place on or next to a road or pavement. It ranges from a few cones around a skip lorry to a full road closure with a signed diversion.
The rules: the Red Book
Safety at Street Works and Road Works: A Code of Practice, known as the Red Book, is the statutory code for signing, lighting and guarding works on roads, including the pavement and verge. It's issued under section 65 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and the current edition came into force on 1 October 2014. Councils also expect traffic management to follow Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
Will someone using the road or footway from any direction understand exactly what is happening and what's expected of them? And have you made the site safe to work in and for the public?
Types of traffic management
Stop/go boards
Trained operatives control traffic by hand past the works.
Portable traffic lights
Two-way lights for single-lane working. Three-way and four-way sets cover junctions and need more planning.
Needs the council's permission first.
Lane and footway closures
Cones, barriers and signs to close part of the road or pavement, with a safe route for pedestrians.
Road closure and diversion
Needs a temporary traffic regulation order from the council and a signed diversion route.
Permissions and notice
Who applies, and how early, depends on what you're doing. The traffic management company usually handles the application.
| What you need | Permission | Example notice and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary traffic lights | From the council's streetworks team | York: 3 working days for up to 3 days of works, 10 days for 4–10 days, 3 months for longer, plus 5 working days' admin. Hampshire: 10 clear working days, no fee unless multi-way signals need a design. |
| Road closure | Temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) | Buckinghamshire: £2,410.45 and at least 12 weeks' notice. Orders can last up to 18 months. |
| Digging in the road or pavement (for example a new drain or water connection) | Section 50 street works licence | Around £500 on average (2023). |
| Skips, scaffolding, hoarding or cabins on the road | A separate licence for each | See our skip permits, scaffolding and fencing and hoarding guides. |
Councils such as York say works can't start until they've issued a permit number. Book traffic management early, especially for longer works.
Who is qualified to do it?
- Street works (digging in the road, including under a section 50 licence) need a qualified operative on site at all times, and the site must be supervised by someone with a supervisor qualification.
- Street works qualifications are recorded on the Street Works Qualifications Register and last 5 years.
- Signing, lighting and guarding alone doesn't need a street works card, but the people doing it must be properly trained under the Red Book.
What traffic management costs
Examples from published prices. Most firms quote per job.
- Type and length of worksHire-only lights cost least. Manned systems, junctions and closures cost more.
- Permits and ordersCouncil fees and orders come on top of the traffic management itself.
- TimingSome firms charge double for bank holidays and work outside normal hours.
- CancellationShort-notice cancellations are often charged, sometimes in full.
Questions to ask a traffic management company
- Will you apply for the permit or traffic order, and how much notice do you need?
- Is the price hire-only, or does it include operatives to set up, manage and remove it?
- Are your operatives trained to the Red Book, and do they hold street works cards if needed?
- How will pedestrians, including wheelchair and pushchair users, get past safely?
- What happens overnight: are the lights and signs left in place and maintained?
- What are your charges for weekends, bank holidays and cancellations?
Prices in this guide are typical ranges from suppliers' published price lists and cost guides. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the price with the supplier before you book. Rules, fees and tax rates are checked against official sources.