Roadworks, also called road construction or road work, occur when part of the

road A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved. Th ...

, or in rare cases, the entire road, has to be occupied for work relating to the road, most often in the case of road surface repairs. In the United States road work could also mean any work conducted in close proximity of travel way ( thoroughfare) such as utility work or work on power lines (i.e. telephone poles). The general term of road work is known as work zone. Roadworks can, however, also happen when a major

accident An accident is an unintended, normally unwanted event that was not deliberately caused by humans. The term ''accident'' implies that the event may have been caused by Risk assessment, unrecognized or unaddressed risks. Many researchers, insurers ...

occurs and road debris from the crash needs to be cleared. Roadworks are often signposted, although it is possible that the signage comes too late or too sudden or is missing. Typical road work traffic controls are temporary signs,

traffic cone Traffic cones, also called pylons, witches' hats, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, caution cones, channelizing devices, construction cones, roadworks cones, or just cones, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpa ...

s, barrier boards and t-top bollards as well as other forms of warning devices. There are standards of temporary traffic control established in each country for various type of road work. Usually, roadworks takes place at night, because of low volumes of road traffic, and it helps to avoid any traffic jams if working during the day, and it also secure the safety of both workers and the people around, Letting pedestrians and drivers have no issue crossing or driving on the road. Currently there are very few sources of accurate roadworks information sites available that report on the status of current works and future works. In the United Kingdom, the government roadworks.org website aims to provide a national and live dataset of roadworks for the purpose of coordination and reporting. It includes roadworks information supplied by

Local Authorities Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

and national agencies like the

Highways Agency National Highways (NH), formerly Highways England and before that the Highways Agency, is a government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major A roads in England. It also sets highways standards u ...

Health effects

Roadworks can cause injures to the workers due to unsafe work enviorment and can also damage to any cars passing by.

Mitigation

Roadwork mitigation could refer to fixing the old road, fixing potholes, cracks and any bumps that can cause any damage to passing drivers and their vehicles.

Signage

Typically, roadworks signs are indicated by an orange diamond in most MUTCD-influenced countries. The 1948 edition of the '' Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices'' specified the legend ''MEN WORKING'' to indicate roadworks. For most European countries, the roadworks sign includes a red-bordered triangular sign with a symbol of roadworks. The

Federal Highway Administration The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...

(since 1990) and the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (since 1968) prohibit the use of the "MEN WORKING" legend, replacing with the legend "ROAD WORK" and the symbolic roadworks sign (typically using a gender-neutral silhouette) respectively. The worded legend of the warning sign upcoming roadworks, which is prohibited by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals because UN-compliant signs must make use of more pictograms, is allowed in the United States by the 2009 MUTCD.

Lane markings

In some countries, where lanes must be altered so as to accommodate roadworks, the new lanes (or interim lanes) are marked with a different colour and take precedence over the previous lanes. In Germany, Poland and many other European countries, it is yellow; in Switzerland and in Ireland, it is orange.

Health effects

Mitigation

Signage

Lane markings

References

See also