Title: Setting Up & Managing Temporary Traffic Control Zones
Type: Lesson
A Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) zone is a section of roadway where normal traffic patterns are temporarily changed due to:
Road construction
Utility work
Maintenance
Emergency operations
Proper setup is critical to ensure:
Worker safety
Motorist guidance
Accident prevention
Advance Warning Area
Warns drivers with signs like “ROAD WORK AHEAD”
Gives time to slow down and prepare
Transition Area
Moves traffic out of its normal path (usually with cones or barrels)
Buffer Space
Extra space between traffic and workers
Used for protection — not for storage or work!
Work Area
Where the crew is operating
Must be clearly marked and protected
Termination Area
Signals the end of the zone
Lets traffic return to normal flow
Signs should be:
Clean, visible, and MUTCD-compliant
Placed at appropriate distances based on speed limits
Supported by cones, barricades, or stands (not placed on the ground)
Distances between signs increase as speed limits go up (e.g., 100–500 ft spacing)
Tapers use cones to shift traffic lanes gradually
Cone spacing = speed in mph × 1 ft (e.g., 45 mph = 45 ft between cones)
Use more cones in high-speed or high-traffic areas
Always walk facing traffic while setting cones
Flaggers should be:
Located at the beginning of the work zone
Positioned to stop or slow traffic before hazards
Coordinated with other flaggers and crew
Ready to pause work or stop traffic for emergency access
The work zone is your battlefield — clear, well-planned traffic control keeps everyone safe. Every cone, sign, and flagger matters.
Click “Mark Complete” to continue to Lesson 6: Common Hazards & Emergency Procedures, where we’ll review how to respond to crashes, aggressive drivers, and other urgent situations.