Signs for road works and temporary situations
Updated 5 December 2023
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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This sign, indicating road works or an obstruction in the carriageway ahead, may be used for any type of works, ranging from large construction schemes to minor maintenance.
The ‘road works’ sign may have a plate that indicates the distance to, the location of, or the nature of the works.
End of road works and any associated temporary restrictions, including speed limits.
Barriers are used to mark the boundaries of an area of the highway closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Traffic cones may be used to mark the edge of the route for vehicular or pedestrian traffic through or past a temporary obstruction.
At night or in poor daytime visibility, road danger lights may additionally be used to indicate the limits of a temporary obstruction of the carriageway.
Signs may provide information about the location of current or future road works where delays or road closures are expected. This gives drivers the opportunity to allow more time for future journeys, use alternative routes, or make other arrangements for the duration of the works.
On the approach to major road works, especially on motorways and dual carriageway roads, signs may indicate the nature and duration of the works.
Signs for lane closures and contraflow systems on motorways and dual carriageway roads
The traffic lanes that remain open are available to all traffic. The red bar indicates a lane that is closed ahead.
Some traffic lanes that remain open may have restrictions. This sign shows a narrow lane with a width restriction. Other restrictions may relate to the type of vehicle, vehicle height or weight.
Traffic leaving at the next junction should use the near-side lane. This lane may also be used by traffic staying on the motorway.
Traffic lanes divide ahead. The lane on the left leads to a junction and may also be used by traffic staying on the motorway. The right-hand lanes move to the right. Areas closed to traffic are shown in red.
Traffic lanes move across to the left, making use of the hard shoulder. Drivers are guided by temporary road markings or yellow road studs.
These signs show the distance over which the reduced number of lanes continue through the road works. The signs are repeated at regular intervals, usually every ½ mile. In these examples, there are no lane restrictions such as a width limit. The vertical black line indicates that the left-hand lane is the hard shoulder. The white downward-pointing arrow indicates a contraflow traffic lane separated by traffic cylinders. Where the contraflow lane is separated by a physical barrier or a buffer lane (a lane closed to traffic), the white arrow is not shown.
These repeater signs through the works are used where at least one lane has restricted use. The white downward-pointing arrow indicates a contraflow traffic lane separated by traffic cylinders. Where the contraflow lane is separated by a physical barrier or a buffer lane (a lane closed to traffic), the white arrow is not shown.
Where a contraflow system operates, traffic cylinders are used to separate opposing flows of traffic in adjacent lanes.
Junctions may be accessible from within the road works area. The sign shows an exit on the same carriageway. The style of numerals used for the route number depends on whether the signs are on a motorway or an all-purpose road. The black patch shows the motorway junction number.
The hard shoulder is used as an exit lane at a junction.
These signs are located where the exit route leaves the main through route. The upper sign is used on motorways and the lower sign on all-purpose roads.
These signs indicate that use of the hard shoulder as a traffic lane has come to an end. Traffic is diverted onto the main carriageway. The sign on the right indicates that the carriageway ahead is fully open.
Narrow traffic lanes revert to their normal width.
Where delays are likely to occur at road works, the end sign may include a message of apology. The sign also means end of all temporary restrictions, including speed limits.
This sign may follow the ‘end of road works’ sign to provide a telephone contact number for the traffic authority responsible for the road works.
Temporary signs indicating lane priority at junctions
Where slip roads leave and join at junctions within a road works site, the permanent arrangement for lane drop, lane gain and traffic merge may be temporarily changed. Signs may be provided to show the temporary arrangements.
Sign for drivers on slip road.
Sign for drivers on main carriageway.
The slip road joins the main carriageway as a lane gain to increase the number of lanes from 2 to 3. The permanent layout might include a traffic merge with an acceleration lane. A distance panel may be added at the bottom of each sign.
This sign indicates a lane drop where the left-hand lane becomes the exit slip road. The permanent layout would be a lane diverge with a deceleration lane, with all 3 lanes continuing along the main carriageway.
Signs for works traffic
Where it is necessary for works vehicles to gain entry to or exit from the works site itself, access may be directly from or to the open traffic lanes, such as a break in the line of cones. These entry and exit points are marked by red and white signs. Drivers should take care not to follow works vehicles into the site and to keep a lookout for vehicles leaving the site. These vehicles are likely to be moving more slowly than other traffic. Red and white signs may also be used to direct works traffic at road junctions.
Route to be used only by works traffic.
Temporary access to a construction or road works site.
Exit from a works site 200 yards ahead.
Location of temporary exit from a construction or road works site.
Works access on the left, 100 yards ahead.
Sign to direct works traffic in advance of a road junction or works entrance.
Sign to direct works traffic at a road junction or works entrance.
Convoy working
At some road works, other than on motorways, it may be necessary to slow traffic to a speed of 10 mph. To ensure the safety of both road users and the workforce, traffic is taken through the works in convoy. At the start of the convoy section, traffic is controlled by either traffic signals or ‘STOP/GO’ boards. You must wait, where indicated, for the convoy vehicle that will escort you though the works. On single carriageway roads you must not overtake the convoy vehicle. On dual carriageway roads you may overtake the convoy vehicle, if it is safe to do so, after you have passed through the works area and signs have indicated that the speed limit has changed to a higher limit. Where traffic signals are used at the start of the convoy section, the red signal may show for a period longer than you would normally expect: do not proceed until the green light shows. Convoy working may take place at any time during the day or night.
Traffic signals ahead where convoy working is in operation.
Advance warning may be given when delays are expected during overnight convoy working.
Vehicles to be escorted in convoys through road works ahead.
Reason for convoy working.
Point beyond which vehicles should not proceed when temporary traffic signals show a red light.
When the green light shows at temporary traffic signals, vehicular traffic must follow the vehicle escorting the traffic through the road works.
Sign on convoy vehicle (‘NO OVERTAKING’ may be omitted).
Mobile road works and lane closures
Some road works can be carried out without the need for road closures or major traffic management schemes. The area of work is protected by a large stationary or slow-moving vehicle with a sign mounted on the back.
On single carriageway urban roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or less, the works will always be on the near side in the direction of travel. A ‘keep right’ sign will be mounted on the back of the works vehicle or the vehicle protecting the works. There may also be a ‘keep left’ sign on the front of the vehicle to be viewed by traffic ravelling in the opposite direction. Additional static ‘road works ahead’ signs may be placed at the side of the road and may include a distance plate such as ‘For 1 mile’ or ‘Grass cutting for 1 mile’. There may also be ‘road narrows on the left’ signs. The vehicle will usually have flashing lights on its roof. The type of work likely to be carried out includes grass cutting, weed spraying and gully emptying. On some busy roads, traffic may also be controlled by ‘STOP/GO’ boards.
On single carriageway roads with a speed limit of 40 mph or more, the ‘keep right’ sign on the back of the works vehicle or the vehicle protecting the works includes flashing amber lights. These lights flash in pairs from top to bottom.
On motorways and dual carriageway roads, mobile lane closures may be introduced on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the carriageway. More than one vehicle will be used to protect the lane closure. All signs will have flashing amber lights. A light arrow may supplement the white-on-blue ‘keep right’ or ‘keep left’ arrow, and flash alternately with the amber lights at the top.
On the approach to mobile works on a motorway or dual carriageway road, vehicles with signs indicating the lanes that are closed will be on the hard shoulder or at the side of the carriageway. The type of work undertaken includes line painting, minor repairs and setting out static road works signs.
Mobile carriageway closures may be used to convoy traffic when it is necessary to hold traffic back while cones and signs are moved to change a temporary contraflow system, or perhaps to remove an overhead cable. All lanes on the carriageway will be closed, but traffic will move slowly forward, over a distance of several miles, on the approach to the area where the work is being undertaken. By the time the convoy reaches this area, the works should have been completed, traffic will be allowed to increase its speed and traffic lanes will be opened. The convoy vehicles will have a large red cross and red lights flashing in vertical pairs.
Temporary traffic control
At some road works sites on single carriageway roads where two-way traffic flow is not possible, it is necessary to alternate the direction of flow by traffic control. This is known as ‘shuttle working’. For short lengths, this may be achieved by manually operated ‘STOP/GO’ boards at each end. At other sites, portable traffic signals will be used. They operate in the same way as permanent traffic signals. Normally, a stop line is not marked on the road. A sign is used instead to indicate where you must stop when the red signal shows.
Portable traffic light signals for the control of vehicular traffic.
Temporary signals control a junction. ‘3-way’ may be varied to ‘4-way’.
Signs for an uncontrolled junction on a road with shuttle working. The sign on the top is for traffic on the side road.
Temporary signals may be used to control a road junction. In this case, the red signal is likely to stay on longer than for normal shuttle working, as traffic on each leg of the junction will pass through the road works separately. There may be a junction within a length of road subject to shuttle working that is not controlled by signals. Signs will warn drivers of this.
Miscellaneous temporary signs
Details of a new road scheme under construction.
Information about street works, with an emergency telephone number (sign for pedestrians).
Risk of skidding and maximum speed of 20 mph advised on a road that has loose chippings.
Maximum speed advised, in miles per hour, through road works.
Temporary sudden change in level of carriageway.
Sharp deviation of route to the left (right if chevrons reversed) at road works or other temporary obstruction.
The end of a temporary mandatory speed limit is indicated by the ‘end of road works’ sign. However, the message may be reinforced by a sign indicating the permanent speed limit beyond the road works. This may be combined with the ‘end of road works’ sign. Where the permanent limit after the works is different from that in advance of the works, a speed limit sign is always used. The national speed limit sign shown in the example is varied to the appropriate limit.
In the event of a breakdown within a road works site, await rescue by free recovery service.
Instructions to drivers of wide loads on action to be taken before reaching road works ahead (instructions may vary).
Location of telephone to be used by drivers of wide loads to seek assistance.
Additional traffic lane available ahead as part of a temporary traffic management scheme.
Sharp bends ahead where traffic is diverted onto a temporary road for a short distance: the number of traffic lanes remains the same.
This sign is used on a single carriageway road with more than 2 lanes, to indicate that a lane in the centre of the road is temporarily closed.
Variable message sign ahead not in use or being tested.
Traffic signals not in use.
Zebra, parallel or signalled crossing facility temporarily out of use (sign for pedestrians, cyclists or equestrians).
Temporary sign used at road works to indicate the direction in which pedestrians should look for approaching traffic.
Temporary route for pedestrians.
Temporary sign used at road works to instruct cyclists to dismount and use the adjacent footway.
Temporary hazard: vehicular traffic should proceed slowly.
Vehicular traffic should proceed slowly, owing to workforce in the road ahead.
Vehicular traffic must not proceed beyond the sign when it is displayed for a short period during works on or near a road (hand-held sign).
Hard shoulder temporarily closed for the distance shown.
Temporary absence of road markings for the distance shown.
Sign on a vehicle being used in connection with highway maintenance works (flashing amber lights are normally mounted on the roof of the vehicle).