Why Traffic Management Stays in Place When No Works Are Visible
- Beaumont TM
- Nov 30
- 3 min read
(And Why It’s Not a Sign of “Nothing Happening”)
If you’ve ever driven through a set of cones or temporary traffic lights and wondered, “Why is this still here when nobody’s working?” — you’re not alone. As a temporary traffic management specialist, Beaumont Traffic Management knows this is one of the biggest sources of public frustration and one of the reasons our industry sometimes gets an unfair reputation.
But the truth is: if traffic management equipment is still in place, there is almost always a valid safety, technical or legal reason for it. Here’s what the public rarely sees behind the scenes.
1. Work May Be Paused — But the Site Is Still Unsafe
Even when operatives are not physically on site, the road environment may still be unsafe for unrestricted traffic. Examples include:
Freshly laid material curing
Excavations or trenches that are covered but not structurally safe
Temporary surfaces that require time to settle
Safety barriers or exposed utilities yet to be fully secured
Removing traffic management too early could create severe safety risks for drivers and pedestrians.
2. Different Contractors Work in Phases
Most roadworks involve multiple trades:
Civils crews
Utility companies
Surfacing teams
Specialist subcontractors
Surveyors or inspectors
These teams rarely operate simultaneously. One phase may finish mid-morning but the next contractor might not be scheduled until later the same day or even the next week.
Rather than remove and reinstall the entire traffic management layout — which wastes time, adds cost, and causes further disruption — it is often safer and more efficient to leave it in place.
3. Utility Works Often Require Waiting Periods
Utility companies (gas, electric, water, broadband) frequently need:
Pressure tests
Safety checks
Clearance from control rooms
Specialist equipment
Third-party sign-off
These checks can take hours or days — and the road must remain protected during that period. Removing the traffic management would breach safety legislation.
4. Legal and Permit Requirements
Local authorities and National Highways issue permits with strict conditions. Even if works pause unexpectedly due to issues like:
Weather changes
Equipment breakdowns
Emergency call-outs elsewhere
Supply chain delays
Safety concerns
…the traffic management must remain until the permit allows for safe amendment or full removal.
Tampering with layouts is illegal and dangerous — even for trained crews — unless authorised.
5. Removing and Re-Installing Traffic Management Creates More Disruption
Taking a layout down then putting it back hours later:
Doubles the number of road closures
Creates repeat congestion
Requires additional safety checks
Costs the taxpayer or client more
Increases carbon emissions
It’s far better for the travelling public to leave a safe layout in situ rather than repeatedly mobilise crews.
6. Safety Always Comes Before Convenience
Every roadwork site is governed by strict industry standards (NHSS, Chapter 8, Safety at Street Works & Road Works). These rules are designed to protect:
Road users
Pedestrians
Workers
The wider community
If the equipment is still there, it’s because removing it would compromise at least one of these groups.
Final Thoughts
Traffic management isn’t just cones and signs — it’s a carefully engineered safety system. When it stays in place with no visible workers, it’s rarely a sign of inefficiency. More often, it’s a sign of responsible planning, multi-team coordination, legal compliance, and above all, keeping people safe.
Beaumont Traffic Management remains committed to delivering safe, efficient and well-managed sites across all our schemes — even when the public can’t see what’s happening behind the scenes.
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