What goes into a Traffic Control Plan?

Any construction project that requires use of the right-of-way will require you to go through a different permitting process. Applying for permits is something that your contractor can do for you, but as this more part of the engineering phase, not all of them will. That will leave you to either hire it out or figure it out.

Any construction project that requires use of the right-of-way will require you to go through a different permitting process. Applying for permits is something that your contractor can do for you, but as this more part of the engineering phase, not all of them will. That will leave you to either hire it out or figure it out.

This is one of the reasons we recommend a turn-key contractor, who can design the project internally. Reducing the number of moving parts reduces the room for error and the need for coordination (which, of course, will reduce the time and energy that you, as the owner, have to put into the project).

Somebody who is familiar with the process of putting a Traffic Control Plan together is going to get it done a lot faster, but it’s still manageable for those without experience. We don’t necessarily recommend this approach, though, because every jurisdiction is different, there are specifics to every case, and the process involves some back-and-forth to please the officials.

You’ll be going through a local jurisdiction to get approval. They’ll want to see that you have an adequate TCP to manage traffic, keep your workers and the public safe, and minimize the impact on the flow of traffic. Expect them to be sticklers: after all, it would be quite embarrassing for them if they permitted a project that led to injury or damage.

The first thing to do is determine which jurisdiction to go through. This is simple; if you’re in city limits, its the city. You can probably find the necessary requirements and resources on the city website. If you’re in the county, it will either be the county or the state.

For guidance in finding the juridiction, you can visit this page on the WSDOT site

Once you’ve determined that, you can get the requirements and obtain any necessary resources from the city/county/state.

In Snohomish County, there 4 basic types of right-of-way use permits you’ll be applying for, so you’ll have to determine the right one for your project. For more on that, see here

When it comes to actually designing the plan, there are some templates you can start with for specific operations. The WSDOT has 46 of these on this page. Keep in mind this is just a starting point. You’ll need a diagram similar to these, but your project might have its own specifics, and the local agency could have their own requirements.
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The main point we’re trying to illustrate is that the government doesn’t make it easy, even for those who are familiar with the process. That being said, somebody who does this kind of thing for a living, like an engineer, can handle it a lot faster. When it comes to construction, engineering, and permitting, every minute counts, because one minute can push your application to the next day, which will delay permitting by a full day, which will, in turn, delay your project by a full day.

Waeco Construction is a turn key contractor based in Monroe, WA that can handle your telecomms construction project in its entirety, from engineering to turn over. We deal with right-of-way and civil works frequently, and can make your project run smoothly and come in on time, under budget.

For more on our engineering see here
To see more about our construction services, see here
To contact us and discuss your telecomms construction and engineering needs, fill out a contact form here, or call us at (360) 794-7785.​