When the Closure Did Not Match the Approved Plan

The Scenario

A crew set up a lane closure on a busy arterial to complete a repair. The work got underway, but the lane that was closed and the limits of the closure were not the same as what the approved traffic control plan showed.

The Compliance Issue

The field setup did not match the approved plan. Because traffic was being managed differently than what the agency reviewed, the setup was out of compliance even though devices were in place.

How It Surfaced

During an inspection, the reviewer compared the setup on the ground against the approved plan and found the mismatch in the closed lane and the limits.

How It Was Resolved

Work paused while the setup was corrected to match the approved plan, or the change was taken back to the agency for review. Only then did work continue.

How to Prevent It Upstream

The approved plan and permit should be on site, and the setup crew should build to the approved version. If the site does not allow what was approved, the change is raised with the agency before building, not improvised.

Lessons

• A setup with devices in place can still be non-compliant if it does not match the approved plan.
• Inspections compare the field against the approved plan, so mismatches are commonly caught.
• Changes belong back with the agency, not improvised in the field.