Code of Practice - Safety at Street Works and Road Works. (February 2002)
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0013 Safety Code of Practice - Footways
Date Submitted: Thursday 19 September, 2002
Question:
If a footway is closed by works and there is no space to create a protected walkway in the carriageway and hence pedestrians are advised by a sign to "use the opposite footway"-a common sight in unclassified residential and other streets, is it a requirement to provide pedestrian ramps (one on each side of the road) to allow wheelchairs etc. to cross to the other footway. This question assumes that there are no suitable existing dropped kerb crossing points where pedestrians could be advised/signed to cross. If yes how do you sign these ramps? If no how does a wheelchair/self propelled wheelchair user proceed along his/her intended route?
Answer:
Each site must be viewed individually and assessed accordingly following an on-site risk assessment to ensure that a safe system of working in respect of signing, lighting and guarding is in place at all times.
The Safety at Street Works and Road Works A Code of Practice page 28 states: "If you have to close the footway or part of a footway, you must provide a safe route for pedestrians which should include access to adjacent buildings, properties and public areas. Page 29 states: "The use of the other footway may be acceptable in some quiet roads, but if you select this option you must ensure that the alternative route is safe to use, and you must take account of the needs of children and people with disabilities."
This implies that ramps must be provided both sides of the carriageway. I am not aware of kerb ramps being signed as they will not protrude far enough into the carriageway to affect vehicular traffic, and pedestrians would be expected to be on the footway and not in the gutter. If signing were required it is likely to reduce the carriageway to less than the minimum width which would be the case if pedestrians were directed onto a temporary footway in the carriageway, whereas in both cases traffic control would be required.