When you must shut down a travel lane—for paving, bridge repairs, utility
work, or a crash clean-up—traffic drums provide the
high-visibility, crash-worthy channelization required on higher-speed
roads and long-duration jobs. The following step-by-step guide walks you
through MUTCD-compliant planning, set-up, and maintenance so drivers stay
on course and crews stay safe.
1. Understand the Standards
• MUTCD 11th Edition – Part 6 sets
the national baseline for temporary traffic control (TTC), including lane
-closure tapers, drum specifications, and sign spacing.
• State DOT manuals (for example, Caltrans Construction
Manual §4-12) may add stricter spacing or device rules—always verify
local requirements.
• Any closure plan should be reviewed by a certified traffic-control
supervisor, and a copy kept on-site.
2. Pre-Closure Checklist
Identify work windows that avoid peak traffic.
Measure posted speed (S) and lane width (W) — both determine
taper length and drum spacing.
Order MUTCD-compliant drums (≥ 36 in tall, 18 in
minimum width, four 4- to 6-in orange/white reflective stripes).
Stage arrow boards, warning signs, truck-mounted attenuators, and
spare drums outside the clear zone.
3. Work-Zone Anatomy
The lane-closure layout contains five zones:
Advance Warning Area
Transition Area (Taper)
Buffer Space
Work Space
Termination Area
4. Step-by-Step Set-Up
4.1 Advance Warning Signs
Post “ROAD WORK AHEAD” (W20-1) followed by lane-specific closure signs.
Minimum spacing equals 4 × S ft on low-speed urban streets and
up to 26 × S ft on freeways (see MUTCD Table 6C-1).
4.2 Taper Length
Calculate taper length (L) with MUTCD Table 6C-4:
• Speeds ≤ 45 mph: L = (W × S²) ÷ 60
• Speeds ≥ 50 mph: L = W × S
4.3 Drum Spacing
Merging/Transition Taper: place drums no farther apart
than the posted speed in feet (e.g. 40 ft spacing in a 40 mph
zone).
Tangent & Buffer: you may double that distance
(2 × S) but tighten spacing (≈ 20 ft) on curves, at night, or in bad
weather.
Tip: Align drums in a straight line—drivers steer to a straight
edge far better than to an offset “zig-zag.”
4.4 Buffer Space
Keep an open, device-free longitudinal buffer equal to the stopping sight
distance (SSD). Never store equipment in this zone.
4.5 Termination
End the closure with a short downstream taper (≈ 100 ft) and an
“END ROAD WORK” (G20-2) sign.
5. Nighttime & Adverse-Weather Practices
Add Type-C steady-burn warning lights to the first drum in each row.
Reduce drum spacing by 25–50 % for extra guidance.
Walk the closure at least twice per shift. Re-upright knocked-over drums,
sweep debris, and document every adjustment in the traffic-control
logbook.
7. Five Frequent Pitfalls
Starting taper too close to work area.
Using cones in place of drums on ≥ 45 mph roads.
Skipping the longitudinal buffer to “save space.”
Ballasting drums with excessive sand or water (adds crash energy).
Forgetting to pull drums back after milling/paving shifts.
8. Sourcing MUTCD-Compliant Drums
Traffic Safety Store channelizing drums and barricade lights, weighted tire-ring bases — ready to ship the same day.
Conclusion
Closing a lane with traffic drums is more than dropping barrels in the road. By
following MUTCD formulas, spacing rules, and inspection routines, you
create a predictable path for drivers and a protected workspace for your
crew.
