Driveway Traffic Control During Construction: Flagging and Cones

What “Driveway Traffic Control During Construction” Really Means

Driveway traffic control during construction is the temporary system of cones, signs, flaggers, and barriers that keeps cars, kids, delivery vans, and pedestrians safe while your driveway is being ripped out, re-graded, or re-poured. Good traffic control:

• Prevents fender-benders on the street
• Keeps your contractor’s crew safe and OSHA-compliant
• Keeps neighbors happy (and lawsuits at bay)
• Protects fresh concrete or asphalt from premature tire marks

The best part? Most of the setup is simple enough that you—the homeowner—can handle the planning phase before the pros arrive. Below you’ll find a step-by-step playbook, cost expectations, and local-permit tips you can use on any residential driveway project.

Why Flagging and Cones Matter on a Residential Job

A residential driveway may look “low-risk,” but the numbers tell a different story. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 20% of construction fatalities involve vehicles—many on small, familiar sites where people “let their guard down.” A few cones and a $25-an-hour flagger dramatically shrink that risk.

Liability: Your HOA or City Can Fine You

Most municipalities treat your driveway apron as part of the public right-of-way once it crosses the sidewalk. If a pedestrian trips over rebar that’s sticking onto the sidewalk, you—not the contractor—get the citation. Proper cones, barricades, and reflective tape show “due diligence.”

Protecting Fresh Concrete or Asphalt

A car that sneaks onto the slab even 4 hours too early can leave ½-inch ruts that cost $400+ to patch. A few cones and caution tape cost under $30 and remove temptation.

Neighbor Relations

Nothing sours a block party faster than Mrs. Johnson’s Camry getting sprayed with tar because traffic wasn’t diverted. A simple “Detour” sign and a courteous flagger keeps goodwill intact.

Planning Your Driveway Traffic Control Setup

Step 1: Map the Work Zone

Sketch your lot on graph paper. Mark:

1. Where the concrete/asphalt truck will park
2. Clearance for the chute (usually 18 ft)
3. Safe pedestrian detour (minimum 4 ft wide)
4. Nearest fire hydrant or utility box (must stay accessible)

Step 2: Check Local Rules

Call your city’s Public Works or “One-Call” office. Ask three questions:

• Do I need a right-of-way permit for temporary cones?
• Is a certified flagger required if I close one lane?
• Are there school-zone hours when work must pause?

Write down the name of the clerk; you’ll quote it if an inspector shows up.

Step 3: Talk to Neighbors 48 Hours Out

Slip a short note in mailboxes: “Driveway replacement 5/14, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. One-hour road narrowing expected 9–11 a.m. Detour signs posted. Questions? Call/text 555-1234.” Most people appreciate the heads-up and won’t panic when they see orange.

Choosing the Right Equipment

Cones vs. Delineator Posts

• 18-inch cones: Fine for daylight, low-speed streets.
• 28-inch cones with 6 lbs base: Stay upright in 25 mph wind-gusts from passing trucks.
• 42-inch delineator posts: Add reflective tape for night jobs; required if you encroach on a lane after dusk.

Signs You’ll Need

Flagger Gear Checklist

• Certified flagger card (ATSSA or state DOT)
• Stop/Slow paddle (18 in octagon, retro-reflective)
• ANSI Class 3 safety vest
• Two-way radio to communicate with crew
• Hard hat and sunscreen (owner-supplied water is a nice touch)

DIY Temporary Setup (Small Driveways)

If your driveway is 12 ft wide, on a 25-mph neighborhood street, and you can keep at least one lane open, you can usually handle traffic control yourself. Follow this 30-minute routine:

1. Place advance warning signs 100 ft in both directions.
2. Set cones in a gentle taper: start 3 ft off curb, move inward every 10 ft until the closed portion begins. Minimum taper length = speed (mph) × distance (ft). At 25 mph you need 62.5 ft—round up to 70 ft.
3. Use yellow caution tape between cones at waist height to create “visual wall.”
4. Post a “No Parking—Tow Away” sign the night before; most cities let homeowners do this on public streets 24 hours out.
5. Take photos of the setup. If a neighbor bumps a cone, you have proof it was properly placed.

When to Hire a Professional Traffic Control Company

Bring in the pros if ANY of these apply:

• Speed limit ≥ 35 mph
• crest or curve within 200 ft that limits sight distance
• Multiple contractors (roofing, plumbing) needing simultaneous access
• Bus route or school cross-walk in front of house
• HOA covenant requiring $2M liability insurance

Typical cost in the Midwest: $250 half-day, $450 full day for two flaggers and a TMA (truck-mounted attenuator) shadow vehicle. On the Coasts, budget $350–$600. Always request a Certificate of Insurance naming you as “Additional Insured.”

Ballpark Costs of Flagging and Cones

• Rental cones: $2–$4 each per week
• Purchase 28-inch cone: $18–$25 (re-usable for future landscaping)
• Reflective sign boards: $45–$65 each
• Certified flagger: $35–$55 per hour (4-hour minimum)
• Right-of-way permit: $0 (many suburbs) to $150 (major cities)

Money-saving tip: Ask your concrete contractor if they already own a “street closure” permit package. Bundling into the pour contract can shave 15% off the separate line items.

Day-of-Pour Safety Checklist

1. Walk the taper at 6 a.m.; reset any cones knocked over by overnight garbage trucks.
2. Confirm flagger has photo ID badge and working radio.
3. Verify fresh concrete signs are facing both directions.
4. Keep kids/pets inside between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (peak concrete truck traffic).
5. Take down signs and cones only after the concrete can withstand light foot pressure (usually 8–12 hours). Leave sidewalk barricades up a full 24 hours.

Common Mistakes Homeowners Make

• Too few cones: A single row of four cones looks like litter, not a closure. Use at least eight for a 20-ft closure.
• Wrong cone color: Only neon orange is universally recognized. Lime-green is for road striping crews; drivers get confused.
• No advance warning: Placing the first sign 20 ft from the work zone startles drivers. Minimum 100 ft on 25-mph roads, 250 ft on 35-mph roads.
• Forgetting night reflectivity: Add 6-inch reflective collars or battery-powered LED cone toppers if work continues past dusk.
• Ignoring weather: Wind can flip lightweight cones. Use 6-lb bases or fill cones with 2 inches of sand.

Frequently Asked Questions