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Roadworks Portal FAQs

Explore common questions about our Roadworks Portal. If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us at dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au.

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Roadworks Portal

How to create a new job in the portal

  • Go to www.roadworks.sa.gov.au, log in and create a new permit request. You must complete each section.
  • For urgent or emergency jobs (i.e. to be actioned within 2 hours and finishing within 24 hours), call the Traffic Management Centre (TMC) on 1800 018 313. You must give the contact details of the person who has declared that the job is urgent and the person onsite (if different).
  • You must read and comply with all terms and conditions listed. These are listed on your permit. The TMC may add special conditions so check your permit carefully. Everyone listed in the job request will get a copy by email. Keep a copy at each worksite and show it if asked by an authorised officer. Failure to show your permit may lead to legal action.
  • Only book road space for up to 2 weeks, unless absolutely necessary. If you finish early, cancel the permit.
  • You must include a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) or a Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS) with your application.
  • For special or community events, attach a SAPOL approval notice (as set out in Section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961) or email a copy to dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au.
  • For DIT projects, include any project briefings or helpful information.
  • If you already have TMC approval in principle, include that email or letter.
  • If the road has one lane in each direction you can't apply to close one lane. It must either be shuttle flow or contraflow/lateral shift.
  • Turn lanes count as a traffic lane. This needs to be included in your permit request.

How to log on and off a job

  • Use the Roadworks App (preferable) or call the TMC on 1800 018 313 to log on and off each job.
  • Only work during the times specified on your permit. This includes setting up and packing up of any traffic management signs.
  • If the job takes more than one day, you must log on and off of the job each day within the times specified on your permit.
  • You must log off even when leaving after care signage up.

How to get a new login for the Roadworks Portal

  • Email dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au to ask for a new login. Your email should include your:
    • first and last name
    • organisation’s name and your position
    • Workzone Ticket number and expiry/renewal date (this is mandatory)
    • phone number
    • email
    • organisation’s address
    • organisation’s ABN
  • Complete the request form and return it to dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au.

What to do if your My Portal username doesn’t work

  • Check that your username is in capitals and your password is in lowercase.
  • If your Workzone Ticket number has expired, the Portal won’t let you log in. If you have a new WZTM card, email a picture of the front of the card to dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au so your account can be updated.
  • For best results, use Google Chrome or Firefox to submit requests.
  • If you’re still having trouble, email a screenshot or copy of the error message (if one) to dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au.

Why you can’t plot your work site on the map

  • Green lines mean that section of road is already booked.
  • Orange lines mean that the road is free and has not been booked.
  • The portal doesn't allow multiple bookings on roads. If you see a green line on the road you need, we recommend you:
    • book a date 12 to 24 months in advance to get the date you need
    • put a changed condition request through the portal once approved to book the correct date you need.
  • The TMC will check other bookings for that section of road and arrange a co-location request.
  • Each work block must be 500m or less. If your site is longer, split it into smaller sections.
  • Work blocks can’t overlap. You will need to get as close as you can to the previous point and plot from there.

Permits and approvals

Application costs

There are no costs to apply for a permit.

How long it takes to review a permit

We process requests during normal business hours on weekdays.

You should apply at least 3 business days before your planned start date.

If your works impact  DIT assets (like trenching or asphalt works), apply at least 5 business days in advance to allow time for planning approval.

How to extend or change a permit

  • Log in to the Roadworks Portal.
  • Open your permit and click the ‘TMC request’ button.
  • Submit a new TMC request to extend the permit or change the conditions.
  • After choosing new dates, close the calendar icon to see updated times.

You can’t extend your permit if It’s more than 14 days past the original end date. Use the TMC request function on the portal to extend your permit within the 14 day period.

If you no longer require a permit

If your job is finished early or the works are no longer needed, cancel your permit by submitting a new TMC request via the portal to cancel the permit.

SAPOL approvals for special events

If you close a road or reduce speeds for certain events you will need a SAPOL approval notice (as set out in Section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961).

If you’re not sure, contact the TMC on 1800 018 313 for advice.

Standards and definitions

Where to find work zone traffic management (WZTM) publications and operational instructions

Go to the standards and guidelines page to view all road and traffic management documents.

Road terms and definitions you should know

  • Verge – is the area behind the kerb excluding the footpath, or where no kerb exists, the area beyond the edge of seal, excluding the shoulder in a rural area or a footpath in an urban area.
  • Footpath – a path at the side of a road or street for use by pedestrians. Footpaths may also be used by cyclists.
  • Shoulder – the part of the road generally formed with road base that is not designed for use by motor vehicles when travelling along the road. For a sealed road, this includes any unsealed part of the road immediately beyond the edge of seal, and any sealed part of the road outside an edge line on the road. The shoulder excludes bicycle paths, footpaths or shared paths.
  • Median – a dividing area, often raised or landscaped, between opposing traffic lanes on a road or highway.
  • Road reserve – the area between property fence-lines, within which facilities such as roads, footpaths etc are constructed.
  • Carriageway – the portion of road devoted particularly to the use of vehicles, including the shoulders and auxiliary lanes. Motorways or divided roads are deemed dual carriageways.

Roads, lanes and assets

How to know if a road is managed by DIT

  • Go to the Location SA Map Viewer.
  • Click Datasets in the top right corner.
  • Go to Infrastructure & Utilities, then Transport.
  • Tick the box for State Maintained Roads.

This will now display all DIT Roads.

How to know if your works are impacting on a DIT asset

Impacting on DIT assets is only where you are digging/boring/trenching in/under the road or immediately parallel to the road on the verge and/or footpath.

Moving or installing road furniture, poles or pits, resurfacing the road or any other activity that may have a warranty to DIT.

This doesn’t include things such as reducing speeds, traffic management or driving on a road etc.

Is a bike lane considered a lane of traffic?

No – however you must indicate this closure in the questions relating to impacting on bikes.

These closures will usually require a speed change to allow for cyclists and motor vehicles to mix.

Under what conditions can I close one lane of traffic?

To close one lane of traffic on a two lane road - traffic volumes generally have to be:

  • Speeds at 25km/h = under 1,100 vehicles per hour
  • Speeds at 40km/h = under 1,500 vehicles per hour

Works on high-speed roads/motorways

A speed limit of 60km/h must be implemented at a distance no greater than 500m from the rear of any stationary or slow-moving vehicles queued as a result of the works (i.e. traffic must be managed dynamically so that when the queue moves the signs/traffic management move as well).

Signage

Using Electronic Speed Awareness Signs (ESA) at a worksite

You can use ESA signs at your worksite if they help improve safety.

The following operational instructions must be followed during installation:

Rules for using a Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA)

A TMA is a last line of defence for workers.

If you use a TMA in a live trafficked lane, a shadow vehicle must be used to provide advanced notice of a vehicle in a lane ahead. The placement of the shadow vehicle must not be in a live trafficked lane.

Check section 7.2.7 of the SA Standards for Workzone Traffic Management for more information.

When to use a VMS and requirements

The TMC may tell you if you need to use a VMS. You would usually need one for:

  • larger scale works with a big impact to traffic
  • works that last longer than a week.

VMS rules:

  • Follow Operation Instruction 2.36 – Variable Message Signs
  • In low speed zones (≤ 80 km/h):
    • messages should be limited to two pages, each with three lines of 18 characters (where spaces between words are counted as characters)
    • no single word should be greater than 15 characters.
  • In high speed zones (> 80 km/h):
    • messages should be limited to three lines of 18 characters
    • for single page messages – full use of available sign
    • for two page messages - only two lines of text can be used on each page
    • no single word should be greater than 15 characters.

Message tips:

  • There should be no more than two units of information per page.
  • A unit of information may contain one to four words and should use short phrases that communicate problem, action, location, effect and attention statements.
  • A unit is a short phrase like:
    • DETOUR AHEAD
    • PREPARE TO STOP
    • LEFT LANE CLOSED.

Message timing:

  • Message Exposure Times Message times should be displayed for a minimum of whichever of the following is greatest:
    • 0.6 +/- 0.1 seconds per word
    • 1.5 seconds per unit of information
  • A blank display of 0.25 seconds duration is the maximum allowable time between each page but a shorter blank display time is preferred.

Example message:

  • Page 1

LANE CLOSED

5-6 JUNE

  • Page 2

EXPECT

DELAYS

Permits to install advisory signage or VMS on the side of the road or footpath

You must apply for approval even if there are no impacts to traffic (such as speed reductions or lane closures).

When working on the side of the road, you will need to:

  • seek approval from the relevant local council
  • submit an application through the Roadworks Portal for an 'Approval' (no impact to traffic)
  • fill in the traffic impact information for the DIT road only, not the side road
  • include any information about signage that will appear along the road corridor (including footpaths or median strips) that will be visible to road users.

Rules for shuttle flow set ups

You can use a shuttle flow set up if:

  • there are less than 600 vehicles per hour on that section of road
  • you avoid peak times.

You must include shuttle flow plans in your permit request. Don’t stop traffic for longer than two minutes. After traffic has cleared or has been released, you must wait for traffic to clear before stopping again.

Note: Stop/Go only impacts one direction of travel. shuttle flow impacts both directions of travel.

Time restrictions

Approved times for working on DIT roads

Download the Roadworks Categories map (PDF 5MB) to see what times you can work on DIT roads.

Special restrictions apply to some roads:

  • Bridges – such as the Swanport, Joe Baluch, Murray Bridge, Paringa, Hindmarsh Island, Blanchetown, Kingston on Murray and Berri bridges have restricted working times. Email dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au to check what times are allowed.
  • Victor Harbor Road – you can only work during non-peak times. We will review your request on a case-by-case basis depending on works to be completed and their impact.
  • Adelaide Hills – there are restrictions during Fire Danger Season. Other special restrictions may be in place.

Note: The times listed on the map are indicative weekday work times for lane closures with 25km/h speed limits. This is an overview guide and each application will be assessed individually.

Restrictions for public holidays

Some roads will have restricted working hours before a long weekend.

The below list outlines some of the roads in South Australia that may be subject to long weekend restrictions. This is not a complete list.

For more information, email dit.roadworks@sa.gov.au.

Note: Works must finish by 12 noon on the weekday before a long weekend.

Roads subject to long weekend restrictions:

  • Ascot Avenue
  • Anzac Highway
  • Augusta Highway
  • Ayliffes Road
  • Barrier Highway
  • Belair Road
  • Bridge Road
  • Briens Road
  • Brighton Road
  • Commercial Road
  • Copper Coast Highway
  • Cross Road
  • Dukes Highway
  • Dyson Road
  • Eyre Highway
  • Five Ash Drive
  • Fullarton Road
  • Glen Osmond Road
  • Goodwood Road
  • Grand Junction Road
  • Greenhill Road
  • Hampstead Road
  • Horrocks Highway
  • Lonsdale Road
  • Lower Portrush Road
  • Main North Road
  • Main South Road
  • Marion Road
  • Mount Barker Road (Hahndorf)
  • North East Road
  • North-South Motorway
  • Northern Expressway
  • Onkaparinga Valley Road
  • Payneham Road
  • Port River Expressway
  • Port Wakefield Road
  • Port Wakefield Highway
  • Portrush Road
  • Princes Highway
  • Regency Road
  • Sir Don Bradman Drive
  • South Road
  • South Eastern Freeway (M1)
  • Southern Expressway
  • Sturt Highway
  • Taunton Parade
  • Tapleys Hill Road
  • Unley Road
  • Victor Harbor Road

Rules for working under the '20 minute rule'

The 20-minute rule allows you to do short-term work on a road without full traffic control if:

  • the work takes 20 minutes or less to complete
  • the work is not completed during peak or clearway times.

For more information, read section 8.2 of the SA Workzone Traffic Management Standards.

Emergency/urgent jobs

A job is an emergency/urgent if it needs to be done urgently and will be actioned within 2 hours.

These declarations can be made by calling the TMC on 1800 018 313.

Declarations are only valid for 24 hours.

Significant fines apply for falsely declaring an emergency or urgent works if there isn't one. Falsely making a declaration may result in legal action.

Related information

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