Working on a busy street? Chances are good the most difficult part of your job isn’t going to be laying cement. The hardest part, almost always, is safely managing the traffic around your jobsite. Between frustrated drivers, tight streets, and piles of safety rules, keeping people (including your crew!) safe is going to take real strategy.
At Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co., we’ve been helping contractors, surveyors, and public works crews handle those challenges for over 100 years with essential contractor supplies in Mendocino County and beyond.
Whether you’re repaving a city block or upgrading utilities downtown, here’s how to keep your work moving safely and efficiently.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So, before you roll a single cone out of the truck, make sure you’ve got a good Traffic Control Plan (TCP). It’s basically your playbook for how cars, trucks, and pedestrians will move around your work zone.
A solid plan should include:
If you’re working in Mendocino County or anywhere in California, make sure your plan meets Caltrans and MUTCD standards. The right setup, complete with reflective cones, sign stands, and barricades, keeps your site compliant and your crew protected.
When it comes to safety gear, quality matters. City environments are unpredictable, so your gear needs to be tough, visible, and easy to move. That’s where Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co. comes in.
We stock a full lineup of contractor supplies in Mendocino County that’ll make your job easier, including:
Having the right equipment means less confusion, fewer accidents, and a smoother workflow for everyone on site.
In a busy city, visibility is everything. If drivers can’t see your crew, or your crew can’t see each other, things can go wrong fast.
Here’s what we always recommend:
It’s a good idea to start every shift with a quick briefing so everyone knows who’s doing what and where the hazards are. A few minutes of planning can prevent hours of cleanup later.
We get it, cities don’t sleep. But smart scheduling can make a huge difference. Try planning your lane closures or heavy equipment moves for off-peak hours, early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
When you’re working on longer projects, coordinate with local traffic engineers or law enforcement to keep detours clear and traffic lights adjusted. And don’t forget to give the public a heads-up. Posting “Expect Delays” or “Work Ahead” signs a few days early can help everyone prepare (and cut down on honking).
Cars aren’t the only ones on the road. Pedestrians and cyclists need safe, well-marked routes around your job site.
Keep walkways clear, well-lit, and ADA-compliant. If you’ve got to reroute foot traffic, use barricades, safety fencing, and overlay markers to guide people safely. The last thing you want is someone wandering too close to your equipment because they didn’t know where to go.
Even the best setup won’t stay safe if it’s not maintained. Before each shift, take a walk around your traffic control setup. Check for:
Swap out anything that doesn’t look up to standard. At Stevenson Supply, our products, like road markers, signs, and delineators, are made to hold up under tough conditions, but regular maintenance keeps everything in top shape.
Traffic control isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. Every crew member should understand what each sign means, how to communicate on site, and what to do in an emergency.
Hold daily toolbox talks or quick refreshers whenever the setup changes. If you’ve got new hires, send them through Caltrans-approved traffic safety training. A well-trained crew makes the job safer for everyone, and it’s a big plus when it comes to compliance and inspections.
When you’re up against city schedules and tight spaces, you don’t have time for guesswork. That’s why contractors all over Northern California rely on Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co. for contractor supplies in Mendocino County.
We’ve been serving hardworking folks for over four generations, offering dependable gear and friendly, knowledgeable support. From striping tapes and signs to barricades and fencing, our team knows exactly what you need to stay safe, compliant, and on schedule.
At the end of the day, good traffic management isn’t just about avoiding tickets or fines, it’s about keeping everyone safe and getting the job done right.
Need to gear up for traffic control on your next jobsite?
Contact Stevenson Supply & Tractor Co. online now or give us a call at (707) 575-3335 and let’s start planning your next project.
