“By law, when we collect traffic cones from roadworks that are completed, our vehicles are not allowed to drive in the opposite direction to the ongoing traffic,” said Jim Gardner, transport manager at Contraflow.” But the truck, parked at the far end of the roadwork, still needs to pick up all of the cones, retracing the same route it took to drop them in the first place.
“As a result, much of this vehicle’s operation is spent reversing along the carriageway. We found that the Isuzu is the perfect vehicle for matching the different speeds of the traffic cone collectors as it travels in reverse, which makes it so much easier for the driver to work in unison with the collectors,” added Gardner.
Currently working out of Contraflow’s depot in Hillington, Glasgow, the new Isuzu Forward N75.190 (E) is the first Isuzu to operate in the Contraflow fleet and was supplied by local Isuzu Truck dealer, Imperial Commercials (Glasgow) in Govan.
Specified with Easyshift automatic gearbox, Contraflow’s model features a purpose-built traffic management body from LVB in Bathgate, Lothian.In addition to Chapter 8 beacons and illuminated arrows on the back of the body, there are four-fold flashing lights and an integral curtain to cover the rear panel when not in use. The dropside body also has integral nearside and offside sidesteps from which operators can place cones on the road whilst the vehicle is moving in a forward direction, during the setting up of a traffic management scheme.
Launched in 1987, Contraflow specialises in local authority and trunk road contracting and traffic management. The Scottish company currently employs over 93 staff at depots in Cumbernauld, Hillington and Perth, and in 2017 it opened a fourth depot in Forres, Scotland, on the Moray coast.