If you’ve tried to get a traffic control quote in Melbourne or regional Victoria, you’ll know there’s no such thing as a simple “one price fits all”. Two projects on the same street can have very different costs, even with the same number of traffic controllers on site.
In 2025, prices are being pushed up by higher wages, stricter safety rules, and growing congestion. But with the right planning, you can still keep your bill under control without cutting corners.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
Send your site address and dates and we’ll turn this checklist into a compliant PMP + TGS set
When most people say “traffic control”, they picture a person with a STOP/SLOW bat. In reality, professional traffic management services cover much more than that.
A complete setup may include:
| Component | What it Includes |
| Accredited traffic controllers on site | Managing vehicle and pedestrian movements, operating STOP/SLOW bats or portable signals, and communicating with crews. |
| Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) / Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS) | Detailed drawings and documentation that show how traffic, pedestrians and cyclists will safely move around your work area. |
| Signage and devices | Regulatory, warning and direction signs, cones, bollards, barriers, variable message signs (VMS), flashing lights and more. |
| Support vehicles and equipment | Utes, trucks, crash attenuators, arrow boards and lighting. |
| Permits and approvals | Applications to local councils and the Department of Transport & Planning (formerly VicRoads) for work on roads, lane closures, detours and reduced speed zones. |
There’s no single fixed price, but we can talk about typical cost patterns so you know what to expect.
As of late 2025:
By the time you add:
…it’s normal for client-facing hourly rates to be well above the wage rate.
You’ll usually see:
Most companies also apply a minimum call-out period (often 4 hours per controller), so even a short job is charged at a minimum shift.
You’re likely to see traffic control costs presented as:
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Even if the labour rate is similar, your overall traffic management cost varies depending on several key factors.
Inner-city arterial roads may also attract road occupation charges if you close lanes or occupy the carriageway for private works more on that below.
Different jobs have different risk profiles and device needs:
Events and complex civil works tend to require more planning, more devices, and more stakeholder coordination.
Every extra shift means more set-up, pack-down, and minimum hours.
Higher risk sites often require more controllers, more equipment, and tighter supervision to meet the Worksite Safety-Traffic Management Code of Practice and WorkSafe guidance.
A simple low-speed side street might use a standard TGS, while:
Many people are surprised to see planning fees on their traffic control quote. It’s important to understand what you’re paying for.
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) or Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) usually covers:
On straightforward, low-risk jobs, you may be able to use standard layouts; on complex jobs, a tailor-made TMP is required and may need multiple revisions.
A well-designed TMP can actually reduce your overall traffic control cost by:
These are the extras that often don’t show up in the cheapest quote.
Depending on your location and road type, you may need:
Good traffic management providers will either:
If your works occupy a lane or part of an inner-city arterial road, you may be charged a road occupation fee per day by the Victorian Government.
This can add up quickly on longer projects, so it should be discussed early in the planning process not discovered when the invoice arrives.
Expect additional costs for:
Your quote may not automatically include:
Always check what devices are included vs “available on request”.
Trying to “save” by skipping proper TMPs, permits or accredited crews can backfire:
That’s real money – and often far more than you would have spent doing it right the first time.
A clear, professional quote should spell out:
Be cautious if:
Cutting corners on safety rarely saves money in the long term.
Providers who work across Melbourne and Victoria every day:
That local knowledge makes approvals smoother and helps avoid expensive surprises.
You can bring your spending down while staying safe and compliant. Here’s how.
Early planning reduces rush fees, rejected applications, and re-draws.
An end-to-end traffic management provider can:
This reduces duplicated effort, mixed messages and costly last-minute changes.
You should always bring in a professional traffic management company when:
Traffic control doesn’t have to be confusing or full of surprises.
If you’re planning work or an event in Melbourne or anywhere in Victoria, the fastest way to understand what traffic control will really cost is to talk through your project with a specialist team.
When you contact A2Z Traffic, have these details ready:
From there, the team can build an itemised quote that covers everything you need and nothing you don’t.
“Request a traffic control quote for your Melbourne or Victorian project”
Yes, authorities expect scaled drawings showing the temporary path, devices, ramps and controller positions. The TGS is what crews build from. austroads.gov.au
Follow AS 1428.1 guidance for clear widths and landings; ensure unobstructed travel and no steps on the temporary route.
Provide lighting wherever visibility is reduced inside hoardings/gantries and along diverted routes so the path remains safe and legible after dark. Councils often state this in their TMP attachment lists/conditions. melbourne.vic.gov.au
If your plan uses traffic control devices affecting an arterial (e.g., lane closures, speed changes) you’ll need an MoA from DTP/VicRoads sometimes even on local roads for certain device uses. Check early.
Allow a practical ~10–15 business days for straightforward council occupations; expect longer for arterials, event periods or complex interfaces. melbourne.vic.gov.au
Traffic control cost in Melbourne is usually charged per hour, per controller, plus planning, equipment and permit fees. In 2025, total prices vary by job size, shift length and how complex your site setup is.
Prices change based on location (inner-Melbourne, suburban or regional), road type, traffic volumes, day vs night or weekend work, and how complex your Traffic Management Plan and approvals are. Inner-city arterial roads may also attract daily road occupation charges.
For most works on public roads in Victoria, you legally need a compliant Traffic Management Plan or TGS, especially if you’re changing lanes, speeds or pedestrian routes. It keeps your site safe and helps you avoid fines or stoppages.
Watch for extra permit fees, inner-city road occupation charges, additional equipment like VMS boards or barriers, and after-hours or emergency call-out rates. Very cheap quotes often leave these out, leading to bill shock later.
Plan early, avoid peak-hour where possible, group work into fewer setups and use one provider for planning, permits and on-site traffic control. This keeps you compliant while reducing duplicated costs and last-minute variations.
Yes. A2Z Traffic can prepare your Traffic Management Plan and assist with council and Department of Transport approvals, giving you one point of contact for planning, paperwork and on-site traffic control across Melbourne and Victoria.
Our unparalleled expertise and support in managing traffic for your projects and events make us the glove-like fit for every one of your traffic needs.
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