This paper summarizes the lessons learned from conducting road safety audits (RSA) at the pre-opening stage. The paper is based on the experience of the authors who have conducted a wide range of RSAs throughout Canada over the past two decades including audits of large private-public partnership (P3) projects. At the outset it is noted the pre-opening RSA stage is often the last stage in the series of RSAs which can include audits at the planning stage, functional design stage and detailed design stage (50%, 90%, 100% etc). In some cases audits are conducted at the post-construction stage after the facility has been opened to traffic. Typically P3 projects require a pre-opening audit prior to traffic availability when the operating consortium assumes liability for the agreement period (typically 30-35 years). One of the most important lessons learned is that the pre-opening audit should be preceded by a ‘preliminary’ pre-opening RSA. This allows the contractor(s) ample lead time to attend to safety deficiencies that may take several weeks to remediate. Since most P3 projects are under tight time constraints and often subject to financial penalties for late delivery, it is particularly important for the contractor to be forewarned of safety-related deficiencies. Furthermore, auditors are often in the position of having to sign-off on the project before it can be made available for traffic so it is especially important that all issues are addressed prior to opening. Among the lessons learned a wide range of safety issues and deviances include: missing and improper signage, grading (sideslopes, shoulder drop-offs); improper barrier installation; location of luminaires; opportunities to improve positive guidance; excessive driver workload; unprotected hazards in the clear zone (drainage features, sign structures, etc); and safety issues concerning vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) on multi-use pathways, sidewalks or bike lanes that are part of the roadway project.
