This recipe takes one common job from an empty map to a file pack the municipality can approve: a street closed for works, with traffic sent round a signed detour. Each step links to the full article if you want more detail.
When you need this
Use it for your first real closure, or as a checklist before you send a plan. Skip it if you already know the editor well. The individual articles are faster for a single question.
1. Start the plan
On Home, choose Traffic Plan. Set Country, a plan name that says where and when (for example Utrecht, Neude closure, week 38), and the Start and End of the works. Click Start planning.
The dates print on every PDF page and switch on MELVIN. Your first plans.
2. Find the street
Click Search address and type the street with its town, for example Neude, Utrecht. Zoom in until the junctions at both ends of the closure fill the map. Search address, zoom, and Scale.
3. Close the road
Open Traffic Objects → Signs:
- Search C01 (closed in both directions) and place one at each end of the closed stretch.
- Search J16 (road works) and place one on each approach, before drivers reach the closure.
- Add any speed limit your permit asks for on the approaches.
4. Block the street
On an organization account, use Bulk signs: draw the line across or along the closed stretch, pick BB33 (the cone), and choose Separated with a Distance of a few metres, the way the crew sets out cones. One line gives you a counted row of cones in the Materials list. Place bulk signs along a line.
Without Bulk signs, place a few barriers from Signs by hand.
5. Draw the detour
- Click Add line, then the right arrow beside it (the line points forwards), so the line shows which way traffic goes.
- Click along the streets of the diversion, following the road. Double-click to finish.
- If the municipality wants the closed stretch marked, draw it with Add rectangle.
6. Sign the detour
Search Omleiding in Signs. The detour boards are combination signs, for example Omleiding + custom routebord. Place one at every junction where drivers must turn, open Details → Edit sign, and set the text and arrow. Give each board a Name so it is easy to find in the Materials list. Combination signs.
7. Make the key readable
Open Items → PDF legend on the right strip. Your line and rectangle are already listed with readable colour names. Rename them in plain language, for example Diversion route and Road closed. That is the text the reader sees. Traffic plan legend.
8. Build the file pack
Click Export. If the municipality works from links, copy the Sharable link and skip to step 9. For files, click Continue to export:
- Draw a Detail map over each junction on the detour.
- On a Pro account, draw one XL map over the whole detour, turn on Detail frames, and turn on XL maps first. Page 1 is then an overview with a numbered box for every detail page.
- Turn on Include legend and Materials list.
- Click Export now and open the PDF.
Export and print traffic plans.
9. Send it
Most municipalities prefer the Sharable link: it always shows the latest saved version. Attach the PDF only when someone asks for a file. Share a plan and read-only view.
What good looks like
- Both ends of the closure carry C01, and every approach warns with J16.
- The detour line follows real streets, with arrows in the direction of traffic.
- Every turn on the detour has a board.
- The legend speaks plain language, and the PDF opens on an overview that points to each junction page.
If something blocks you
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| A sign code is missing from Signs | Check the plan's country: Wrong country or missing traffic signs |
| Bulk signs or XL is locked | Feature not available for my account |
| Signs stop after five on a new plan | I can’t place more signs |
| The PDF is blank or stuck | Export fails or is blank |