Map the property before drawing phases
Start with a current site plan or aerial. Mark entrances, fire lanes, loading areas, trash service, accessible routes, tenant doors, school or event traffic, and the path trucks will use to reach the work. Then identify which elements may be closed together and which must remain available.
A phase boundary should make sense for both the property and the paving operation. Boundaries that force equipment to stop in poor transition locations can create unnecessary joints or rework.
Checklist
- Public and service entrances
- Pedestrian and accessible routes
- Loading docks, waste pickup, and emergency access
- Equipment staging and truck circulation
- Known drainage structures and utility work
Define closure and reopening rules
For each phase, record the planned start, affected users, detour or alternate parking, notice deadline, and person authorized to release the area. Reopening should follow the contractor's site-specific direction and the accepted project requirements—not a generic clock copied from another project.
Temporary routes must be understandable in the field. On public streets, temporary traffic control must follow the governing agency's requirements and the current project documents. Private properties still benefit from clear signs, barriers, and a designated contact.
Build a communication schedule
Work backward from each planned closure. Decide who informs tenants, employees, vendors, residents, or the public; which channel will be used; and how late changes will be communicated. Post the same phase names on notices and field maps to reduce confusion.
Use one owner-side contact and one contractor-side contact for daily decisions. Multiple uncoordinated instructions can disrupt production and create unsafe or incomplete closures.
Plan for change without losing control
Weather, concealed pavement conditions, deliveries, or adjacent construction can change the sequence. Establish a short daily coordination process and document any revised phase limits, access routes, or completion expectations.
If a change affects pedestrians, accessible access, public traffic, emergency access, or the approved contract scope, stop and coordinate it with the responsible owner, design professional, or agency before proceeding.