Traffic Control Plans in Florida & South Georgia

Every construction project near a road needs a plan to keep workers and drivers safe. That's where Sun State Traffic Control comes in. We create certified traffic control plans that meet all the rules set by Florida and Georgia transportation departments. Based in Ocala, Florida, we help contractors and businesses throughout Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Valdosta, Tifton, and Thomasville keep their job sites safe.

What's a Traffic Control Plan?

Think of a traffic control plan as a detailed safety map for your work zone. It shows exactly where to put signs, cones, barrels, and barriers. It explains how to direct traffic around your work area. And it makes sure everyone—your workers and the people driving by—stays safe.

These aren't simple drawings. They're official documents that must follow strict rules from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and national safety standards. Without an approved plan, you can't get permits to work near most roads in Florida or Georgia.

Our plans spell out everything: where each sign goes and how far apart they should be, how to set up cones and barrels to guide traffic, how long warning zones need to be, when and how to close lanes, where workers can safely do their jobs, and how emergency vehicles can get through if needed.

All our plans are created by certified designers who've been trained and tested by FDOT. They know the rules inside and out, and they understand what actually works when you're out there on a real job site.

We Create Plans for All Types of Projects

Highway and Interstate Projects

Big road projects on highways like I-75 from Tampa up to Valdosta, I-10 through Tallahassee, I-4 through Orlando, or I-95 through Jacksonville need serious planning. Cars are moving fast, there's lots of traffic, and there aren't many other routes people can take.

We create plans that keep traffic moving while protecting your crew. We break big projects into phases so you can work safely. We handle nighttime and weekend work schedules. And we make sure everything meets FDOT and GDOT requirements so you can get your permits approved.

City Street Projects

Working on city streets in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, or smaller towns brings different challenges. You've got people walking, businesses that need customers to reach them, buses running their routes, and neighbors who live right there.

Our plans keep sidewalks open when possible, show drivers clear detour routes, work around bus schedules, and cause the least disruption to homes and businesses nearby. We've done this in dozens of Florida and Georgia cities, and we know how to balance safety with keeping communities happy.

Utility Work

If you're a utility company working on water lines, sewer pipes, gas lines, electric cables, or fiber optic systems, you probably have crews that move from spot to spot along roads. You might work in one place for just a few hours before moving down the street.

We create plans specifically for this type of moving work. They cover how to set up quickly when you stop, how to warn drivers when you're moving slowly along the road, and how to transition efficiently between work locations. These plans keep your crews productive while staying safe and legal.

Bridge Work

Bridge projects are complex. You might need to shift traffic onto temporary lanes, close parts of the bridge in phases, protect workers below the bridge, or deal with boats passing underneath.

Sun State Traffic Control has done bridge plans all over Florida and Georgia. We understand the unique challenges and create phased plans that let you get the work done safely, even when the project takes months or years to complete.

New Construction Sites

Building a new shopping center, warehouse, or housing development? You need a plan for construction trucks entering and leaving the site safely. You also need to protect regular traffic on the public road.

We design construction entrance plans that keep mud off roads, protect your workers and equipment, and make sure the public can still travel safely past your site. As your project progresses through different stages, we can update the plan to match what's happening.

Special Events

Planning a race, festival, parade, or community event that closes roads? You need a temporary traffic control plan that redirects drivers safely while your event happens.

We create event-specific plans that work with police and fire departments, show drivers where to go instead, keep crowds safe, and include clear instructions for setting everything up before the event and taking it down after. We've done this for events throughout Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Valdosta, and communities across our service area.

Why You Need a Professional Traffic Control Plan

You Can't Get Permits Without One

FDOT, GDOT, and most city and county governments require approved traffic control plans before they'll let you work near roads. If your plan doesn't meet current rules, they'll reject your permit application. That delays your project and costs you money.

Sun State Traffic Control knows exactly what FDOT, GDOT, and local governments in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and across our service area want to see. We create plans that get approved the first time, so your project can start on schedule.

It Protects Your Workers

Getting hit by a car or truck is one of the most common ways construction workers get killed on the job. Most of these tragedies happen in work zones that didn't have proper traffic control.

A good traffic control plan from Sun State Traffic Control puts enough distance between workers and traffic, warns drivers early enough to slow down and pay attention, solves problems with curves or hills that block drivers' views, and creates proof that you planned for safety—which protects you from lawsuits if something does go wrong.

Your Project Runs Smoother

You might think a detailed plan just creates extra paperwork. Actually, it's the opposite. Good plans make projects go faster because everyone knows exactly what to do when setting up, you avoid conflicts with traffic that would stop your work, you catch and fix problems before they happen on the job, and your crews don't waste time figuring things out as they go.

Contractors across Florida and South Georgia who use our professional plans consistently finish projects faster than those who wing it or use poor plans.

Your Neighbors Stay Happier

Projects that mess up traffic get complaints. Angry neighbors. Bad publicity. Politicians getting involved. Nobody wants that.

Professional traffic control plans reduce these headaches because they show you've thought about how the project affects people, they give clear information about detours and what to expect, they keep businesses accessible so they don't lose customers, and they prove to local officials that you care about safety and minimizing disruption.

How We Create Your Traffic Control Plan

Step 1: We Learn About Your Project

First, we talk with you to understand what you're building or fixing, when you need to start and finish, what specific traffic control challenges you're worried about, and which government agency needs to approve your permit.

For complicated projects on major highways or in busy cities like Tampa or Jacksonville, we visit your site in person. We watch how traffic actually flows, measure sight distances around curves and hills, look for utility poles or other obstacles near the road, take photos of current conditions, and check if traffic patterns change at different times of day or year.

Step 2: We Design Your Plan

Our FDOT-certified designers create your traffic control plan using professional software and current Florida and Georgia standards. Each plan includes a title page with project details and our certifications, detailed drawings showing where every sign and barrel goes, special detail pages for complex setups, step-by-step instructions if your project has multiple phases, a complete list of all signs you'll need with official codes, and notes about anything unusual on your specific project.

We design plans that follow all the rules but also make sense for real crews to actually set up and use. That practical approach comes from our years of experience actually installing traffic control throughout the region—we know what works.

Step 3: We Double-Check Everything

Before submitting your plan for approval or using it in the field, we review it carefully to make sure it follows current standards, verify all measurements are correct, confirm it's complete and clear, and ensure crews can actually build what we've drawn.

For major projects, we often sit down with your team to walk through the plan phase by phase, answer any questions, and get input from your experienced foremen that might make the plan even better.

Step 4: We Handle Your Permit

Sun State Traffic Control takes care of permit applications throughout Florida and South Georgia. We prepare complete permit packages and submit them to FDOT, GDOT, or local governments, respond to any questions from permit reviewers, make any required changes, and get your final approval.

We've built good relationships with permit offices in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, Ocala, Tallahassee, and Georgia cities. Those relationships often help get your permits approved faster.

Step 5: We Help in the Field

A plan is only useful if it's set up correctly. Sun State Traffic Control provides support throughout your project including meeting with crews before setup begins, supervising the initial installation on site, checking regularly to make sure everything stays in place correctly, and modifying the plan if field conditions require changes.

We document everything and keep records that prove you followed FDOT, GDOT, and OSHA safety requirements.

We Serve All of Florida and South Georgia

Tampa Bay Area

We create certified traffic control plans throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. Whether you're working on I-275, fixing utilities in downtown Tampa, building in Brandon or Wesley Chapel, or doing city projects in St. Petersburg or Clearwater, we understand Tampa Bay traffic and local permit requirements.

Orlando and Central Florida

The I-4 corridor from Tampa through Orlando has some of Florida's toughest traffic. We regularly create plans throughout Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, and Polk counties—including the busy theme park areas, downtown Orlando, highways like I-4 and the Turnpike, and growing cities like Lakeland and Winter Haven.

North Central Florida - Where We're Based

Sun State Traffic Control is headquartered right here in Ocala. That means we know Marion, Alachua, Levy, Citrus, and Sumter counties better than anyone. We create plans for projects throughout Ocala and The Villages, the Gainesville area and University of Florida, I-75 corridor work, State Road 200 development, and rural roads throughout the region. Being local means we respond faster and understand the area's unique conditions.

Jacksonville and Northeast Florida

Jacksonville is Florida's biggest city by area, with everything from port facilities to suburban neighborhoods. We serve contractors throughout Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, and Baker counties with plans for I-95 and I-10 highway projects, city infrastructure improvements, beach area work, and commercial development across the metro area.

Tallahassee and the Panhandle

Working in Florida's capital means dealing with state facilities and government procedures. We create certified plans throughout Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, and surrounding counties for state government projects, FSU and FAMU campus work, FDOT highway maintenance, and city infrastructure across the region.

South Georgia

We extend our services north into South Georgia, creating certified traffic control plans in Valdosta, Tifton, Moultrie, Thomasville, and throughout Lowndes, Tift, Colquitt, Thomas, Brooks, and neighboring counties. Our planners know GDOT standards and work smoothly with Georgia contractors, cities, and permit offices.

Our Credentials and Expertise

FDOT Certified Designers

Every designer at Sun State Traffic Control holds current FDOT Maintenance of Traffic certification. This is the official credential that qualifies someone to design traffic control plans for Florida DOT projects. Getting certified requires extensive training in FDOT standards, passing tough exams on traffic control rules, proving you understand work zone safety, and taking continuing education classes to stay current.

When you work with Sun State Traffic Control, you're working with officially certified professionals who meet FDOT's highest standards.

We Follow National Standards

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national rulebook for traffic signs and work zones. Sun State Traffic Control knows these rules thoroughly and applies them to every Florida and Georgia project. We stay updated on all changes to federal, FDOT, and GDOT standards so every plan reflects the latest requirements.

We Know Local Rules Too

State highways are just one part of the picture. County and city governments throughout our service area have their own permit requirements. Sun State Traffic Control has successfully gotten traffic control permits from dozens of local governments in Florida and Georgia. We understand what Tampa wants to see versus Jacksonville versus smaller towns—and we create plans that meet each jurisdiction's expectations.

Real Projects We've Completed

I-75 Bridge Work Near Ocala

A contractor needed a plan for replacing a bridge deck on Interstate 75 near Ocala. The challenges were keeping two lanes open in each direction while working, managing over 60,000 cars a day at highway speeds, giving crews enough space to pour and cure concrete, and coordinating with other projects on the same highway.

We created a multi-phase plan using concrete barriers to shift traffic, proper warning signs for high-speed approaches, good sight distances through all work phases, and it got FDOT approval without any revisions needed. The project finished on time without any traffic incidents.

Downtown Tampa Street Rebuild

A contractor needed a plan for completely rebuilding a downtown Tampa street that had businesses, bus routes, and lots of pedestrians. The challenges were keeping stores and restaurants accessible, keeping city buses running, providing safe ways for people to walk, and managing work across several city blocks over many months.

Our plan broke the project into phases that kept businesses open, showed pedestrians clear, safe detour routes, worked with the transit authority to relocate bus stops temporarily, and included signs explaining the detours and timeline. Local businesses said we caused minimal disruption, and the city now uses our plan as a model for other downtown projects.

Georgia Highway Paving Near Valdosta

A paving contractor needed a GDOT-approved plan for nighttime resurfacing along 12 miles of highway near Valdosta. The challenges were working at night with reduced visibility, managing speeds over 60 mph on rural highway, providing enough warning distance, and dealing with farm equipment and trucks.

We created a mobile operation plan meeting GDOT standards with extra lighting and reflective devices for nighttime, rolling roadblock procedures for the paving equipment, adequate buffer space for safety, and clear advance notice for local residents. GDOT inspectors praised the plan quality, and the contractor finished ahead of schedule.

University of Florida Campus Utilities

A utility contractor needed a plan for underground work throughout the UF campus in Gainesville, affecting thousands of students walking between classes, campus buses, and emergency vehicle access. Our plan kept students moving between classes safely, preserved bus routes, ensured ambulances and fire trucks could reach all buildings, and scheduled work to minimize impacts during busy academic times.

University officials were so pleased they specifically requested Sun State Traffic Control for their next campus projects.

Common Questions About Traffic Control Plans

Does every construction project need a certified plan?

Most projects that affect public roads need some kind of traffic control plan. FDOT and GDOT require certified plans for work on state highways. Counties and cities throughout Florida and South Georgia have different rules, but most require plans for any work near public roads. Even private construction might need a plan if trucks enter or exit onto public streets.

Sun State Traffic Control can quickly look at your specific project and tell you exactly what's required.

How long does it take to create a plan?

It depends on how complex your project is. Simple plans for straightforward work can often be done in a few days. Complex highway projects or multi-phase urban work might need one to three weeks. Then permit review and approval by FDOT, GDOT, or local governments adds more time—usually two to six weeks depending on who's reviewing it and how complicated the project is.

Sun State Traffic Control works efficiently to minimize timeline while ensuring quality.

What information do you need from me?

We need basic details including where the project is located, what kind of work you're doing, how long the project will take, whether you'll need to close lanes or create detours, and which government agency will review the permit.

For complex projects, additional information helps us create better plans, but Sun State Traffic Control can often start with minimal information and add details as we learn more about your project.

Can you change plans if conditions are different than expected?

Absolutely. Field conditions frequently require adjustments. Sun State Traffic Control provides ongoing support throughout your project including site visits to check actual conditions, plan modifications when needed, revised permit submissions if required, and documentation of all changes for your records.

Our responsive approach ensures your project can adapt to real-world situations while staying safe and legal.

Do you just make plans, or can you actually set up the traffic control too?

Sun State Traffic Control does both. We can create certified plans for your crews to install, or we can handle everything from start to finish including creating the plan, getting permits, supplying all equipment, installing everything, checking it regularly, and removing everything when you're done.

Many contractors throughout Florida and South Georgia choose our complete service because it ensures the plan and the actual setup work together perfectly.