Traffic Management Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones
Traffic Management Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 84

ISBN-13:

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The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) sponsored the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) conduct of research on the capacity and driver merge behavior at Interstate work zone merge areas. The principle goal of this research is to determine the traffic capacity at work zone locations where two lanes of traffic are reduced to one (lane closure). Reducing two traffic lanes to one in each direction is the typical method of channeling traffic into a work zone on Iowa's rural Interstate system. When traffic volumes exceed the capacity of these merge points, the resulting congestion can lead to the formation of queues, which result in delays and increases the potential for traffic crashes. Successful implementation of work zone improvements at locations where congestion is expected will provide a benefit to motorists through reduced delays and increased safety. The research project was conducted in four phases: a literature review, the collection of traffic data at work zone merge areas, the analysis of this data, and the development of a computer simulation tool to model traffic at merge areas.

Highway Work Zone Safety
Highway Work Zone Safety

Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Publisher:

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13:

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Work Zone Simulation Model
Work Zone Simulation Model

Author: T. H. Maze

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13:

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To support the analysis of driver behavior at rural freeway work zone lane closure merge points, Center for Transportation Research and Education staff collected traffic data at merge areas using video image processing technology. The collection of data and the calculation of the capacity of lane closures are reported in a companion report, "Traffic Management Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones". These data are used in the work reported in this document and are used to calibrate a microscopic simulation model of a typical, Iowa rural freeway lane closure. The model developed is a high fidelity computer simulation with an animation interface. It simulates traffic operations at a work zone lane closure. This model enables traffic engineers to visually demonstrate the forecasted delay that is likely to result when freeway reconstruction makes it necessary to close freeway lanes. Further, the model is also sensitive to variations in driver behavior and is used to test the impact of slow moving vehicles and other driver behaviors. This report consists of two parts. The first part describes the development of the work zone simulation model. The simulation analysis is calibrated and verified through data collected at a work zone in Interstate Highway 80 in Scott County, Iowa. The second part is a user's manual for the simulation model, which is provided to assist users with its set up and operation. No prior computer programming skills are required to use the simulation model.

Traffic Control Strategies in Work Zones with Edge Drop-offs
Traffic Control Strategies in Work Zones with Edge Drop-offs

Author: Edward J. Kannel

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13:

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Pavement and shoulder edge drop-offs commonly occur in work zones as the result of overlays, pavement replacement, or shoulder construction. The depth of these elevation differentials can vary from approximately one inch when a flexible pavement overlay is applied to several feet where major reconstruction is undertaken. The potential hazards associated with pavement edge differentials depend on several factors including depth of the drop-off, shape of the pavement edge, distance from traveled way, vehicle speed, traffic mix, volume, and other factors. This research was undertaken to review current practices in other states for temporary traffic control strategies addressing lane edge differentials and to analyze crash data and resultant litigation related to edge drop-offs. An objective was to identify cost-effective practices that would minimize the potential for and impacts of edge drop crashes in work zones. Considerable variation in addressing temporary traffic control in work zones with edge drop-off exposure was found among the states surveyed. Crashes related to pavement edge drop-offs in work zones do not commonly occur in the state of Iowa, but some have resulted in significant tort claims and settlements. The use of benefit/cost analysis may provide guidance in selection of an appropriate mitigation and protection of edge drop-off conditions. Development and adoption of guidelines for design of appropriate traffic control for work zones that include edge drop-off exposure, particularly identifying effective use of temporary barrier rail, may be beneficial in Iowa.

Work Zone Operations Best Practices Guidebook
Work Zone Operations Best Practices Guidebook

Author: U.s. Department of Transportation

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-02-21

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 9781508569206

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This Work Zone Best Practices Guidebook provides an easily accessible compilation of work zone operations practices used and recommended by various States and localities around the country. The Guidebook is a reference document that can be updated with new approaches, technologies, and practices for effectively managing work zones and reducing the impacts of work zones on mobility and safety as they are identified. The best practices are descriptive, not prescriptive. They describe approaches that have been successfully used by transportation agencies, along with contact information to find out more from the agency using the practice. Each organization must determine which of these practices are best suited for its particular situation, considering all the site-specific factors that affect work zone operations.

Advance Warning of Stopped Traffic on Freeways
Advance Warning of Stopped Traffic on Freeways

Author: Poonam B. Wiles

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13:

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A major safety concern on freeways is traffic flowing at normal speed encountering unexpected slow or stopped traffic. Traffic can be queued due to recurrent congestion, work zones, or collisions and/or other incidents. Drivers encountering queues are often faced with rapidly changing conditions in terms of queue length, sight distance to the end-of-queue, terrain, and available warning devices for traffic control. The rear-end collision is the most common type of multi-vehicle freeway collision, often due to slow/stopped traffic on the main lanes. This report summarizes the first year of this effort, which was to conduct the literature review, to determine current practices for advance warning for stopped traffic, to observe field locations with traffic stopped due to various congestion conditions, and to determine advance warning techniques applicable to Texas.