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TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR FREEWAY MAINTENANCE

HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATORS MUST MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE OCCUPANCY OF THE FREEWAY. HOWEVER, IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY FOR TRAFFIC TO SHARE THE FREEWAY WITH NUMEROUS TYPES OF WORK ACTIVITIES. WHEN THIS CONFLICT EXISTS, THREE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) PROTECTION OF BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE WORK FORCES, (2) MOVEMENT OF MAXIMUM VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC THROUGH THE WORK SITE WITH MINIMUM INCONVENIENCE TO THE MOTORIST, AND (3) EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY OF THE WORK PROCEDURE. IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCEDURES AND DEVICES FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL AT WORK SITES ARE RESPONDING TO THE INFLUENCE OF HIGHER OPERATING SPEEDS AND INCREASING DENSITY OF TRAFFIC, THE NEED FOR UNIFORMITY IN TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND PROCEDURES, AND THE NECESSITY FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE OF MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES ON CONGESTED FREEWAY FACILITIES. WHEN PLANNING AND SCHEDULING WORK SITE TRAFFIC CONTROLS MOST HIGHWAY AGENCIES TAKE FIVE MAJOR STEPS: (1) DEVELOPMENT OF TRAFFIC CONTROL STANDARDS, (2) TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, (3) COORDINATION OF PLANS WITH OTHER OFFICES AND AGENCIES, (4) INFORMING THE FREEWAY USER THROUGH PUBLIC INFORMATION FACILITIES, AND (5) IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATION PLANS. WHERE POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH LARGE VOLUMES OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC IS A PRIME CONSIDERATION, NIGHT WORK HAS BEEN EMPLOYED TO MEET MAINTENANCE NEEDS. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY ADDITIONAL SIGNING AND LIGHTING AT WORK SITE, AS WELL AS REFLECTORIZATION OF ALL WORK SITE SIGN. FOR ADVANCE WARNING SIGNS THE LEGENDS PROVIDED IN THE MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ARE ADEQUATE FOR MOST FREEWAY WORK SITES AND THE MANUAL RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR PLACING WARNING SIGNS AT GREATER DISTANCES BEFORE THE WORK SITE WHERE HIGH-SPEED, LOW VOLUME TRAFFIC IS OPERATING OVER LONG UNINTERRUPTED SECTIONS OF FREEWAY. REGULATORY SIGNS ARE OFTEN USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE LAYOUT OF ADVANCE WARNING SIGNS. SOME AGENCIES BELIEVE THAT MAXIMUM SAFETY IS ACHIEVED WHEN THE INTERFERENCE WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW IS MINIMIZED. THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A LANE CLOSURE OFTEN DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY OF THE TRAFFIC IN THE CLOSED LANE TO MERGE WITH AN ADJACENT LANE. THE VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS FOR FREEWAY MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ARE SIZE, BACKGROUND, MATERIAL, LEGEND, POSITION, ILLUMINATION, AND REFLECTORIZATION. BARRICADES AND TIMBER CURBS ARE USED TO PROTECT THE WORK SITE FROM TRAFFIC OR TO PROTECT TRAFFIC FROM HAZARDS WITHIN THE WORK SITE AREA. THROUGH A CONCERTED EFFORT AND A WELL-STRUCTURED PROGRAM MANY SAVINGS IN PERSONAL AND PROPERTY LOSSES CAN BE REALIZED WHILE THE ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS OF THE U. S. HIGHWAY SYSTEM ARE BEING MET.

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    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. No 1, 47 Pp, FIGS, 6 TAB, REFS, 4 APP
  • Publication Date: 1969

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  • Accession Number: 00225533
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Oct 21 1994 12:00AM