Implementation of Traffic Control Devices on Highway Preservation Projects to Enhance Construction Work Zone Safety

Highway preservation projects commonly are conducted at night and often require construction workers to work in close proximity to ongoing traffic. This situation creates considerable safety risk for both the workers and passing motorists. It is widely accepted that work zone safety is highly related to vehicle speed, and a lower speed will make the work zone safer. Additionally, vehicle speed and speed variability in work zones is inextricably connected to the work zone design and the selected traffic control devices. Therefore, the type and layout of traffic control devices used in a work zone are important criteria when addressing work zone safety. To provide guidance on how to enhance work zone safety effectively and efficiently, a research study was conducted to investigate selected traffic control devices within highway preservation project work zones. The researchers implemented multiple traffic control devices on two case study projects and evaluated their effect on vehicle speed, construction productivity, cost, and motorist and worker safety. Interviews were conducted onsite to collect worker's opinions toward traffic control devices implemented each night. Speed data were gathered to evaluate the effectiveness of traffic control devices. A police officer parked onsite was found to reduce traffic speeds effectively and also was highly recommended by interviewees. The research findings also suggest using a combination of temporary reduced speed limit signs, radar speed monitoring display, and portable changeable message signs (PCMS) on both trailers and rollers.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784413517.182
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784413517
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Zhang, Fan
  • Gambatese, John
  • Moghaddam Vahed, Ali
• Conference:
  • Construction Research Congress 2014
  • Location: Atlanta Georgia, United States
  • Date: 2014-5-19 to 2014-5-21
• Publication Date: 2014-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1782-1791
• Monograph Title: Construction Research Congress 2014: Construction in a Global Network

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway maintenance; Night shifts; Speed data; Traffic control devices; Traffic speed; Variable message signs; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01525508
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784413517
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: May 28 2014 3:20PM