Analysis Methodology for Two-Lane Highways with a Lane Closure
The primary objective of this study was to develop an improved analysis methodology for traffic operations on two-lane highways with a lane closure. Previously developed methodologies have lacked field data calibration or have been unable to accommodate a wide range of two-lane highway work zone conditions. This study addressed these two limitations by using video data collected at three two-lane highway work zone sites in Florida to modify and calibrate FlagSim, a microscopic traffic simulation program capable of modeling flagging control on two-lane highways with a lane closure. Additionally, a full vehicle dynamics modeling approach was incorporated into FlagSim to account for the effect of grade on vehicle performance. The revised version of FlagSim was then used to simulate a wide range of input conditions. Results from these simulation runs were used to develop models for work zone travel speed, saturation headway, total queue delay, and maximum queue length. These equations showed that the work zone conditions (e.g., effective lane width and level of construction activity), roadway conditions (e.g., posted speed and grade), and traffic conditions (e.g., percentage of heavy vehicles) on a two-lane highway with a lane closure can significantly impact traffic operations. These models were incorporated into an analysis methodology and spreadsheet tool that can be used to predict the impact of a lane closure on two-lane highway traffic operations.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB40 Highway Capacity and Quality of Service.
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Authors:
- Watson Jr, Donald C
- Hiles, Thomas W
- Washburn, Scott
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
- Date: 2015
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 24p
- Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Highway capacity; Highway operations; Lane closure; Traffic simulation; Two lane highways; Work zone traffic control
- Geographic Terms: Florida
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01551077
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1186
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:21AM