Minimizing Traffic-Related Work Zone Crashes in Illinois

This report presents the findings of a research project to study and develop recommendations to minimize work zone crashes in Illinois. The objectives of this project were (1) to provide in-depth comprehensive review of the latest literature on traffic-related work zone crashes and conduct site visits of work zones in Illinois, (2) to analyze the frequency and severity of traffic-related work zone crashes in Illinois, (3) to quantify the impact of layout parameters on the risk of crash occurrence and develop practical recommendations to control the factors contributing to work zone crashes in Illinois, and (4) to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of adding temporary/portable rumble strips within and before work zones. To achieve these objectives, the research team carried out six major tasks: (1) conducting a comprehensive literature review, (2) collecting and fusing all available data and reports on work zone crashes in Illinois, (3) analyzing work zone crashes and identifying their contributing factors, (4) identifying the impact of layout parameters on the risk of crash occurrences and developing practical recommendations to improve work zone layouts, (5) performing field experiments to evaluate the efficiency of using temporary rumble strips in work zones, and (6) evaluating the effectiveness of temporary rumble strips before work zones begin and at the edge of work zones. During this study, the research team identified a number of promising research areas for further in-depth analysis and investigation: (1) investigating the practicality and effectiveness of using new prototypes of temporary rumble strips at the edge of work zones, (2) improving safety for construction equipment entering and exiting work zones, and (3) optimizing work zone transportation management plans (TMPs) to maximize work zone safety while minimizing total work zone costs.

• Record URL:
  http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45772
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  205 North Mathews Avenue
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801-2352

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • El-Rayes, Khaled
  • Liu, Liang
  • Elghamrawy, Tarek
• Publication Date: 2013-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 226p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash data; Literature reviews; Rumble strips; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control
• Geographic Terms: Illinois
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01479822
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-ICT-12-017, ICT-12-017, UILU-ENG-2012-2019
• Contract Numbers: R27-52
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 25 2013 9:35AM