EVALUATION OF RURAL INTERSTATE WORK ZONE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANS IN IOWA USING SIMULATION

Traffic levels on Interstate Highway 80 is eastern Iowa increased 44% between 1988 and 1997, with summer traffic volumes approaching 40,000 vehicles per day. These traffic levels and the expected continued growth create special problems when developing a work zone traffic management plan (WZTMP) at a long-term work zone. Motorists at past work zones on this highway have experienced long delays. A methodology for evaluating the cost effectiveness of alternative delay-reducing WZTMPs was developed and tested on a past work zone to determine its effectiveness. Using Traffic Software Integrated System (TSIS) 4.2, four WZTMPs were modeled to evaluate their effectiveness at reducing motorist delay. These models were based on a case study of a long-term work zone on Interstate 80 in 1997, where queues developed on 34 different days from May 31, 1997 to September 13, 1997. Of the competing alternatives, the most cost-effective alternative is to direct the contractor to implement a nonstop work schedule until project completion. The results for this alternative indicated that about 9,044,000 vehicle-minutes of delay could have been avoided. This represents an 86% reduction in delay compared with the "do-nothing" alternative. This methodology was developed as a planning tool to determine the potential benefits of alternative traffic management plans at work zones. Highway agencies using this methodology can determine the potential cost effectiveness of alternative WZTMPs at upcoming work zones.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/midcon/Schrock.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The proceedings can be located on-line at www.ctre.iastate.edu/.
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education
  2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
  Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
• Authors:
  • Schrock, S D
  • Maze, T H
• Conference:
  • Mid-Continent Transportation Symposium 2000
  • Location: Ames, Iowa
  • Date: 2000-5-15 to 2000-5-16
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 184-188

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Case studies; Cost effectiveness; Evaluation; Highway maintenance; Interstate highways; Methodology; Rural areas; Scheduling; Simulation; Traffic delays; Traffic models; Work zone traffic control
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00793295
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0965231046
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 26 2000 12:00AM