EFFECTS OF TAPER LENGTH ON TRAFFIC OPERATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES

The study dealt with a proposed taper length formula that yields shorter tapers at design speeds below 60 mph than the existing formula, L=WS. Speed, erratic maneuvers, conflicts and encroachment data were collected at four sites, day and night, covering a variety of design speeds and taper lengths. The analyses of the collected data do not implicate the proposed taper lengths as being more hazardous. Erratic-maneuver and slow-moving conflicts rates were never greater with the proposed taper than with the standard or existing taper. There was no indication that the proposed taper lengths resulted in a greater number of passenger vehicle or truck encroachments on adjacent lanes.

• Corporate Authors:

  Midwest Research Institute

  425 Volker Boulevard
  Kansas City, MO  United States  64110-2299
• Authors:
  • Graham, Jerry L
  • Sharp, M C
• Publication Date: 1977-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 43 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction sites; Data collection; Highway operations; Motor vehicles; Speed; Tapers (Work zone traffic control); Traffic; Traffic conflicts; Traffic control; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Trucks
• Old TRIS Terms: Taper
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00179508
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-77-162 Final Rpt., HS-022 906
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-11-8121
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 1989 12:00AM