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.
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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