Work Zone News Archive
Webinar on Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide - January 30, 2014 - 12/19/2013
This webinar will provide an overview of FHWA's new publication on Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide targeting the unique challenges and constraints of implementing technology in a work zone environment. The Implementation Guide will illustrate how a systems engineering process should be applied to determine the feasibility and design of ITS for different types of work zone applications and project characteristics. Guidance is structured along the key phases of the implementation from project conceptualization through operations and evaluating the effectiveness of the system in achieving stakeholder goals. The guide is intended for a wide variety of users involved in the planning, design, and implementation of work zone ITS - public agencies, design and construction firms, and industry, including developers, manufacturers, distributors, packagers, and providers of devices, systems, and programs. There is no cost to participate in this webinar and it is open to anyone who is interested. Advance registration is required through the link below. Once you register you will receive an email with the login instructions.
New Guidance on Work Zone Performance Measurement using Probe Data - 10/22/2013
This document assesses the potential for probe data to support work zone performance measurement programs. It includes an overview of probe data and identifies when and how probe data sources can be used to support work zone performance measures. It provides summaries of several projects that made use of probe data for work zone performance measurement or examined the capabilities and limitations of probe vehicle data. A particular focus was on a recent Maryland State Highway Administration project that provided a comprehensive example of the use of probe data sources to compute the performance measures by developing a web-based work zone performance measure application.
Synthesis of Work Zone Performance Measures - 10/17/2013
The Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University at Iowa State University has released a report that identifies and summarizes how agencies collect, analyze, and report different work zone performance measures and how they communicate performance to the public.
2014 National Work Zone Awareness Week Announced - 8/28/2013
The 2014 National Work Zone Awareness Week will be held April 7-11, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. Every other year the national kickoff event moves outside the Washington, DC area to a location chosen via an application process. Washington State was selected as host from a group of 11 applicants.
Registration Open for WZ ITS Webinar on Kansas I-35 Project - August 15 - 8/1/2013
On August 15 from 1 to 4pm Eastern time, a webinar will discuss Kansas DOT's deployment of a work zone intelligent transportation system (ITS) on I-35 near Kansas City. The deployment is KDOT's first major ITS deployment to help manage traffic in work zones. The webinar will describe the project from conception to procurement to operations, provide a virtual drive through to show the work zone and the system in action, and demonstrate the system software. There is no cost. Registration is required.
2013 Work Zone Safety Grants - FHWA Request for Applications - 7/23/2013
FHWA has issued a grant notice to request applications for assistance to result in the award of up to 10 Work Zone Safety Grant agreements. Work Zone Safety Grant recipients will perform within the following areas, making use of and building on the products already developed under this program as appropriate: 1) Highway Work Zone Worker Safety Training; 2) Highway Work Zone Safety Guidelines Development; and 3) Highway Work Zone Safety Guidelines Training.
States Use Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) to Reduce Work Zone Impacts - 7/18/2013
The use of accelerated bridge construction (ABC) reduces traffic impacts, improves safety, and can lower project costs. The latest Innovator newsletter highlights several recent projects in several States and an upcoming project in New York State that use ABC. FHWA is advancing three ABC technologies under the second round of Every Day Counts: prefabricated bridge elements and systems, slide-in bridge construction, and geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge systems.
Accelerated Construction Webinar Materials Available - 7/3/2013
This webinar, held May 30, 2013, provided a national overview of the state of the practice in accelerated construction and discussed the use of accelerated construction on two specific projects. Neil Boudreau of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation spoke about the FAST 14 project, in which 14 bridges in Medford, MA were replaced in just 10 weekends between June and August, 2011. Steve Gillen of the Illinois Tollway spoke about the use of precast panels for patching and reconstruction. A recording of the webinar, transcript, and the presentation are now available.
Design-Build and Work Zone Safety and Mobility - New Resources - 6/25/2013
Good work zone planning, design, and operations practices are important in design-build projects, but may need to be applied somewhat differently because of how project processes differ from traditional design-bid-build. FHWA has developed a series of products on incorporating work zone safety and mobility considerations in design-build projects. The series includes four documents: key considerations; tips for developing requests for proposal; case studies; and a summary leaflet on successes, challenges, and tips.
New Guidance on Data Needs, Availability, and Opportunities for Work Zone Performance Measures - 6/17/2013
This document is designed to provide more in-depth information and guidance on the types of work zone safety and mobility performance measures practitioners deem useful within categories of safety, mobility, customer satisfaction, and agency and/or contractor efficiency and productivity. The Guide describes data needed to (1) compute measures, (2) evaluate work zone exposure, and (3) stratify data to describe when and where the work zone impacts are occurring. The Guide identifies methods of obtaining data and summarizes key considerations associated with each type of data.
Brochure on Work Zone Safety and Mobility Performance Monitoring and Measurement - Now Available - 6/17/2013
Current Federal Regulations (23 CFR 630 Subpart J) encourage States to collect and analyze data to support the initiation and enhancement of agency-level processes and procedures addressing work zone impacts. This tri-fold brochure summarizes several resources, developed by FHWA, to provide practitioners with the skills to identify current as well as potential/new data sources for use in work zone performance measurement, assist in determining how to select and compute useful work zone performance measures, and the viability of each source for work zone performance measurement.
Data Needs, Availability, and Opportunities for Work Zone Performance Measures Webinar Materials Available - 6/4/2013
This webinar, held March 19, 2013, provided an overview of guidance developed to aid practitioners in 1) identifying current data sources for use in work zone performance measurement, as well as potential data sources that could be useful to work zone performance measurement in the near future; and 2) determining how to select and compute useful performance measures given the data sources available. The presentation also included examples of how data and measures are being used to monitor and improve work zone safety and mobility. A recording of the webinar, transcript, and the presentation are now available.
Worker Safety in Very Short Duration Work Zone Operations - 5/28/2013
The Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas-Austin published a report discussing risk factors and mitigation options for very short duration maintenance operations (VSDOs) that last for 15 minutes or less, such as pothole patching. In these situations, maintenance workers tend to use their own judgment in making critical time sensitive decisions and need to understand the potential issues with traffic management and worker and driver safety so they can assess the conditions and make informed decisions on how best to conduct the operation. This study defined a VSDO, identified typical VSDOs and risk factors, and developed a list of technologies and methods for minimizing risks during VSDOs.
New Guide on Applying the Americans With Disabilities Act in Work Zones - 5/24/2013
This guide and video provide State and Local transportation agencies with strategies and technical guidance on how to design traffic control plans that address pedestrian access during construction, including the needs of those with disabilities.
New Spanish Language Training Products Available - 5/24/2013
Three documents on high-visibility safety apparel are now available in Spanish from the Work Zone Safety Grants Program.
New Traffic Control Guidelines for Work Zones at Roundabouts - 5/24/2013
This guide provides considerations and typical applications to assist field staff in setting up temporary traffic control for construction/maintenance activities at roundabouts.
Traffic Enforcement Strategies for Work Zones - 5/24/2013
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has published Report 746: Traffic Enforcement Strategies for Work Zones that contains guidance for the safe and effective deployment of traffic enforcement strategies in work zones on high-speed highways. NCHRP also published an associated report providing background research for the guidance.
FHWA Webinar on Accelerated Construction - May 30 - 5/16/2013
On May 30, 2013 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm EDT FHWA will host a webinar on accelerated construction strategies to speed up road projects in ways that can significantly reduce work zone safety and mobility impacts. FHWA will give a national overview presentation followed by State presentations from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway. There is no cost to participate in this webinar and it is open to anyone who is interested. Advance registration is required.
Texas DOT Uses ITS for End-of-Queue Warning in Work Zones - 5/7/2013
The Texas Department of Transportation is using traffic control devices equipped with sensors to detect the formation of queues and warn drivers of slowed/stopped traffic ahead. When the sensors identify queues, messages are posted to portable changeable message signs to alert drivers. Temporary portable rumble strips are also being used in some locations as part of the end-of-queue warning. The system is being rolled out in a large work zone on I-35, with the hope for use in other parts of the State in the future.
Minnesota DOT Markets "Zipper Merge" to Manage Work Zone Queues - 4/30/2013
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has been using the "zipper merge" at congested work zones for about 10 years. In work zones with a zipper merge, drivers are told to use both lanes up to the merge point and then take turns to move into and forward in the remaining lane. Recent online forums showed that more than 60 percent of drivers were not aware that the zipper merge is acceptable driving technique, so MnDOT is doing a public education campaign.
AASHTO Releases Public Service Announcement for Awareness Week - 4/11/2013
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has released a public service announcement (PSA) for the 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Texas DOT Using Portable Rumble Strips to Alert Motorists of Road Work - 4/9/2013
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is using portable rumble strips to alert motorists that they are approaching a work zone. The rumble strips are in addition to notices disseminated through warning signs and message boards. The black rubber strips are placed five feet apart and are less than an inch high and look similar to miniature speed-bumps. TxDOT hopes deploying the rumble strips will help reduce the more than 16,000 crashes that occurred in Texas work zones in 2012.
Deploying Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones Webinar - 4/9/2013
This webinar will address policy and implementation issues related to automated speed enforcement in work zones. Priscilla Tobias of the Illinois Department of Transportation will discuss the photo speed enforcement (PSE) program implemented statewide in Illinois in 2004 and the challenges associated with PSE implementation. Frank Douma of the University of Minnesota will discuss the legal and policy issues identified in an automated speed enforcement study conducted in Minnesota. The webinar is free and will be held on May 1, 1:30 to 2:30pm Eastern. Registration is required.
Research on Work Zone Driver Behavior - 4/2/2013
Research is jointly underway with FHWA's Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory and the University of Central Florida to study driver behavior to improve the modeling of traffic flow at freeway work zones. The research examines differences in driver behavior to better calibrate models and improve estimates of work zone impacts on traffic flow. The work should help practitioners use appropriate calibration parameters during modeling of alternative work zone designs and operational strategies to reduce impacts. The research is described in a recent article in Public Roads magazine.
Accelerated Construction for Safety and Mobility Peer Exchange Materials Available - 3/13/2013
A peer exchange workshop on Accelerated Road Work for Work Zone Safety and Mobility was held on June 5-6, 2012 in Denver, CO. Materials are now available from this FHWA-sponsored workshop held to discuss how strategies to accelerate road work can be used to significantly reduce work zone safety and mobility impacts.
Dedicated Short Range Communications - Portable Changeable Message Signs for Work Zone Warnings - 3/12/2013
The University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies has released a report that explains a hybrid traffic-information system for snow plow operations and work zones that combines dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) technology and portable changeable message signs (PCMS) to improve traffic mobility and driver safety. The system uses DSRC-based vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication to identify work maintenance vehicles in the area, acquire information such as travel time and the starting location of congestion, and then disseminate this information to both DSRC-equipped vehicles and DSRC-equipped PCMS located overhead or alongside the road. It communicates with drivers of DSRC-equipped vehicles, as well as other drivers via the PCMS, to warn them they are approaching work operations (road construction or plowing) on or near the roadway ahead or areas of congestion.
Strategic Approaches at the Corridor and Network Level to Minimize Disruption from the Renewal Process - 3/6/2013
The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Renewal Project R11 has released a prepublication version of a report titled Strategic Approaches at the Corridor and Network Level to Minimize Disruption from the Renewal Process. The report documents the development of the work zone impact and strategy estimator (WISE) - a decision support software system designed to help evaluate the impact of work zones and determine strategies to reduce those impacts. Project R11 also produced a WISE User Guide, which explains how to use the software.
Data Needs, Availability, and Opportunities for Work Zone Performance Measures - Webinar - 3/6/2013
On March 19, 2013 from 1-2:30pm EDT, FHWA will host a free webinar on work zone performance measures and types of available data sources for mobility, safety, customer satisfaction (i.e., the public), and agency/contractor productivity and efficiency. The webinar will provide an overview of new guidance, and highlight examples of how data and measures are being used to monitor and improve work zone performance. Advance registration is required.
2012 Work Zone Self Assessment Report Available - 2/21/2013
The National results for the 2012 Work Zone Mobility and Safety Self Assessment (WZSA) are now available. The national average score was 10.6 (out of 15), which is an increase over the 2011 average of 10.3. The WZSA is a tool to help States evaluate their work zone practices, and to help FHWA assess work zone practices nationally. The report shares practices occurring around the country for each of the questions.
Register Today! FHWA Webinar on Work Zone Awareness Week: Outreach Ideas and Strategies - 1/31/2013
FHWA is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, February 6, 2:00-3:30 pm EDT showcasing outreach strategies to deploy during National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). As we approach this year's NWZAW (April 15-19, 2013), this webinar will provide ideas from several States on their efforts to honor Work Zone Awareness Week and raise public awareness of work zones. Speakers from Texas DOT, Missouri DOT, and Virginia DOT will present on both their outreach efforts and those employed by other States.
Theme Announced for 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week - 1/31/2013
The planning committee for the 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week has announced the 2013 theme: "Roadway Work Zone Safety: We're All in This Together." The National kickoff event will be held on Tuesday April 16 at an urban work zone in Washington, DC.
Innovative Bridge Designs for Rapid Renewal - 1/24/2013
TRB's second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Renewal Project R04 has released a prepublication, non-edited draft version of a report titled Innovative Bridge Designs for Rapid Renewal that documents the development of standardized approaches to designing and constructing complete bridge systems for rapid renewals. The aim of this project was to develop pre-engineered standards for modular bridge substructure and superstructure systems that can be installed with minimal traffic disruptions. This project provides design standards and design examples for complete prefabricated bridge systems. The report also describes a demonstration project that was completed in 2011 using the ABC standards developed as part of Renewal Project R04.
New Jersey DOT Announces Major Skyway Rehabilitation, Solicits Input on Traffic Changes - 1/24/2013
Drivers who travel the Pulaski Skyway between Newark and Jersey City may need to adjust their route in 2014, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials announced last week. The Pulaski Skyway, originally built in 1932, will undergo a major $1 billion rehabilitation starting in 2014. NJDOT officials announced the project a year ahead of its groundbreaking in order to prepare the public and ask for help from skyway users about their choices for alternative routes.
Ohio River Bridges Project Downtown Crossing Planned to be Ahead of Schedule, Under Budget - 1/3/2013
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced last Friday it has accepted a bid for the Downtown Crossing portion of the Ohio River Bridges project that will move the project completion date up by more than a year and a half while also reducing its cost approximately $90 million below the $950 million budget estimate. The Ohio River Bridges project, created to help relieve a major bottleneck on the Interstate 65 corridor, is one of the largest transportation construction projects in the country, estimated to create more than 4,000 construction jobs through the six-year project timeline.
Integrated Risk Management for Improving Internal Traffic Control, Work-Zone Safety, and Mobility During Major Construction - 1/3/2013
The Iowa State University Institute for Transportation has released a report that proposes an integrated approach to researching work zone safety issues and mobility in order to improve the safety of highway construction work zones. The objective of this research was to investigate the application of integrated risk modeling to internal traffic control and contractor operations in construction work zones. The ultimate goal is to reduce frequency and intensity of loss events related to equipment movement and contractor operations in and around construction work zones.
Utah DOT Project Comes in $260 Million Below Budget and in Record Time While Keeping Traffic Moving - 1/3/2013
The Utah County I-15 Corridor Expansion Project (commonly known as the I-15 CORE project) was completed in December 2012 by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), coming in $260 million under budget as the fastest billion dollar highway project ever completed in the United States. UDOT deployed innovative techniques to keep traffic moving throughout the project. Strategies included performing most lane and exit work (up to 90 percent) during overnight hours to significantly reduce traffic delays; using inventive traffic patterns such as lane shifts and splits to keep as much of the roadway open as possible while providing a safe workspace; and deploying technology to provide motorists with travel times on I-15 and a key alternate route so that motorists could effectively decide which route to use.
