Work Zone and Traffic Analysis Technical Resources
The resources on this page provide guidance, procedures, and recommendations for analyzing work zone impacts and identifying impact mitigation strategies.
- Lane Closure Analysis
- Overall Impacts Assessment and Mitigation Process and Strategies
- Road User Cost Analysis
- Safety/Crash Analysis
- Traffic Analysis Tools
Lane Closure Analysis
Alabama Department of Transportation
The Alabama DOT (ALDOT) Work Zone Lane Closure Analysis Model (PDF 1.9MB) report presents the results of research done to determine the need for an update of the queue estimation portion of ALDOT's lane closure analysis tool, a Microsoft Excel-based "Lane Rental Model" whose work zone capacity values are based on the 1994 Highway Capacity Manual. The report discusses the tool's strengths and weaknesses, how it compares to other work zone traffic prediction models, data collected to test and validate the tool, and recommendations for updating the tool.
Florida Department of Transportation
A three-part Florida DOT (FDOT) report, Impact of Lane Closures on Roadway Capacity, describes research to develop new models for planning lane closures on two-lane and arterial roadways.
- Part A: Development of a Two-Lane Work Zone Lane Closure Analysis Procedure - Describes how researchers developed a simulation program and used it for estimating work zone travel speed, saturation flow rate, queue delay, and queue length for lane closures on two-lane roadways.
- Part B: Arterial Work Zone Capacity - Describes how researchers used the CORSIM simulation program to develop traffic capacity models for several different arterial work zone configurations.
- Part C: Modeling Diversion Propensity at Work Zones - Describes how researchers developed models for estimating Remaining Traffic Factor (RTF), which is normal hourly traffic demand and is required for the lane closure analysis procedure.
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey DOT (NJDOT) report, Development of Uniform Standards for Allowable Lane Closure, evaluates procedures for determining allowable lane closure hours to perform maintenance, construction, resurfacing, regional permit, and major access permit work on New Jersey State highways and develops a uniform process that considers the impacts of lane closures on traffic and productivity. QuickZone was used to analyze long term lane closures and the Rutgers Interactive Lane Closure Application tool was used to analyze short term lane closures.
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon DOT's Work Zone Traffic Analysis Methodology is used to estimate and manage project and corridor work zone delays, the methodology predicts the hours of the day when lanes or shoulders can be reasonably closed and the approximate queue length that would develop during such closures.
Tennessee Department of Transportation
The Tennessee DOT's (TDOT) Lane Closure Decision Support System (LCDSS) is a web-based tool developed by TDOT to estimate queue length and delay for lane closures on Tennessee roads. The LCDSS User Manual describes how to use the tool.
Overall Impacts Assessment and Mitigation Process and Strategies
AASHTO/FHWA Domestic Scan on Work Zone Assessment, Data Collection, and Performance Measurement (NCHRP 08-04)
Results of March 2010 scan looking at how 14 State agencies are planning for, monitoring, and managing work zone performance.
- Final Report (PDF 3.8MB)
- Summary Report (HTML, PDF 66KB)
- Brochure (HTML, PDF 1.9MB)
- Webinar recording - Provides an overview of the scan findings and recommendations, as well a presentation on some Ohio DOT practices identified during the scan.
Highway Construction Coordination to Minimize Traffic Impacts
This NCHRP report (PDF 1MB) provides examples of coordinated highway construction projects and recommendations for agencies interested in implementing enhanced construction coordination while maintaining reasonable levels of traffic flow.
Minnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) developed a Work Zone Mobility Impact Assessment Decision Tree (PDF 82KB) to be used for all road projects to identify the potential impacts the project will have on mobility through the work zone and to provide guidelines for developing strategies to mitigate the impacts. To facilitate the use of the decision tree, MnDOT recommends that each district or local road authority develop and implement a general traffic delay restriction policy for their jurisdiction that includes restrictions by time of day, day of week, and seasonal/special events, and may specify allowed durations or exceptions. MnDOT also developed a work zone impact considerations worksheet (PDF 42KB) to use in conjunction with the decision tree to help identify project impacts and potential mitigation strategies. Both of these items are included in Minnesota's Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (PDF 219KB). The outcome of the decision tree is the documentation of the mitigation strategies in the appropriate level of MnDOT transportation management plan (TMP) for the project.
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey DOT (NJDOT) Traffic Mitigation Guidelines for Work Zone Safety and Mobility (PDF 1MB) presents guidance for consideration of traffic impacts and mitigation strategies for roadway reconstruction projects. Section 2 describes a process to assess the level of traffic mitigation needed for a project and estimate order of magnitude costs for traffic mitigation. It provides an overview of the primary and secondary project characteristics or impacts that could influence the need for traffic mitigation and the extent and type of mitigation strategies chosen. NJDOT uses expected delay and road user cost as the main factors in determining the needed traffic mitigation level. To assess impacts, the NJDOT Division of Project Planning and Development acquires 24 hour weekday and weekend truck/car counts for the project area. The Designer uses this data to understand traffic impacts associated with various lane closure alternatives and evaluates the alternatives on a 24 hour basis to determine when there will be queues. In the absence of up-to-date traffic data or in addition to the quantitative impact analysis, traffic impacts can also be assessed qualitatively. The Guidelines include sample worksheets that are used to quantitatively and qualitatively assess impacts. NJDOT uses the findings of the impacts assessment to determine if a project is low, moderate, or high impact. The classification then guides the selection of traffic mitigation strategies for the project.
Resources to Address Construction Noise
FHWA Web site that provides resources for addressing and mitigating the impacts of construction noise.
Strategic Approaches at the Corridor and Network Level to Minimize Disruption from the Renewal Process
This report from second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Renewal Project R11 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.
Synthesis of Procedures to Forecast and Monitor Work Zone Safety and Mobility Impacts
This report provides information on what is being done by state transportation agencies to plan, manage, operate, and evaluate work zone safety and mobility.
Techniques for Effective Highway Construction Projects in Congested Urban Areas
This NCHRP report (PDF 5.1MB) identifies strategies and successful practices used by transportation agencies to deal effectively with the challenges and impacts of construction projects in congested urban corridors.
Work Zone Impacts Assessment: An Approach to Assess and Manage Work Zone Safety and Mobility Impacts of Road Projects
Work Zone Impacts Assessment: An Approach to Assess and Manage Work Zone Safety and Mobility Impacts of Road Projects (HTML, PDF 10MB) presents a general approach for work zone impacts assessment and provides examples of how agencies are currently assessing and managing work zone impacts.
Road User Cost Analysis
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey DOT Road User Cost Manual describes work zone and traffic characteristics, explains possible work zone road user cost components, and provides a step by step procedure to calculate road user costs. The Manual includes example problems, default hourly traffic percentages, and computation worksheets.
Work Zone Road User Costs - Concepts and Applications
Work Zone Road User Costs - Concepts and Applications (HTML, PDF 2.9MB) provides information on performing work zone road user cost (RUC) analysis, including possible RUC components that agencies can select depending on work zone scenario being analyzed, step by step RUC computation instructions, and applications in Maintenance of Traffic alternative analysis, project delivery/contracting strategies, and benefit-cost analysis. A webinar presenting information from the guide was also held.
Safety/Crash Analysis
Kansas Department of Transportation
Determining the Major Causes of Highway Work Zone Accidents in Kansas describes characteristics of crashes in Kansas highway work zones, risk factors that contributed to the crashes, and analysis to help develop effective countermeasures.
- Phase 1 Report (type KU-05-1 in "Search For" Field)
- Phase 2 Report (type KU-06-1 in "Search For" Field)
Treating Potential Back-of-Queue Safety Hazards
Treating Potential Back-of-Queue Safety Hazards (PDF 3.4MB) highlights methods to analyze work zone impacts and queue lengths and provides strategies that can help mitigate potential back-of-queue hazards.
Utah Department of Transportation
Evaluation of Utah Work Zone Practices (PDF 4MB) describes research to review the current state of the art in work zone design and operations in Utah. As a result of this research, an evaluation tool called the Work Zone Safety Assessment Risk Analysis Tool (WZ-SARA) was developed to quantify the safety of work zone setup. The spreadsheet-based tool helps identify areas of concern within a work zone, and issues that should be addressed quickly. It also provides a method to evaluate the impacts that improvements may have on work zone safety overall.
Work Zone Safety Data Collection and Analysis Guide
The Work Zone Safety Data Collection and Analysis Guide discusses work zone safety-related data analysis methods that are effective in identifying problems, choosing safety strategies, and developing work zone crash reduction programs.
Traffic Analysis Tools
Work Zone Traffic Analysis Applications and Decision Framework
This course (FHWA-NHI-133120) is designed to cover establishing a work zone traffic analysis process; step-by-step guidance on determining the most suitable tools to perform a work zone analysis; key considerations when applying various modeling tools for work zone traffic analysis; a decision framework on how to select the best alternatives based on a set of performance measures; essential components of work zone traffic analysis report and a variety of case studies to demonstrate a diverse set of work zone traffic analysis applications.
Strategies for Developing Work Zone Traffic Analysis
This no-cost, interactive, web-based training, offered by the National Highway Institute, provides an overview of how traffic analysis tools can be applied specifically to work zone analysis problems.
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume VIII: Work Zone Modeling & Simulation: A Guide for Decision Makers
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume VIII (HTML, PDF 1.9MB) provides guidance to decision-makers on the role of analytical tools in work zone planning and management, including what kind of analytical approach may be of most value in light of agency needs, complex data requirements, and staff training.
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume IX: Work Zone Modeling and Simulation - A Guide for Analysts
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume IX (HTML, PDF 15MB) targets practitioners and includes detailed real world information and examples to help guide the selection of a modeling approach. Volume IX addresses tailoring the analysis, choosing what type of approach to administer, and selecting the appropriate category of tool(s).
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume XII: Work Zone Traffic Analysis - Applications and Decision Framework
Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume XII (HTML, PDF 13MB) provides guidance to analysts and decision-makers on analytical approaches/methods and related key considerations to perform work zone traffic analysis including alternatives analysis and decision-making. A separate Executive Summary (HTML, PDF 583KB) provides an overview of Volume XII.
