Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program
Photo collage: temporary lane closure, road marking installation, cone with mounted warning light, and drum separated work zones.
Office of Operations 21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Lane Closure Policies

Work Zone Traffic Management

Many agencies have policy provisions that address specific aspects of decision-making during project delivery. Agencies may choose to develop and implement policy provisions in the form of mandated requirements and/or in the form of policy guidance, as appropriate to their individual operating environments. Several States have policy provisions for lane closures. These lane closure policies, or strategies, provide guidance in determining permitted lane closure times, which define what times of the day, week, or season a lane closure is allowed on a facility and at a specific location or segment.

Fact Sheet – Lane Closure Policies and Management Systems

This FHWA fact sheet defines lane closure policies and management systems. It provides examples of several states that have developed lane closure policies and systems to aid in the scheduling of work zones and to improve mobility by restricting lane closure hours during peak travel times and coordinating lane closures to manage combined impacts.