Analytical Methods for Deriving Work Zone Capacities from Field Data
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
Work zone capacity is a key variable in scheduling construction activity on roadways. Understanding the effect of different definitions of capacity on the values computed from field data will result in better planning and scheduling of lane closures. Capacity values obtained using three different definitions (and methods) of capacity: (1) maximum sustained flow, (2) rescaled cumulative flow curves, and (3) 85th percentile flow were compared using field data from short-term work zones in Missouri. The queue discharge flow (QDF) values were found to be the most conservative estimates of capacity. The 85th percentile flows were lower than the 15-min sustained flow values in all but one location. The prequeue flow (PQF) values, indicative of near-constant flow prior to breakdown, did not occur in any of the four work zones. The four-site average capacities were 1,149, 1,267 and 1,301 vphpl for QDF, 85th percentile flow, and 15-min sustained flow, respectively. These capacity values were close to the 1,240 vphpl Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)-based capacity value used in Missouri, but lower than most values found in the nationwide survey.
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Acknowledgments
This research project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Smart Work Zone Deployment Initiative Pooled Fund. The authors are thankful for the assistance provided by MoDOT traffic engineers Ken Strube, Erik Menenga, and Dan Smith for coordinating field data collection sites. The writers wish to acknowledge the contributions of Amit Dhatrak, Jordan Freborg, and Kyle Ervin, who helped with data collection and analysis, and Indrajit Chatterjee, who assisted with the state of practice survey.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 809 - 818
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 30, 2010
Accepted: Nov 4, 2011
Published online: May 15, 2012
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
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