Capacity Modeling and Control Optimization for a Two-Lane Highway Lane-Closure Work Zone
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143, Issue 12
Abstract
A two-lane highway lane-closure work zone is a unique work-zone type because of its traffic impact. When one lane of traffic is blocked, it is necessary to implement a traffic control strategy to effectively serve bidirectional traffic. In the sense that the right of way is allocated between two directions sequentially, traffic control at two-lane highway work zones is similar to signalized intersection traffic control. In order to analyze the problem, this study proposes two primary methodologies: (1) mathematical capacity and delay functions based on signalized intersection theory, and (2) a microsimulation model calibrated using field observed data. After fine-tuning the parameters, the mathematical functions were able to estimate delays with reasonable accuracy. The models developed in this study were applied in the optimization of a two-lane highway lane-closure work-zone control management plan. The resultant delay-capacity diagrams indicate that for pretimed control, roadway capacity should be maintained at a slightly higher level than the traffic demand, whereas the dynamic traffic control scheme is able to achieve lower delay results than the optimal pretimed signal control.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their thanks to TRB for funding the NCHRP 3-107 project. They would also like to thank James Schoen for working as the PI of the project and his continuous advice and support.
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Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143 • Issue 12 • December 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 29, 2016
Accepted: Apr 17, 2017
Published online: Sep 18, 2017
Published in print: Dec 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2018
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