Work Area Traffic Control: Evaluation and Design

Comprehensive evaluations of traffic controls for three highway construction projects are conducted. These evaluations consist of reviews of the traffic control plans, field checks of the implemented traffic controls, and observation of actual motorist behavior in response to the work area traffic controls. The project sites include suburban interstate, urban arterial, and rural highway locations. Field data were collected to develop spot speed characteristics, traffic flow rates, overall and average running speeds, and acceleration noise and mean velocity gradient profiles. Based on these evaluations, guidelines are developed to assist in the design and operation of more effective work area traffic control.