Work Zone Lengths for a Four-Lane Road with an Alternate Route
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 10
Abstract
Highway maintenance, like rehabilitation or resurfacing, on four-lane, two-way highways usually requires closing one or two lanes to set up a work zone. In this paper we evaluate several alternatives defined by the number of closed lanes, fractions of traffic diverted to alternate routes, and crossover of diverted traffic to opposite lanes. A methodology is developed to minimize the total cost, including agency cost, user cost, and accident cost, by optimizing work zone length for each alternative and finding optimal diversion fraction, while considering the characteristics of the detour route bypassing the work zone. Finally, guidelines for selecting the best alternative for different characteristics of traffic flows, roads, and maintenance processes are developed by deriving thresholds among alternatives.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Cassidy, M. J., and Han, L. D. (1992). “Predicting vehicle delays, and queue lengths on two-lane highways during maintenance activity.” Proc., TRB 71st Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Chen, C. H., and Schonfeld, P. (2002). “Work zone lengths for a four-lane road with an alternate route.” TSC Rep. No. 2002-21, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Md.
Chien, S., and Schonfeld, P. (2001). “Optimal work zone lengths for four-lane highways.” J. Transp. Eng., 127(2), 124–131.
Dudek, C. L., and Richard, S. H. (1982). “Traffic capacity through urban freeway work zone in Texas.” Transportation Research Record 869, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 14–18.
Gerlough, D. L., and Huber, M. J. (1975). “Traffic flow theory.” Spec. Rep. No. 165, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 49–70.
Jiang, X., and Adeli, H. (2003). “Freeway work zone traffic delay and cost optimization model.” J. Transp. Eng., 129(3), 230–241.
Krammes, R. A., and Lopez, G. O. (1994). “Updated capacity values for short-term freeway work zone lane closures.” Proc., TRB 73rd Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Memmott, J. L., and Dudek, C. L. (1984). “Queue and cost evaluation of work zones (QUEWZ).” Transportation Research Record. 979, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 12–19.
Rouphail, N. M., and Tiwari, G. (1985). “Flow characteristics at freeway lane closures.” Transportation Research Record, 1035, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 50–58.
Schonfeld, P., and Chien, S. (1999). “Optimal work zone lengths for two-lane highways.” J. Transp. Eng., 125(1), 21–29.
Viera-Colon, S. I. (1999). “Optimal work zones for four-lane highways.” MS thesis, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Md.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 1, 2003
Accepted: Feb 7, 2005
Published online: Oct 1, 2005
Published in print: Oct 2005
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.