Development And Implementation Of Traffic Control Plans For Highway Work Zones

This synthesis report will be of interest to traffic control plan designers and administrators; highway engineers (traffic, safety, project, and resident construction); highway construction contractor personnel; and consultants, inspectors, and technicians involved with the design, implementation, and revision of highway work zone traffic control plans. Information on the state of the practice in traffic control plan (TCP) management methods is presented. The emphasis of the synthesis is on innovative and efficient methods that lead to safe traffic control in work zones. The document emphasizes efficient management of the four stages (predesign planning, design, implementation, and revision) of TCPs for different classes of highways and streets in both rural and urban environments.

Volume I illustrates many of the typical worksites describing the most common conditions encountered. The information provided can be used to supplement local, state, and national standards. The topics include, among others: Public information, regulatory control, special traffic provisions, protection of pedestrians, flagging, temporary traffic signals, and nighttime procedures. Volume II is intended primarily for use by job site supervisors. It addresses the most common situations, problems and solutions that supervisors might be faced with. The topics include, among others: Emergency work moving operations, temporary traffic control devices, placing devices, temporary removal of signs, and pedestrian needs.

This handbook, which was developed in recognition of the need for the compilation and dissemination of information on advanced traffic control systems, presents the basic principles for the planning, design, and implementation of such systems for urban streets and freeways. The presentation concept and organization of this handbook is developed from the viewpoint of systems engineering. Traffic control studies are described, and traffic control and surveillance concepts are reviewed. Hardware components are outlined, and computer concepts, and communication concepts are stated. Local and central controllers are described, as well as display, television and driver information systems. Available systems technology and candidate system definition, evaluation and implementation are also covered. The management of traffic control systems is discussed.

This Guide is designed to help transportation agencies develop and implement transportation management plans (TMPs). A TMP lays out a set of coordinated transportation management strategies and describes how they will be used to manage the work zone impacts of a road project. The scope, content, and level of detail of a TMP may vary based on an agency's work zone policy and the anticipated work zone impacts of the project. The intended audience for this Guide is the persons responsible for developing TMPs. Depending on the agency's processes and procedures, this may be agency personnel and/ or contractors. Persons responsible for TMP-related policy/procedure development and revision, implementation, review, approval, and assessment will also benefit from this Guide. This document also provides support to agencies in their efforts to implement the recently updated work zone regulations. In September 2004, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published updates to the work zone regulations at 23 CFR 630 Subpart J. The updated rule is referred to as the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule (Rule) and applies to all State and local governments that receive Federal-aid highway funding. Transportation agencies are required to comply with the provisions of the Rule by October 12, 2007. The changes made to the regulations broaden the former rule to better address the work zone issues of today and the future. Growing congestion on many roads, and an increasing need to perform rehabilitation and reconstruction work on existing roads already carrying traffic, are some of the issues that have lead to additional, more complex challenges to maintaining work zone safety and mobility. To help address these issues, the Rule provides a decision-making framework that facilitates comprehensive consideration of the broader safety and mobility impacts of work zones across project development stages, and the adoption of additional strategies that help manage these impacts during project implementation. The Rule requires agencies to develop an agency-level work zone safety and mobility policy to support systematic consideration and management of work zone impacts across all stages of project development. Based on the policy, agencies will develop processes and procedures to support implementation of the policy. The third primary element of the Rule calls for the development of project-level procedures to address the work zone impacts of individual projects. This includes requirements for identifying significant projects and developing and implementing TMPs for all Federal-aid highway projects. This document is the third of four guidance documents on the Rule and contains guidance, as well as many examples of how transportation agencies have developed and implemented TMPs or similar plans.