Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

A6−5: Traffic Management in Work Zones

DESCRIPTION:

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed a policy to move traffic through all work zones on interstates and other freeways by the elimination or reduction of delays. The policy moves the determination and analysis of options for maintenance of traffic to the beginning of the project development process, and contains queue thresholds and time limits to aid designers in choosing the proper strategies.

For example, projects on interstate highways must maintain two open lanes in each direction at all times, queues must not exceed 1.5 miles at anytime, or 0.75 mile for more than 2 hours. If analysis modeling during project development shows that thresholds will be exceeded, other strategies for traffic management and project phasing must be used or a waiver must be requested.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

ODOT's goal is to minimize the impacts on the traveling public resulting from the implementation of the work zone.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Reduced travel delay associated with work zones, along with reduced work zone related crashes.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

Interstates and other freeways.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

Ohio

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Reynaldo Stargell, Ohio DOT
Phone: (614) 644−8177
E−mail: reynaldo.stargell@dot.state.oh.us