Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

D1−3: Corridor Planning

DESCRIPTION:

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is attempting to identify all needed construction work in a corridor and then let a contract to deal with it all, especially in the Detroit area. The principle they are applying is "get in, get out, and stay out". A typical example of this new approach was bridgework performed on I−94 where all crossroad bridges were packaged into the contract.

Also, MDOT has applied the corridor approach to short term roadwork from a variety of sources. A typical implementation is for MDOT to allow a total weekend closure within a long−term contract project, and invite road maintenance, utility, and survey forces to also work on their road interests during that time period.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

MDOT was looking for ways to reduce the seemingly constant road closures on freeway corridors. In the past it was not uncommon for the State to be working on a given stretch of highway, year after year, doing different elements of work.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Traffic inconvenience is minimized by this approach. It is also expected that MDOT credibility with the public is enhanced.

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

This concept is being used primarily on high−volume urban freeway projects where traffic distribution is a major issue.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

Michigan

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Tom Fudaly, FHWA Michigan Division Office
Phone: (517) 702−1831
E−mail: thomas.fudaly@dot.gov