Controlling Speeds in Highway Work Zones

The objective of the research was to determine or develop effective methods of slowing traffic to an acceptable speed in work zones. Factors considered in the study included cost, motorist and worker safety, institutional constraints, and probability of success in obtaining the desired speed. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of several candidate treatments of four methods of speed control: flagging, law enforcement, changeable message signs, and lane width reduction. The results indicated that flagging and law enforcement were very effective methods of speed control in work zones. An innovative flagging approach, MUTCD flagging, police traffic controller, and stationary patrol car were found to be very effective treatments on most highway types.