Deployment of Smart Work Zone Technology in Arkansas

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department began an extensive pavement rehabilitation program in the spring of 2000 that ultimately will rebuild approximately 380 mi, or 60%, of Arkansas’ total Interstate miles. To improve safety and manage congestion in work zones, the department has deployed smart work zone technology systems on five projects. The main goal for this endeavor was to provide a queue-detection system that will prevent or reduce rear-end collisions and will also provide motorists with real-time information about potential backups caused by lane closures. After each system was installed, a general evaluation of the basic design was conducted. Knowledge gained was applied to each subsequent system, to improve the design and to provide increased effectiveness, reliability, and practicality. The design evolution of these systems is presented, the design development is discussed in detail, and the effectiveness of two of the automated work zone information systems installed on Interstate rehabilitation projects in Arkansas is evaluated. The systems used were ADAPTIR from Scientex Corporation and CHIPS from ASTI Transportation Systems. These systems included all hardware, software, and other equipment necessary for collecting, displaying, and processing traffic condition data. These data were used to provide motorists with real-time speed-control, delay, and diversion advisory messages via portable changeable message signs and a highway advisory radio system.