Improvements and New Concepts for Traffic Control in Work Zones, Volume 4: Speed Control in Work Zones (Final Report)

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: (1) flagging, (2) law enforcement, (3) changeable message signs, and (4) lane width reduction. Studies were conducted on an undivided multilane urban arterial, an urban freeway, and two rural freeways. Results from studies on 2-lane, 2-way rural highways sponsored by the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation were incorporated into the report.