ITS at Work Zones

Work zones are an all too common cause of congestion, injury, and fatality. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 800 fatalities and 37,000 injuries occur in the U.S. every year at construction sites along freeways and urban roads. Of the fatalities, over 400 are road workers. Increasing amounts of vehicle emissions at work zones have also become a serious environmental concern. In an effort to more safely and efficiently manage traffic in work zones, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has incorporated the Maintenance and Construction Operations (MCO) User Service into the National ITS Architecture. The MCO User Service focuses on the following six functional areas:
– Maintenance Vehicle Fleet Management
– Infrastructure Management
– Roadway Treatment Management
– Work Zone Management and Safety
– Roadway Maintenance Conditions and Work Plan Dissemination
– Operation and Maintenance Management – Tracking Outsourced Contracting
The work zone management and safety feature of this service is intended to enhance the safety and operational efficiency of work zones for all road users (i.e. motorists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists) and roadway workers. This is accomplished through a series of ITS applications, including traffic management, traveler information dissemination, and enhanced incident detection and management.