• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Logo

Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

Library of Resources to Improve Roadway Work Zone Safety for All Roadway Users

  • About
  • Join Listserv
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Work Zone Data
    • At a Glance
    • National & State Traffic Data
    • Work Zone Traffic Crash Trends and Statistics
    • Worker Fatalities and Injuries at Road Construction Sites
  • Topics of Interest
    • Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety
    • Smart Work Zones
    • Transportation Management Plans
    • Accommodating Pedestrians
    • Worker Safety and Welfare
    • Project Coordination in Work Zones
  • Training
    • Flagger
    • Online Courses
    • Toolboxes
    • FHWA Safety Grant Products
    • Certification and
      Accreditation
  • Work Zone Devices
  • Laws, Standards & Policies
    • COVID-19 Guidance
  • Public Awareness
  • Events
  • About
  • Listserv
  • Contact
  • Search
Publication

Optimum Length of Single-lane Closures in Work Zones on Rural Four-lane Freeways

Author/Presenter: McCoy, Patrick T.; Mennenga, David J.
Abstract:

The lengths of single-lane closures in work zones on rural four-lane freeways are commonly based on the expected work rate in order to avoid moving the temporary traffic control zone more frequently than once a day and to limit the possibility of interfering with the work activity. However, the analysis presented suggests that this practice may result in single-lane closures that are (a) longer than the lengths that would minimize the sum of the additional road user and traffic control costs and (b) shorter than those that would minimize the traffic control cost. The objective of the analysis presented is to determine the optimum length of single-lane closures in long-term- stationary temporary traffic control zones on rural four-lane freeways that minimizes the sum of the additional road user and traffic control costs associated with the temporary traffic control zone. An equation for the optimum length is derived using the methods of calculus. The equation can be used to determine the most cost-effective and the most economical lengths of single-lane closures on rural four-lane freeways.

Source: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Volume: 1650
Issue: 1
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Publication Date: January 1, 1998
Source URL: Link to URL
Publication Types: Books, Reports, Papers, and Research Articles
Topics: Lane Closure; Rural Highways; Temporary Traffic Control

Copyright © 2023 American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse is a project of the ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation. It is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and Texas A&M Transportation Institute. | Copyright Statement · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer
American Road and Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation, American Road and Transportation Builders Association U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Texas A&M Transportation Institute