Planning and Operation of Urban Highway Work Zones

Three problems are encountered in the planning and operation of work- zone activities: the optimum time to perform the work, the measures to take to warn the public, and the alternative means to protect the highway workers from errant motorists. These three problems become extremely critical in a rapidly growing urban environment such as Houston, Texas. The Houston District Office of the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation has embarked on a threefold campaign to handle these problems better. This consists of developing innovative workoriented measures and public-oriented measures and the establishment of a special traffic-handling crew to aid in the planning and operation of urban highway work zones. The success of these programs is imperative in light of the increased maintenance problems created as existing freeways deteriorate further.