Smart Work Zone (SWZ) Technical Concept Study: Phase No. 1: Final Working Paper 1 – Nationwide Review of SWZ Technologies

As part of Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Implementation Guidelines for Work Zone Safety and Mobility process review, ADOT is continually looking at ways to expand/enhance existing practices within work zones. Therefore, ADOT sought assistance to help develop and implement Smart Work Zone (SWZ) operational concepts. These concepts use a combination of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies that improve the safety of highway workers and the traveling public by optimizing work zone traffic operations. In addition, SWZ are deployed to minimize congestion by reducing delays to the motoring public within work zone areas.

The overall objective of this study is to improve safety, enhance, and optimize operations within work zones throughout the state. This study will help identify various methods that will aid professionals throughout the state select the appropriate measures to implement on projects, especially larger, more complex projects to maximize safety for ADOT employees, contractors and the traveling public at large. These methodologies will also help reduce delays and driver frustration as they approach and travel through work zones.

Working Paper 1 gives the ADOT Project Management Team a general understanding of the tools currently available within the toolbox (i.e., existing SWZ technologies), what they typically cost to deploy, operate, and own; and how other agencies applied these tools to improve work zone operations and safety (i.e., operational concepts).