Work Zone Traffic Analysis & Impact Assessment

Author/Presenter: Schroeder, Bastian J; Rouphail, Nagui M; Williams, Billy M; Hajbabaie, Ali; Jia, Anxi; Sajjadi, Soheil; Aghdashi, Behzad; Narron, Brian
Abstract:

This report documents the final results and project summary of NCDOT research project 2012-36: Work Zone Traffic Analysis & Impact Assessment. The project is tasked with assessing the estimated impact of proposed NCDOT TIP Project I-5311/I-5338, which is a pavement rehabilitation project on interstates I-40 and I-440 from Exit 293 to I-40 Exit 301 and I-440 Exit 14. The project aims to predict the network-wide impacts of this work zone during construction. The primary focus in the project and in this report is the development and calibration of a networkwide mesoscopic simulation model of the Triangle region using the DynusT and DTALite software tools, as well as a macroscopic evaluation in the FREEVAL tool. The geometric extents of the model cover the entire triangle region, with expansion to the east of the triangle to include additional sections of US264, I-40, and I-95. The model has been calibrated using field-estimated spot volume and speed data, as well as key route travel times obtained from INRIX. A variety of work zone scenarios were modeled to test the relative impacts of different lane closure configurations on route and network performance. The analysis further differentiates between no-diversion and with-diversion, where the latter relies on twenty iterations of a dynamic traffic assignment utility, which diverts traffic in an effort to minimize overall network travel time.