• 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
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • X
  • 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
    • Work Zone Safety and MobilityTransportation 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
  • Public Awareness
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact
  • Search
Training

Work Zone Traffic Management Analysis Using Analytical Methods

The course provides hands-on training on basic analytical methods (sketch planning methods) to compute work zone performance measures (WZPM). The WZPM includes the following factors: capacity, speed, queue length, delay, and users’ costs. The capabilities and limitations of the analytical tools are discussed and basic guidance on how to use them is presented. The course is composed of 5 main modules. It covers stopped and moving queues in work zones (WZ). Module 1 briefly reviews the necessary background material for this course. It presents basic principles of traffic flow in work zones, transportation management plans (The Rule), and other topics. Module 3 discuss the WZ capacity estimation procedures in the recently published Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2016). Module 2 and 4 cover two (or three) different analytical methods and step-by-step procedure for computing WZPM. These modules complement each other enabling the participants to analyze more complex WZ conditions. Module 5 discusses how to select and use the appropriate methods to evaluate various traffic management strategies in their impacts WZPM.

COURSE CONTENTS:

  • Module 1: Principles of WZ Traffic Flow and “The Rule”
    Brief introduction to the following topics: traffic flow concepts, transportation management plan (The Rule), temporary traffic control, WZ capacity and factors affecting it, and WZ analysis procedures and queue concepts.
  • Module 2 : FreeVal-WZ OR Input-Output Methods
    Hands-on training on how to use FreeVal-WZ or two input-output methods (such as QDAT and MODOT spreadsheets, etc., solve in-class example problems using spreadsheets (FreeVal-WZ or (QDAT and MODOT)), learn how to use the tools for making decisions on construction and contracting methods, or planning and evaluation of mitigation strategies.
  • Module 3: Capacity Calculation Methods in HCM 2016
    Learn the work zone capacity analysis methods in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2016).
    Hands-on training on how to use the updated procedures for freeways, urban streets, and one-lane
    two-way operation.
  • Module 4: WorkZoneQ-Pro
    Compute WZPM (capacity, speed, queue length, delay, and users’ costs) for dynamic queue where congestion grows and shrinks, speed of moving queue, and the extent of congestion in time and space. Hands-on training on how to use Work Zone Q-Pro for freeways, one-lane two way operations, and arterials with WZ in mid-block.
  • Module 5 : Traffic Management Strategies Using the Tools
    Learn how to compare/select/use the tools to evaluate traffic management strategies such as number of lanes closed, lane closure time, effects of diversion, or implementation of ITS in managing back of queue and delay. Several WZ scenarios are discussed and example problems are presented.

The participants handouts and computer programs may be downloaded by following the links below.

  • Which Combination Should I Download?
  • Combination 1
  • Combination 2
  • WorkZoneQ-Pro User’s Guide
  • Participants Handout for Combination 1
  • Participants Handout for Combination 2

Provider: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Length: 1.5 days
Languages: English
Notes:

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Professor Ray Benekohal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, [email protected], (217) 244-6288

Record Types: Courses and Programs
Topics: Costs; Impacts; Performance Measurement; Temporary Traffic Control; Traffic Congestion; Traffic Control Plans; Traffic Delays; Traffic Queuing; Traffic Speed; Work Zone Capacity

Copyright © 2025 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