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Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety

Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety. Jason Spilak , FHWA Peter Amakobe Atepe Tom Notbohm WisDOT Bureau of Highway Operations. Contractor – Engineer Conference January 20, 2010. Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety. ARRA Work Zone Reviews

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Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety

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  1. Traffic Management &Work Zone Safety Jason Spilak, FHWA Peter AmakobeAtepe Tom Notbohm WisDOT Bureau of Highway Operations Contractor – Engineer Conference January 20, 2010

  2. Traffic Management &Work Zone Safety • ARRA Work Zone Reviews • Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Process Reviews • Work Zone Pedestrian Accommodation • Night Work Zone Lighting Specification • Oversize/Overweight Load Permitting & Lane Closure System Notification

  3. Traffic Management &Work Zone Safety • Work Zone Training • Strategic Highway Safety Plan and Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan Update • Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Update

  4. FHWA 2009 ARRA Work Zone Traffic Control Focus Reviews WTBA-WisDOT Conference January 20, 2010 Traffic Management / Work Zone Safety FHWA - Jason P. Spilak, PE & Bill Bremer, PE

  5. Scope & Purpose • Evaluate the overall quality and effectiveness of work zone traffic control on WisDOT ARRA projects. • FHWA and WisDOT engineers conducted in-depth work zone field reviews on 28 projects. • Supplemented by other Division staff during routine project oversight reviews. • Full range of project types from freeway reconstruction to local bridge replacements.

  6. Examples of traffic control layouts observed in accordance with design standards and devices complying with specifications

  7. Biggest Statewide Problem - Poor Quality of Old 10’ Long Temporary Concrete Barriers

  8. Inappropriate Use and Installation of 10’ Temporary Concrete Barriers

  9. Resolution to Serious Problem with Temporary Concrete Barriers • Due to significant concern on lack of ability to inspect steel pins passing through both top and bottom sets of wire rope loops to ensure integrity of joints, and overall poor quality of older barriers reviewed, FHWA recommended elimination on high speed situations of 10’ barriers. • WisDOT concurred in FHWA finding that all use of old 10’ barriers must be eliminated on high speed roadways for new projects starting in 2010.

  10. Temporary Concrete Barrier Special Provision Created for All Contracts Let Starting in November 2009 Under the Concrete Barrier Temporary bid items, use 12.5-foot concrete barrier. The engineer will allow 10-foot barrier in locations meeting both of the following: - Anchoring, as specified in the plan details, is not required. - The posted speed is less than or equal to 40 mph.

  11. Findings & Conclusions • General conclusion is that overall work zone traffic control practices and condition of devices continues to improve over past years but issues (mostly isolated) continue to be observed. • General conclusion is that when WisDOT & consultant inspection staff and prime contractor & traffic control sub work together, a high quality work zone safety product is achieved.

  12. Other Issues Primarily Involved Quality of Work Zone Traffic Control Devices on some projects and situations • WisDOT Standard Specs 643.2.1(1) requires work zone devices conform to the MUTCD and are in acceptable condition as measured using ATSSA Quality Guidelines for Temporary Traffic Control Devices & Features when project is started. • Replace devices the Guide defines as unacceptable at any time through the life of the project. • Maintain devices on the project at or above marginal as defined by the Guide using techniques described in the WisDOT spec.

  13. Finding & Resolution to Quality Issues • Reviews found that many inspection staff did not have a copy of the ATSSA Guide available for use to inspect when project started. • FHWA has arranged for the purchase of an adequate quantity of the ATSSA Guides for all 2010 project leaders and inspectors.

  14. Plans for ARRA Phase II Work Zone Reviews in 2010 • A Focus Review will be on the effectiveness of Transportation Management Plans for ensuring mobility and safety in work zones on ARRA projects. • Review and inspection of work zone plans and devices will continue to be a routine part of on-going ARRA field reviews.

  15. Work Zone Process ReviewTransportation Management Plan • Findings: • Decisions made early on most projects • Stake holders are involved in process • Meet regularly to discuss impacts on OSOW • Public outreach helps mitigate delay • Traffic Control Devices are marginal • Flagger training is still an issue • Nighttime TC reviews are rarely conducted

  16. Work Zone Process ReviewTransportation Management Plan • Findings Cont.: • Contractors are not aware of the requirements in the TMP • Chain of Communication is not clearly defined • Need for reference to TMP in contract documents • Lane closure need to be in specials • Guidance for amendment to TMP

  17. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation • Guidance will address: • Planning Elements • Design Elements • Considerations in the field

  18. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation • Planning Elements: • Determine TTC Impacts on peds • Schools, • Senior centers • Shopping areas • Transit stops etc. • Determine the level of accessibility needed • Minimize conflicts • Address ADA • Outreach to the community

  19. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation • Design Elements: • Provide pedestrian information • Ensure compliance with ADA • Maintain continuous accessible path • Provide TTC details for peds. • Advance signage at intersection • Advance Warning • Avoid conflict with construction equipment

  20. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation

  21. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation • During Construction in the field • Advance warning • Advance signage at intersection • Minimize ped and equipment interaction • Maintaining pathways • Sign reflectivity • Path is clear of debris and other hazards • Sidewalk detours/Closures • Provide access.

  22. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation

  23. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation

  24. Work Zone Traffic ControlPedestrian Accommodation

  25. Work Zone Traffic ControlNighttime Work Lighting • Developed pilot Special Provision • Lighting layout (light placement, mounting height) • Glare control • Light level and uniformity • Aiming of fixtures

  26. Traffic Management &Work Zone Safety • Oversize/Overweight Loads • Signing for width/height restrictions • Notification needs for closures & restrictions

  27. Oversize/Overweight Loads • Install width/height restriction warning signs if: • Available width is less than or equal to 16 feet (show actual width minus approx. 1 foot on sign) • Available height reduced during construction (falsework, etc.) – allow 3-inch shy distance/tolerance on • Review of alternate routes

  28. Wisconsin Lane ClosurePlanning System (LCS) • Web-based system for tracking closures and restrictions • Notification needs – required for proper Oversize/Overweight permit issuance

  29. Wisconsin Lane ClosurePlanning System (LCS) • Timeframes • 14 days – Project start, full roadway closure, or restriction of width, height, weight • 7 days - System ramp closure • 3 days – Lane and service ramp closure • Project Special Provisions

  30. Work Zone Traffic Training • UW Transportation Information Center (TIC) Work Zone and Flagger Safety • WisDOT Work Zone Training • Flagger Training – identify common objectives

  31. UW TIC Work Zone and Flagger Safety Training http://tic.engr.wisc.edu/Workshops/Listing.lasso • March 23 – Barneveld • March 24 – Waukesha • March 30 – Tomah • March 31 – Stevens Point • April 1 – DePere • April 6 – Eau Claire • April 7 – Hayward • April 8 - Tomahawk

  32. WisDOT Work Zone Training • March 2010 – Dates & locations to be determined • Modules for construction, design, and work zone traffic analysis • Work zone traffic control plan/device implementation • Oversize/overweight loads • Lane closure system and analysis • Work zone TMP process review outcomes • Mitigation strategies & best practices • Temporary concrete barrier placement

  33. Flagger Training • Identify common training objectives • Equipment • Advance warning signing • Signaling procedures • Visibility and positioning • Appropriate flagging operation scenarios

  34. Traffic Management &Work Zone Safety • Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Work zone crash/data analysis • Alternative project execution strategies • Law enforcement training/resources • Work zone automated speed enforcement • Work zone public awareness

  35. SHSP & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Work zone crash/data analysis • Review broad statistics on number of work zone crashes and fatalities • Identify common crash types and causes • Determine potential solutions

  36. SHSP & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Alternative project execution strategies • CA4PRS software pilot • Analyze multiple staging alternatives for project duration, production rates and all associated costs

  37. SHSP & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Law enforcement training/resources • Work zone traffic control layouts and devices • Enforcement mitigation contracts, agreements and contingencies

  38. SHSP & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Work zone automated speed enforcement • Currently prohibited by statutes • Some form of automated enforcement in at least 13 states • Evidence of reductions in high speeds and injury crashes

  39. SHSP & Work Zone Advisory Group Action Plan • Work zone public awareness • National Work Zone Awareness Week media event • Wisconsin Broadcasters Association spots • WKOW-TV announcements • Brewers radio network

  40. Revisions to MUTCD Part 6 – Temporary Traffic Control

  41. Guidance on lengths of short tapers and downstream tapers

  42. Minimum length for one-lane, two-way traffic taper added to Table 6C-3

  43. High-visibility safety apparel • - Required for all workers within the public right of way • - Applies to all roads, not just those on the Federal-aid system • Option for law enforcement and first responders to use new ANSI “public safety vests” • Firefighters and law enforcement are exempted from the requirement under certain conditions • December 31, 2011 compliance date

  44. Automated flagger assistance device (AFAD)Type 1: STOP/SLOW paddle AFAD

  45. Type 2: Red/yellow lens AFAD

  46. Flaggers shall use a paddle, flag, or AFAD, not just hand signals

  47. Paddles should be placed on a rigid staff, high enough to be seen by approaching or stopped traffic

  48. Clarified OPTION for self-regulating traffic movement through a one-lane, 2-way constriction - If work space is short (adequate sight distance)- If on a low-volume street

  49. Two flaggers should be used for a one-lane, 2-way constriction unless TTC zone is short enough for the flagger to see from one end to the other

  50. New optional and recommended signs and plaques to accompany Speed Limit signs in TTC zones G20-5aP R2-1 R2-10 R2-11 R2-6aP R2-12

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