01088536

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2055-05

http://scholar.google.com...+Qin&publication_year=2008

A certain amount of delay in work zones is typically assumed to be unavoidable and often considered a cost of doing business when roadway improvements are in progress. Therefore, developing a method to predict delay, such that appropriate countermeasures to minimize delay can be implemented, is critical to successful work zone management. Predicting work zone delay in an effective and efficient manner should not require extensive data collection or long, complex coding efforts. The procedure should be customizable for local data availability, easy to use, and, for practitioners, easy to interpret. To this end, the Work Zone Capacity Analysis Tool (WZCAT) analytical software program was developed to predict delays and queues for short-term (daily) work zone closures. WZCAT queue-length predictions are based on a simple input–output model, with capacity of the work zone controlling the throughput. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and enhance WZCAT with field data as well as summarize various aspects of traffic flow and queuing patterns during work zone operations on selected urban freeways. Findings from field observations were significant traffic volume changes on exit and entrance terminals upstream of work zones and the stabilization of vehicle queue after initial queue development. A demand–adjust factor was developed and applied to WZCAT-R for effectiveness and efficiency. WZCAT-R produces effective results for queue prediction. It can be an effective and reliable tool in predicting work zone delay and queue development. The tool can also help engineers proactively plan work phasing, lane restrictions, and potential detour routes to move traffic more efficiently.

01114242

English

pp 39-48

2008

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309113250

Print

Figures (9) ; References (8) ; Tables (4)

Freeways; Highway capacity; Input output models; Mathematical prediction; Software; Street closure; Traffic delays; Traffic queuing; Work zone traffic control; Work zones

Data and Information Technology; Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; I60: Maintenance; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 29 2008 4:13PM

• Application of Road Visibility Information System to Winter Maintenance
• Automated Speed Photo Enforcement Effects on Speeds in Work Zones
• Benefit–Cost Analysis of Weather Information for Winter Maintenance: A Case Study
• Current Asset Management Practices Applied to Pavement Markings
• Decision Tree for Pretreatments for Winter Maintenance
• Development of New Performance Measure for Winter Maintenance by Using Vehicle Speed Data
• Dynamic Late Lane Merge System at Freeway Construction Work Zones
• Effects of Adverse Weather on Traffic Crashes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Implementing Semipermanent High-Mast Lighting for Highway Construction Projects
• Methodology for Computing Delay and User Costs in Work Zones
• Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Inspection Data: A Weibull Analysis
• Performance Evaluation of Semipermanent High-Mast Lighting for Highway Construction Projects
• Recycling of Salt-Contaminated Storm Water Runoff for Brine Production at Virginia Department of Transportation Road-Salt Storage Facilities
• Review and Development of Recommended Minimum Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Levels
• Scheduling Work Zones for Highway Maintenance Projects: Considering a Discrete Time–Cost Relation