01099182

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2055-01

http://scholar.google.com...tner&publication_year=2008

In normal work zones with lane closures, drivers do not merge at any one definite point, a situation thus often causing a sudden interruption in traffic flow and sometimes higher delay and longer queue. The Dynamic Late Lane Merge System (DLLMS) is used to specify a definite merge point, improve the flow of congested work zones, and reduce queue lengths in travel lanes. The DLLMS was implemented in Michigan on three freeway segments that were reduced from two lanes to one lane because of highway construction work zones. The DLLMS directed traffic to use both lanes (open and closed lanes) until the designated “merge point” (close to the taper) where traffic from each lane was instructed to take turns merging into the open lane. On the basis of travel time characteristics, merge locations, and throughput, the effectiveness of the DLLMS was evaluated as a part of this study. The before period data were not available; therefore, a conventional work zone merge system, located on eastbound I-94, was used as a control site for the westbound I-94 test site. Comparison of the I-94 control and test sites indicated that the presence of the DLLMS improved the flow of travel and increased the percentage of vehicles that merged at or near the designated taper location. Based on the expected travel time savings, at a $5/h value of time, the benefit–cost ratio will be greater than 1, indicating that the monetary benefits of the DLLMS outweigh the cost of the system.

01114242

English

pp 3-10

2008

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309113250

Print

Figures (2) ; Photos (1) ; References (18) ; Tables (1)

Benefit cost analysis; Freeway operations; Highway traffic control; Highway traffic control systems; Merging traffic; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Traffic queuing; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control

Late merge (Traffic control)

Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; I60: Maintenance; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 29 2008 3:58PM

• 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
• Development of Traffic Delay Assessment Tool for Short-Term Closures on Urban Freeways
• 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