Evaluation of Work Zone Split Traffic Symbol Sign
Effective signage that is easily understood facilitates safe driving through a work zone. While the guidance for work zone signage in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is suitable for many conditions, there may be instances where alternative signage may be more effective at enhancing safety. This project evaluated the use of alternative signage for closure of a middle lane in a freeway work zone on a bridge rehabilitation project on I-170 in St. Louis, Missouri. The alternative signage displays the lane arrangement in a single sign, while the MUTCD recommends using two signs to direct the movements to the left and the right sides of the work area. The evaluation of the alternative signage included stakeholder and driver surveys, operational and safety analyses, and the collection and analysis of field videos to assess driver behavior. The analysis of field videos showed that drivers may have adapted to thealternative sign because the rate of lane changes decreased between the early and late periods of construction. Stakeholder interviews found that personnel from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the contractor generally thought that the alternative sign communicated information more clearly but had mixed opinions on whether the use of the sign improved safety. Drivers did not express any concerns regarding the use of the alternative sign through a website that collects feedback on MoDOT work zones. A review of crash data found that crash patterns during the work zone period were similar to the crash patterns before the work zone was in place, and the use of the alternative sign did not appear to be a contributing factor in any work zone crashes. Analysis of Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) traffic data found that use of the alternative sign did not have an impact on travel times in the vicinity of the work zone. Overall, the evaluation found that the alternative sign communicates information clearly and does not cause any adverse impacts to work zone safety and operations.
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Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $150052
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Contract Numbers:
DTRT13-G-UTC37
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Sponsor Organizations:
Iowa State University
2711 S Loop Drive, Suite 4700
Ames, IA United States 50010-8664Missouri Department of Transportation
1617 Missouri Boulevard
P.O. Box 270
Jefferson City, MO United States 65102Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Institute for Transportation
2711 South Loop Drive, Suite 4700
Ames, Iowa United States 50010-8664 -
Performing Organizations:
University of Missouri, Columbia
Department of Civil Engineering
Columbia, MO United States 65211 -
Principal Investigators:
Edara, Praveen
- Start Date: 20160501
- Expected Completion Date: 20171231
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Lane changing; Lane use control signals; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control
- Identifier Terms: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01618251
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Midwest Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC37
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 1 2016 12:28PM