Are drivers experiencing frustration, crashes, and congestion with
your road construction or maintenance project?
If so,
your temporary traffic control plan might not be operating to minimize these
impacts to the traveling public.
To ensure safe and orderly movement of traffic through the construction zone,
Local Public Agencies, or LPAs
need to implement an effective traffic control plan.
The safety of those working in or traveling through a work zone
depends on proper setup and operation of the traffic control.
All work zones require a traffic control plan.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, also known as the
MUTCD,
contains the minimum requirements for traffic control in work zones.
Work zones that do not meet these requirements
might experience more crashes and traffic delays.
The temporary traffic control plan is developed during project design
and submitted with your plans, specifications, and estimate package for
inclusion in the contract.
Sometimes, your contractor will suggest changes based on different construction
phases,
and you will have to approve a final plan.
As the LPA, your responsibility is to inspect the project
to ensure the traffic control plan is functioning as intended.
LPAs use the Work Zone Traffic Control Review to confirm the setup
and effectiveness of the project's temporary traffic control.
You do this by conducting periodic reviews throughout the life of the
project,
and by making appropriate adjustments.
Let's answer a few basic questions about planning to conduct the review.
The first question is:
Who will conduct the review?
The FHWA suggests using a diverse project team
with a wide range of expertise to gain valuable insights
when conducting a review.
The primary traffic control review project team
should include the project manager,
a traffic control supervisor, and the contractor.
You can include additional members who have unique perspectives, such as
representatives from other construction sections,traffic, safety
maintenance, and design.
The next question that should be addressed is: When will the review
be scheduled?
Consider the following factors as you determine when to schedule your review.
Plan an initial traffic control review soon after the project begins.
Night inspections should be conducted
if traffic control devices are left overnight.
In progress reviews should be conducted throughout the project, especially
when construction phases change.
Determine whether the review will be announced or unannouned.
Unannounced reviews might be more representative of the quality of the
traffic control
and allow you to better assess the effectiveness of the temporary traffic control
for your project.
If night work is being performed,
conduct the review after dark to assess the effectiveness of the traffic
control plan under night-time conditions
Also,
take into account the impact inclement weather might have on the effectiveness
of the traffic control plan.
Severe whether can lessen the benefit of traffic control devices,
require longer stopping distances, impede visibility, and make work zone access
points more dangerous.
The final question to be addressed with planning a work zone traffic review is:
What documents should you gather for the review?
Prior to the work zone visit, obtain a copy of the current temporary traffic
control plan
for the team to review
Also,
check to see if your State Department of Transportation, or State DOT,
has developed a checklist
that conforms to regulations and guidance documents
to make it easier for you to conduct the work zone review.
Now you are ready to conduct the Work Zone Traffic Control Review.
The review's purpose is to assess the overall effectiveness of traffic
movement as traffic approaches and moves through your project's construction zone.
Let's use and example to clarify what actually happens during the review.
Suppose you have a project that is just beginning on a major local roadway.
You decide to conduct an unannounced inspection to see if the traffic control
plan is working.
Since your agency does does not have its own
work zone inspection form,
you download examples from your State DOT's website and from a
national work zone safety site.
You also decided that a team approach to conduct the review will be more
effective.
Therefore, you form a diverse and experienced review team that includes
members from the traffic and safety section,
a maintenance supervisor, another project manager, and the State DOT.
Prior to arriving at the construction site,
review team assembles at the project office to get a copy of the traffic
control plan
and to check flagger certifications.
You instruct the team to document observations about problems team
members experience
while driving through the work zone.
You also instruct the team to document observations regarding the reactions
of other drivers.
You select an inspection report form including specific areas of the plan to
review, such as: proper signage and its placement;
correct size, dimensions, and placement of channelizing devices;
Work Zone barriers with impact attenuation devices; and appropriately
attired flaggers with proper equipment using recommended planning methods.
As the team approaches the work zone, they check to make sure the advance
warning signs match those in the traffic control plan,
are properly spaced,
and in serviceable condition.
The team observes that the "right lane closed ahead" sign is in poor
condition and needs to be replaced,
documenting the problem on the form.
As the vehicle approaches the lane closure,
they check the spacing of the cones and lenth of the taper.
A flagger is observed slowing down traffic,
so the team checks that the flagger is wearing high visibility safety attire
and is using the appropriate stop- slow paddle that's visible.
As the vehicle exits the work zone,
the team observes that traffic is flowing smoothly.
The team returns to the work zone and reviews findings with the project
engineer and contractor.
Prior to concluding the meeting, the team identifies the person responsible
for correcting deficiencies and determines when the changes must be made.
A follow-up inspection is scheduled to ensure the corrections are completed.
Finally,
you, as a review leader, send a copy of the inspection report to the appropriate
personnel and also file a copy with the project records.
As the project owner, LPAs are responsible for reviewing and adjusting
the work zone traffic control, which helps to ensure the safe
and efficient movement of the traveling public and ensures the safety of workers.
Please check with your State DOT
for further guidance on conducting the work zone traffic control review.