SAFE DRIVING TIPS
We all become part of a traffic management plan when driving through construction zones. Following are some ideas on how you can contribute to safety of workers and other motorists.
Recognize the limitations of the construction zone. Sometimes lanes are closed long before crews and equipment become visible. That closed lane might be for trucks and other equipment going to and from the work site, and your presence there would pose a danger to you and workers. Sometimes the lane is closed because of a high dropoff to the shoulder or other potentially hazardous road condition. Just because you see no action, you cannot assume there is no danger.
Pay attention to signs and markings. This is more difficult than it appears because most motorists at least steal a glance at work site action. It’ s human nature. But the signs and markings are important: They tell you how fast to travel safely, warn of upcoming lane changes, show designated travel lanes, provide advance notice of expected delays, or provide detour route information.
Drive sober. Construction is often scheduled at night when traffic counts are lower. However, the number of impaired drivers increases statically after the sun goes down. Driving sober helps protect everyone on the road.
Check appropriate websites ahead of time for information on what you can expect within the construction zone. Many state departments of transportation have websites dedicated to ongoing projects.
Use all open lanes of traffic for as long as possible. In an ideal world, all lanes of traffic move as usual until, at the point of lane closure, motorists take turns merging in to the open lane, says John Davis, Ayres Associates’ manager of traffic engineering services. As counter-intuitive as it seems, this traffic pattern is the best way to keep traffic flowing as quickly as possible.
– Kay Kruse-Stanton
Pershing Boulevard to relieve traffic congestion caused by three closely spaced intersections. The construction zone was 1.25 miles long on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the City, and work disrupted traffic for more than six months. Early in the planning phases, Ayres’ traffic experts analyzed how to best reduce the impact of the project on the traveling public.
“ We ended up having to detour the traffic. There was no way around it,” said Andy Dana, the Ayres engineer who coordinated the project.
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The City of Cheyenne’ s extensive public information efforts included news releases, maps showing detour routes, a website providing updates on the project and future work, changeable message boards, and detour signs. Temporary traffic signals along the detour route helped reduce delays.
Even though the planning for keeping traffic moving starts early in the project, it doesn’ t end until construction is completed. It’ s a living document, Dana said.
“ Things went pretty smoothly during the project in Cheyenne.
We made changes to help meet the contractors’ needs and to accommodate the traffic,” he said.“ There were changes as needed, all documented and all added to the plan.”
Plans that keep traffic moving are based on analyzing the route, working with contractors, anticipating special events, and incorporating means to respond to severe weather events. Traffic experts even work hard to accommodate what is often the most unpredictable part of construction work zone traffic: drivers’ actions.“ Speeding in the work zone, not paying attention, or driving drunk,” said Eric Gwidt, a WisDOT construction project manager.“ That’ s a nationwide concern.”
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