HERO UNIT
Training Module
Work Zone Traffic Control
And
Incident Management Operations
Overview
The purpose of this course is to provide the
participants with an understanding of the
purpose, requirements, responsibility,
design, and placement criteria for traffic
control devices at incident scenes and work
zones.
The participants will consider the factors which
affect device placement and select appropriate
device spacing.
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Objective
To provide each student with a general
knowledge of the guidelines and tools which
will enable them to identify and apply workable
techniques for installing, removing and
evaluating traffic control in work zones and
incident sites.
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Definitions
Traffic Queue
A line of vehicles waiting in a backup, as a result
of congestion and/or an incident.
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Definitions
Peak-Hour Traffic
Those hours when the highest number of
vehicles are found to be traveling a given
section of roadway.
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Definitions
Off-Peak Hours
Those hours when traffic volumes are not at
there peak.
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Purpose of Traffic Controls
The purpose of traffic control devices and
warrants for there use is to help insure highway
safety by providing for the orderly and
predictable movement of all traffic.
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Purpose of Traffic Controls
Traffic Control devices are used to direct and
assist vehicle operators in the guidance and
navigation tasks required to transverse safely
any facility open to public travel.
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Requirement For Devices
To be effective, a traffic control device
should meet 5 basic requirements:
• Fulfill a need
• Command attention
• Convey a clear, simple meaning
• Command respect of road users
• Provide adequate response time
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Meeting Requirements
There are 5 ways to insure that the basic
requirements of traffic control devices are met:
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•
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•
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Design
Placement
Operation
Maintenance
Uniformity
Keys for Effective Application
• Standardization
• Simplicity (K.I.S.S.)
• Consistency
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Devices used at Work Zones & Incidents
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Warning Signs
Channelizing Devices
Temporary Barriers
Pavement Markings
Lighting
Arrow Boards
Special Devices
Temporary Traffic Control Work Zone
Most temporary traffic control work zones
can be divided in to four parts:
•
•
•
•
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Advanced Warning Area
Transition Area
Activity Area
Termination Area
Location & Placement Criteria
Warning Sign Series (Advance Warning Area)
• The first sign is used to attract the attention of the
driver, “Pay attention”, you are approaching a
work zone and/or roadway emergency.
• The second sign should describe the “situation
ahead”, (Right/Left Lane Closed)
• The third sign should specify the “action to be
taken”, (Merge Left/Right)
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Warning Sign Placement
A driver should have at least 5 seconds to read
the sign, understand it and take the
appropriate action that is called for on the sign
before reading the next sign or other device.
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Work Zone Application
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Work Zone Application
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Temporary Work Zone
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Temporary Work Zone
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Fact
At 70 mph, a vehicle travels over 510 feet in just
5 seconds.
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Temporary Work Zone
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Temporary Work Zone
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Placement of Warning Signs
Conditions which may affect the placement
& spacing of warning signs:
• Curvature of Roadway (vertical &
horizontal alignment)
• Time of Day
• Weather conditions
• Traffic conditions
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Tapers (Transition Area)
Tapers are used to move traffic laterally from
one path to another.
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2 Types of Tapers
Upstream and Downstream Tapers
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2 Types of Tapers
Upstream:
Toward the source of traffic (the direction traffic
is coming from)
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2 Types of Tapers
Downstream:
In the direction of the traffic flow (The direction
where traffic is going)
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2 Types of Tapers
Upstream
• Merging taper
• Shifting taper
• Shoulder taper
• Two-way traffic taper
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Downstream
• Termination Taper
Upstream Tapers
Merging Taper:
Is used to close a travel lane on a multi-lane
roadway.
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Calculating Taper Lengths
Two pieces of information is required:
1.
2.
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Lateral shift in feet
Prevailing speed (Posted Speed Limit)
Formulas for L
For speed limits of 40 mph or less:
L= WS²
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For speed limits of 45 mph or greater:
L= WS
Where: L = taper length in feet
W = width of offset in feet
S = posted speed limit
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Example Problems
Lateral Shift = 12’
Posted Speed Limit = 55 mph
What would be the taper length?
L=WxS
L = 12’ x 55 mph
L = 660 feet taper
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Example Problem
Lateral shift = 12’
Posted Speed Limit = 40 mph
What would be the taper length?
L = W x S²
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L = 12’ x 40²
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L = 12’ x 1600
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L = 19200
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L = 320 feet taper
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Example Problem
If you had to close a travel lane on I-20 with a
lane width of 12’, and a posted speed limit of
65 mph, what would be the minimum length of
the merging taper?
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Answer
L = 12’ x 65 mph
L = 780 feet (minimum taper length)
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Example Problem
If you are closing a lane on US 19/41 and the
lane width is 10’ and the posted speed limit is
40 mph, what would be the minimum length of
the merging taper?
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Answer
L = 10’ x 40²
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L = 10 x 1600
60
L = 16000
60
L = 266.67 or 267 feet (minimum taper length)
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Upstream Tapers
• Merging
• Shifting Taper:
is used when merging is not required, but a
lateral shift for all travel lanes is
needed.
The formula for determining the minimum length
of a shifting taper is:
½ of L
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Upstream Tapers
• Merging Taper
• Shifting Taper
• Shoulder Taper:
is used to initiate a shoulder closure.
The formula for determining the minimum length
of a shoulder taper is:
⅓ of L
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Upstream
•
•
•
•
Merging Taper
Shifting Taper
Shoulder Taper
Two-Way Traffic Taper:
The one lane, two-way traffic taper is used in advance
of a work area which requires the closure of one lane
of a two-lane roadway, usually under control of a
flagger.
The maximum taper length is 100’ with TCDs
at 20’ spacing
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Spacing of Channelizing Devices
The maximum space between devices in a taper
normally approximates the distance in feet of the
posted speed limit in miles per hours.
As a rule, use one device for each one foot of
lane width.
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Example
Posted Speed Limit = 65 mph:
Spacing of channelizing devices in a taper would
be 65 feet.
Closing a 12’ lane:
Number of devices needed for the taper would
be 12 + 1 = 13 (one needed at each end of the
taper).
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Downstream Taper
• Termination Taper:
this taper is used to provide a visual indication
to drivers that they may move back into a
previously closed lane (Use is optional).
The minimum length of the termination taper is
100’
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Double Lane Closures
A transition is needed between the two tapers
which has a minimum length of 2L, where L is
the length computed for an individual merging
taper. Example:
If L = 700’ for a merging taper length, then the
transition length between the first taper and
the second taper would be 1400’.
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Installing TCDs
• Devices are installed in the direction that traffic
moves – that is, “Downstream”.
• The 1st device placed is the 1st Advance
Warning Sign
• then proceed with:
• Advanced Warning Area
• Transition Area
• Activity Area
• Termination Area
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Removal Sequence
When possible, traffic control zones should be
removed by picking up the devices in a
reverse sequence to that used for installation.
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Incident Management Situations
For unexpected incidents, particularly those of
an emergency nature, temporary traffic control
devices on hand may be used for the initial
response as long as they do not themselves
create unnecessary additional hazards.
(MUTCD 2000, Part VI, page 6G-21)
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Incident Management Situations
When should the installation of more permanent
traffic control devices be considered?
• If it is determined that the clean-up and
removal of an incident from a travel lane will
take longer than 1 hour.
• If it is determined that it would be in the best
interest of the incident victims, motorists,
emergency personnel, and to protect the
incident site.
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Typical Applications
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Remember
There are hazards associated with setting up
and removing traffic controls. Therefore, if the
incident is a short duration incident (less than 1
hour, MUTCD 2000- Part VI, page 6G-2) more permanent
traffic controls will not normally be required.
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Remember
As a rule, most incident will not require any
additional traffic control devices other than the
traffic cones, emergency warning lights and
arrow boards which are standard equipment
for the HERO operator.
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Major Roadway Incidents
For major roadway incidents, where travel lanes
and/or roadways must be closed for an
extended period of time, routine maintenance
will be asked to assist with traffic control and
the establishment of alternate routes if
necessary.
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Summary
The primary function of temporary traffic control
at an incident management scene is to protect
the victims, the scene, emergency service
personnel while moving road users safely and
expeditiously past or around the incident, and
to reduce the likelihood of secondary crashes.
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HERO UNIT
Questions or Discussion
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