Control Strategy Optimization for Two-Lane Highway Lane-Closure Work Zones

Abstract

Traffic control is very important for two-lane highway lane-closure work zone traffic management. Control of the open lane’s right of way is very similar to that of a two-phase signalized intersection. Thus, four control strategies including flagger control, pre-timed control proposed by Schonfeld, pre-timed control proposed by Webster, and actuated control are employed for possible use at work zones. Two primary methodologies, the mathematical delay model adopted from signalized intersections, and the simulation model calibrated with field data, are proposed. The simulation and mathematical results show that control strategies for two one-way road intersections could be used for two-lane highway lane-closure work zones. Flagger control after gap-out distance optimization prevails over all the other control strategies in terms of stopped delay, queue length, and throughput, under low or high volumes. Actuated control could be a good alternative for work zone areas due to its small queue length and large vehicle throughput under moderate volume conditions. Our findings may help to optimize the work-zone control strategy and improve operational efficiency at two-lane highway lane-closure work zones.

Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification of a seismic risk model for road networks

“…On the other hand, for two‐lane highways, the model considers a speed reduction of 55% for slight and moderate damage according to the values empirically observed by Hua et al. (2019) in work zones on these types of highways. The model considers a 100% speed reduction for severe damage.…”

Analysis of a Signalized Intersection with Dynamic Use of the Left-Turn Lane for Opposite through Traffic

“…The average intersection travel times based on the field data and simulation were compared to validate the accuracy of the calibrated VISSIM model. The percentage error (PE) was used to measure the difference between the observed and simulated travel times [44]. By defining TT S and TT R as the measured travel time from simulation and reality, respectively, the PE can be obtained following Equation (16).…”

Método para determinação da capacidade e de medidas de desempenho em zonas de obras de rodovias de pista simples

“…Among the studies related to two-lane segments, different approaches were found for evaluating traf ic performance in interventions of this type, such as deterministic (Cassidy and Han, 1993) or stochastic (Son, 1999) and microscopic simulations (Shibuya et al, 1996;Washburn et al, 2008;Zhu et al, 2017;Hua et al, 2019). However, the literature still lacks a more comprehensive exploratory analysis that incorporates the speci icities inherent to the problem and thus a suitable method to predict the impacts of the intervention under various conditions.…”

“…Some studies have applied traf ic simulation techniques (Shibuya et al, 1996;Washburn et al, 2008) to incorporate regression models to determine the delay time as a function of a series of input parameters, such as traf ic low, percentage of heavy vehicles, and work zone length. The studies by Zhu et al (2017) and Hua et al (2019) compared the performances of stop-andgo operations adopting ixed and dynamic green intervals. Both studies concluded that the best strategy is to maintain the traf ic low released in each direction only during the queue dissipation state.…”