Temporary Traffic Control Zones part 1 of 2.mov

Summary

This training video covers the crucial aspects of temporary traffic control zones, essential for managing traffic during construction or maintenance. It explains the four key areas: advance warning, transition, activity, and termination, highlighting the importance of proper control to prevent accidents. The script delves into different taper types for traffic guidance, emphasizing the need for clear visibility and correct path marking to ensure safety in work zones.

Takeaways

• 🚦 The traffic control zone is the area between the advance warning sign and the point beyond the work where traffic is no longer affected.
• 🚧 Traffic control is necessary to safely guide and protect motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and workers in and through work zones.
• 📍 The MUTCD describes four components of temporary traffic control zones: the advance warning area, the transition area, the activity area, and the termination area.
• 🚨 The advance warning area is essential for all traffic control zones, as it alerts drivers to what's coming and gives them time to adjust their driving patterns.
• 🚧 In the transition area, traffic is channeled from the normal highway lanes to a new path to move around the workspace, often using tapers.
• 🔄 Tapers are used to close lanes and guide traffic out of its normal path, with different types of tapers for merging, lane shifting, shoulder closing, and alternating traffic.
• 📏 The length of tapers is determined by factors such as speed limit, type of devices used, and the location of the devices.
• 📈 The Plans Preparation Manual provides criteria for taper length in work zones, and the Design Standards Index 600 series offers specific formulas for different taper types.
• 🛑 A merging taper is used on multi-lane highways to close a lane of moving traffic where a merge is required, with its length determined by the speed of traffic and lane width.
• 🔄 Lane shift tapers are used when traffic needs to move to a different lane without merging, with criteria found in the Plans Preparation Manual.
• 🚦 A shoulder taper may be necessary on high-speed roadways where shoulders are part of the activity area or when paved shoulders might be mistaken for driving lanes.
• 🔚 Downstream or termination area tapers are used to guide traffic back into the normal path, with a 100-foot per lane taper used to indicate the return to the closed portion of the roadway.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a traffic control zone?

A traffic control zone is needed to safely guide and protect motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and workers in and through work zones where traffic is affected by construction, maintenance, or utility operations.

How many areas can a traffic control zone typically be divided into?

Most traffic control zones can be divided into four areas: the advance warning area, the transition area, the activity area, and the termination area.

Why is an advance warning area necessary in all traffic control zones?

An advance warning area is necessary for all traffic control zones because drivers need to know what to expect before reaching the workspace, allowing them enough time to adjust their driving patterns.

What are the possible variations for traffic control devices in the advance warning area?

Traffic control devices may vary from a series of signs starting a mile or more in advance of the work space to a single sign or flashing lights on a vehicle.

What is the main function of the transition area in a traffic control zone?

The transition area channels traffic from the normal highway lanes to a new path required to move traffic around the workspace, often accomplished with tapers to close lanes.

What should be done if existing pavement markings in the transition area create confusion?

If existing pavement markings create confusion, temporary markings should be used to clearly mark the correct path for drivers.

What are tapers and what is their role in traffic control zones?

Tapers are a series of channelizing devices placed at an angle to move traffic out of its normal path. They are used to guide traffic into a new path around the workspace.

What factors determine the spacing for channelizing devices on tapers?

The spacing for channelizing devices on tapers is based on the speed limit, the type of devices used, and the location of the devices such as in the taper or the tangent.

How many general types of tapers are mentioned in the script for use in traffic control zones?

The script mentions five general types of tapers used in traffic control zones.

What is the purpose of a merging taper in a multi-lane highway where a merge is required?

A merging taper is used to close a lane of moving traffic on multi-lane highways where a merge is required, with its length determined by the speed of traffic and the width of the lane to be closed.

What is the fixed length of the taper used when traffic on a two-way road is reduced to one lane with flaggers present?

A 50-foot taper is used to slow down traffic and give the appearance of restricted alignment when traffic on a two-way road is reduced to one lane and flaggers are present.