AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Scope
General support: When the normal function of the roadway is suspended@ temporary traffic control planning provides for continuity of the movement of motor vehicle@ bicycle@ and pedestrian traffic; transit operations; and access to property and utilities. Theprimary function of temporary traffic control is tn provide for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles@ bicyclists@ and pedestrians through or around temporary traffic control zones while reasonably protecting workers and equipment. Of equal importance to the public traveling through the temporary traffic control zone is the safety of workers performing the many varied tasks within the-'work space. Temporary traffic control zones present constantly changing conditions that are unexpected by the road user. This creates an even higher degree of vulnerability for the workers on or near the roadway (see Section 6D.02). At the same time@ the temporary traffic control zone provides for the efficient completion of whatever activity interrupted the normal use of the roadway. Consideration for road user safety@ worker safety@ and the efficiency of road user flow is an integral element of every temporary traffic control zone@ from planning through completion. A concurrent objective of the temporary traffic control is the efficient construction and maintenance of the highway. No one set of temporary traffic control devices can satisfy all conditions for a given project. At the same time@ defining details that would be adequate to cover all applications is not practical. Instead@ Part 6 displays typical applications that depict common applications of temporary traffic control devices. The temporary traffic control selected for each situation depends on type of highway@ road user conditions@ duration of operation@ physical constraints@ and the nearness of the work space to road users. Improved road user performance might be realized through a well-prepared public relations effort that covers the nature of the work@ the time and duration of its execution@ the anticipated effects upon road users@ and possible alternate routes and modes of travel. Such programs have been found to result in a significant reduction in the number of road users traveling through the temporary traffic zone@ which reduces the possible number of conflicts.