Overview
Work zone planning and management have become more challenging because of increasing travel demand and an aging roadway network infrastructure facing more frequent maintenance and major rehabilitation projects, while still needing to transport people and goods safely. In order to meet safety and mobility needs during highway maintenance and construction, and to meet the expectations of the traveling public, it is important for State agency staff to understand the likely work zone impacts of projects and take appropriate actions to manage these impacts. Analyzing work zone impacts can help agency personnel improve decision making as well as their overall understanding of the many considerations affecting work zone decisions: mobility, financial, environmental, safety, and user costs. Modeling and simulation tools can support efforts to conduct work zone analysis, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has created some new guides to help agency staff use these tools effectively.