Assessing public inconvenience in highway work zones.

PDFTech ReportFHWA-OR-RD-02-20SPR 333Work zonesWork zone safetyPublic opinionSurveysOregonOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research UnitGriffith, AndrewLynde, McGregorOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research GroupUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe traveling public is making increasingly frequent contact with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) when entering a work zone. Because ODOT remains very sensitive to the needs of the public, it is important to understand their opinions and values. The objective of this research was to conduct a series of focus groups and surveys to investigate highway users\ue2\u20ac\u2122 views and their priorities relating to highway work zones. ODOT conducted six focus groups with motorists, school bus drivers, fire and emergency vehicle operators, business owners, and truck drivers. From the focus group results, two surveys were developed and conducted: one with motorists, stratified by geographic area (n=2,002); and a truck driver survey (n=448). Key study results: Highway users noted the lack of nighttime visibility in work zones and problems seeing signs, lane markings, barriers, and construction personnel at night. Truck drivers also described problematic night work zone lighting, (light plants, rotor beams, headlights, etc.). Drivers voiced willingness to accept 12-to 15-minute construction related delays. Highway users in more populated regions experienced longer actual delays than those in rural areas and reported lower tolerance of acceptable delay. All groups cited the need for greater speed enforcement as an essential change for work zones. Drivers most often used signs, television, radio, and newspapers as sources of work zone information. The authors recommend further review of the prevailing problems and identified trends in order to develop corrective action or mitigation strategies.17.Key Word