(innovative hum)
- [Narrator] Researchers and transportation safety experts
have a dilemma when it comes to
one aspect of road construction work zones.
Continuous concrete barriers have
clear safety benefits for everyone.
However, the barriers often have to be placed
near a travel lane because there is simply
not much space in these work zones.
One of the goals of this project was to develop
a set of guidelines for TxDOT.
- Working on any roadway segment you're balancing
the increased risks of having workers
and equipment, materials out there to get the work done
with the fact that you're still trying
to maintain traffic flow.
In order to do that a lot of times we have to use
positive protection to separate the workers
from the traffic itself.
So this project was to provide additional guidance to TxDOT,
how to design and implement and use barrier in a way
that would be the most efficient way possible.
- The barrier we wanted to look at it
because of the problems of when you start crowding it in
right along the edge of the travel lanes
and kind of see how it impacts the public traveling
through the work zone and just looking at different ways.
Maybe we can configure, do we need to add more buffer space
so they can get through it more effective
and reduce the number of crashes.
- We did conduct a number of interviews with various
user groups, both TxDOT and contractor folks
that that design and implement, you know, the work zones.
Talked to the trucking industry,
we talked to law enforcement, emergency services,
try to get a handle on what the issues are
for each of those.
- A lot of construction personnel said
they really had limited guidance on
how to use the barrier on the construction project
and how much buffer space to provide.
Another issue they had was they didn't really
have any guidance on determining when
they should anchor the barrier.
- The main benefit of this project to TxDOT
is that it brought up,
it's pushing more of a data-driven
decision-making process with respect
to when and how to use use barriers in work zones.
Prior to this, it was much more difficult
for work zone designers to make that decision.
With the results of this research
they have another tool in their toolbox to help
guide that decision making process.
- Safety is a huge concern for TxDOT.
You know, it's one of our number one priorities.
You know, we want all the workers,
the traveling public and our TxDOT personnel
all to go home safely at the end of the day.
And so anything we can learn to improve how we
set up our work zones, you know,
we want to find that out and be able to implement it
and keep everything safe.
- [Narrator] For more information,
and to find the publications for this project,
please visit the TxDOT research library
at the link shown below.