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(innovative hum)

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- [Narrator] Researchers and
transportation safety experts

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have a dilemma when it comes to

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one aspect of road
construction work zones.

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Continuous concrete barriers have

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clear safety benefits for everyone.

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However, the barriers
often have to be placed

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near a travel lane because there is simply

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not much space in these work zones.

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One of the goals of this
project was to develop

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a set of guidelines for TxDOT.

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- Working on any roadway
segment you're balancing

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the increased risks of having workers

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and equipment, materials out
there to get the work done

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with the fact that you're still trying

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to maintain traffic flow.

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In order to do that a lot
of times we have to use

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positive protection to
separate the workers

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from the traffic itself.

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So this project was to provide
additional guidance to TxDOT,

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how to design and implement
and use barrier in a way

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that would be the most
efficient way possible.

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- The barrier we wanted to look at it

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because of the problems of
when you start crowding it in

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right along the edge of the travel lanes

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and kind of see how it
impacts the public traveling

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through the work zone and just
looking at different ways.

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Maybe we can configure, do we
need to add more buffer space

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so they can get through it more effective

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and reduce the number of crashes.

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- We did conduct a number
of interviews with various

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user groups, both TxDOT
and contractor folks

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that that design and implement,
you know, the work zones.

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Talked to the trucking industry,

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we talked to law enforcement,
emergency services,

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try to get a handle on what the issues are

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for each of those.

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- A lot of construction personnel said

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they really had limited guidance on

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how to use the barrier on
the construction project

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and how much buffer space to provide.

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Another issue they had
was they didn't really

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have any guidance on determining when

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they should anchor the barrier.

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- The main benefit of
this project to TxDOT

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is that it brought up,

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it's pushing more of a data-driven

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decision-making process with respect

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to when and how to use use
barriers in work zones.

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Prior to this, it was much more difficult

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for work zone designers
to make that decision.

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With the results of this research

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they have another tool
in their toolbox to help

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guide that decision making process.

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- Safety is a huge concern for TxDOT.

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You know, it's one of our
number one priorities.

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You know, we want all the workers,

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the traveling public
and our TxDOT personnel

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all to go home safely
at the end of the day.

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And so anything we can
learn to improve how we

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set up our work zones, you know,

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we want to find that out
and be able to implement it

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and keep everything safe.

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- [Narrator] For more information,

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and to find the publications
for this project,

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please visit the TxDOT research library

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at the link shown below.