Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

G2−1: Incident Management in Work Zones

DESCRIPTION:

This policy consists of services designated to respond to incidents in work zones, keeping them free of disabled vehicles. Incidents are identified through various sources: traffic patrols, maintenance patrols, State Police, CB radios, cell phones, and traffic flow irregularities identified at a Traffic Management Center. Services can include: general assistance, towing and towing arrangements, emergency fuel, tire changing, placement of cones and flares, and updated motorist information systems such as advisory signs and local media contacts. Many States employ an onsite traffic control supervisor for large projects.

• Pennsylvania requires an Incident Management Plan for long−term construction projects; freeway projects normally require a preconstruction meeting with emergency responders.
• Mississippi and Utah include provisions in contracts requiring contractors to provide incident management.
• Illinois identifies incidents in work zones through multiple methods and deploys Minutemen vehicles to get stranded vehicles moving or remove them from the roadway.
• Iowa contracts services to provide 24−hour per day continuous monitoring of traffic control devices and incident response.
• Oregon employees a full−time traffic control supervisor whose duties include patrolling the project at least once every 4 hours to maintain work zone traffic control devices and to be on call 24 hours.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

Traffic incidents, even those located off of the travel lanes, can have a significant negative impact on traffic flow. Rapid response to such incidents is essential to minimize their impact on traffic flow. During rush hour periods, incident response delays of minutes can impact congestion for hours. Contractors can be a key part of a maintaining traffic flow, and are becoming more willing to be responsible for improving traffic control and emergency vehicle access, as part of a successful Incident Management team.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

• Reduced delay.
• Enhanced safety.
• Improved public image.
• Responsive Contractors.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

All freeways. All types of work.

STATE(S) WHERE UTILIZED:

California , Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Joy Pinne, Construction, Caltrans
Telephone: (916) 654−5627
E−mail: joy_pinne@dot.ca.gov

John Mitchell, District One, Illinois DOT
Telephone: (773) 624 0470

Mike Staggs, FHWA Illinois Division Office
Telephone: (217) 492 4630

Mark Bortle, Construction Traffic Control Engineer, Iowa DOT
Telephone: (515) 239−1587

Brad Lewis, Assistant State Construction Engineer, Mississippi DOT
Telephone: (601) 359−7323

Jeff Graham, Operations Engineer, FHWA Oregon Division Office
Telephone: (503) 587 4727
E−mail: jeffrey.graham@fhwa.dot.gov

Mike Castellano, FHWA Pennsylvania Division Office
Telephone: (717) 221 4517
E−mail: mike.caltellano@fhwa.dot.gov

Greg Punske, Field Management Engineer/Maintenance of Traffic, FHWA Utah Division Office
Telephone: (801) 963−0078, ext. 237