United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluation of longitudinal construction joints on traffic operations and safety.
-
2009-01-01
[PDF-2.68 MB]
Details:
-
Creators:
-
Corporate Creators:
-
Corporate Contributors:
-
Subject/TRT Terms:
-
Publication/ Report Number:
-
Resource Type:
-
Right Statement:
-
Geographical Coverage:
-
Edition:Final report
-
Corporate Publisher:
-
Abstract:Motorists generally follow the guidance provided by pavement markings, which are normally marked in
coincidence with the longitudinal construction joints, when the markings are necessary. At some locations,
however, there may be a difference between joints and markings, which may lead the motorists to follow
joints instead of pavement markings. In the absence of detailed research on this topic, an effort was made
in this study to evaluate the effects of unmatched longitudinal construction joints and pavement markings
on the lateral positioning of vehicles. Sites with such characteristics were identified, and detailed data
were collected at selected sites, using video camera techniques to capture movements of vehicles for
longer durations. The video tapes were later reduced to extract necessary information. Distance from the
pavement edge to the centerline of each vehicle, vehicle type, presence of vehicles in the adjacent lane,
traffic volume, weather conditions, and vehicle movement were the main data parameters gathered while
reducing the data. In addition, two surveys were also conducted to gather the opinions of practitioners.
Photographs of the vehicles traveling at several other locations, on the sections of the road which had
mismatched joints and pavement markings were also taken. The data was analyzed to check for the
impact of the non coincident pavement markings and longitudinal construction joints. A more rigorous
statistical analysis was carried out for observations at one of the locations.
Based on the survey and analysis of field data, drivers’ lateral position seems to be affected by unmatched
joints and pavement markings. It is advisable to make efforts to avoid such occurrences.
-
Format:
-
Funding:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
