United States Department of Transportation
i
Design of Lane Merges at Rural Freeway Construction Work Zones [Final Report]
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2012-10-01
[PDF-3.11 MB]
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Edition:Final report.
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NTL Classification:NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION;NTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Traffic Control Devices;NTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Traffic Flow;NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety;
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Abstract:Practices for the design and control of work zone traffic control configurations have evolved over time
to reflect safer and more efficient management practices. However, they are also recognized as areas
of frequent vehicle conflicts that can cause congestion and safety problems. In this research, a new
design has been developed that could lessen some of these detrimental effects. This new concept,
known as the “joint merge,” simultaneously merges two lanes into one. The key feature of the design
is its two-sided taper in which the two adjacent lanes approaching a lane reduction are simultaneously
tapered into a single lane with neither lane having a priority. This is theorized to influence drivers into
merging in a smooth alternating pattern. To evaluate its operational effects, the joint merge was
examined in a work zone in Louisiana and compared to an MUTCD conventional merge configuration
at the same site. Lane-specific volume and vehicle speeds were collected in the field and the two
designs were compared using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and T-test statistical procedures.
Overall, the joint merge was found to increase the efficiency of the closed lane and encourage the use
of both lanes into the work zone entrance. It was also found that the number of lane changes during low
and high-volume periods decreased when the joint merge configuration was used. While no conclusive
findings could be made relative to its specific effect on capacity, video recordings and lane usage data
suggested that the joint merge strategy was understood and well received by most drivers.
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