Public Information and Outreach Strategies
Work zone public information and outreach can occur at both the program-level and the project-level. Both are important to enhancing safety and mobility in work zones.
Program-level strategies are used to generate awareness and educate drivers and the general public about motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. Program-level strategies typically focus on the need for more vigilance while driving in work zones in general, and are not geared toward a specific project.
Project-level strategies are used to communicate with road users, the general public, area residences and businesses, and appropriate public entities about a specific road construction project and the safety and mobility effects of the work zone. These strategies typically include providing information about what to expect in and around the work zone - such as lane and shoulder closings, new traffic patterns, and traffic delay - and available travel alternatives such as different routes and travel modes.
- Program-Level Public Information and Outreach Examples
- Project-Level Public Information and Outreach Examples
- Work Zone Public Information and Outreach Strategies Guide (HTML, PDF 3.4MB)
Enhancing Work Zone Communications and Outreach - the Focus State Initiative
The work zone focus state initiative was developed to help improve highway safety and mobility through a targeted focus on work zone public information and outreach. Six focus States participated in the initiative, which was comprised of two elements: 1) an FHWA-sponsored workshop held to share information with participants about the focus state effort and work zone public information and outreach, as well as give participants the opportunity to develop an outreach framework and plan for specific projects in their respective States; and 2) technical support to assist the focus States with implementing enhanced public information and outreach for their work zone projects.
- Initiative Summary and Outcomes (HTML, PDF 210KB)
- Workshop Report and Presentations:
- Workshop Proceedings Report (HTML, DOC 290KB)
- Overview of Work Zone Focus State Initiative (HTML, PPT 443KB)
- Why Public Outreach? (HTML, PPT 10MB)
- Public Outreach Practices - Lessons Learned from an Informal Survey (HTML, PPT 815KB)
- North Dakota's Experience - the I-29 Project (HTML, PPT 845KB)
- North Carolina's Integration of 511 and Work Zone Information (HTML, PPT 3.5MB)
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