Work Zone Policy Examples
The development and implementation of an overall, agency-level work zone safety and mobility policy is at the heart of the entire Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule. A work zone safety and mobility policy supports systematic consideration of work zone impacts across all stages of project development and helps an agency address the safety and mobility needs of road users and workers. Having such a policy enables states and other transportation agencies to institutionalize planning, design, and operational strategies that help reduce congestion and crashes due to work zones.
Section 130.1006 of the Rule states that the policy may take the form of processes, procedures, and/or guidance, and may vary based on the characteristics and expected work zone impacts of individual projects or classes of projects. It also encourages states to institute this policy using a multi-disciplinary team and in partnership with the FHWA. More information about work zone safety and mobility policies can be found in Implementing the Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility.
The examples provided below are intended to assist agencies in developing or updating their work zone policies. These examples are not the only way to develop and implement policies, and are not meant to advocate a "one size fits all" approach.
Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policies
Maryland State Highway Administration
The Maryland State Highway Administration's (SHA) Work Zone Policy (PDF 50KB) outlines the procedures to be followed and identifies responsibilities to achieve safer work zones with minimal impact on the traveling public. The policy applies to all work performed on SHA maintained roads. The policy describes the fundamental principles of work zone safety and mobility, the requirements for compliance with the policy, and roles and responsibilities. It also includes appendices containing guidance on identifying significant projects, guidance on Maintenance of Traffic Alternative Analysis, transportation management plan (TMP) guidelines, work zone lane closure analysis guidelines, a sample temporary traffic control inspection form, a sample work zone traffic control annual inspection report, and the Maryland Work Zone Accidents Comparison report. Many of these appendices are described further on the appropriate Rule examples pages within this Web site.
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy applies to all state trunklines, regardless of the type of roadway or bridge facility, including freeway and nonfreeway facilities. The policy applies to construction work zones, as well as maintenance and permitted activity work zones. MDOT has made the decision to analyze each type of work zone in the same manner to provide consistency for travelers in Michigan. Specific processes, procedures, and guidelines to support implementation of the policy are described in MDOT's Work Zone Safety and Mobility Manual. The manual describes roles and responsibilities, crash data analysis, mobility analysis, TMP development, significant project identification, work zone training requirements by classification, and work zone process review procedures.
- Michigan DOT Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (HTML, PDF 44KB)
- Michigan DOT Work Zone Safety and Mobility Manual (PDF 580KB)
Montana Department of Transportation
The Montana Department of Transportation’s (MDT) Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (PDF 536KB) was developed with the purpose of improving safety and mobility in work zones by evaluating construction zone issues and impacts throughout planning and project development, managing construction zones during construction and maintenance operations, and assessing the process for continual improvement and uniformity throughout Montana. The policy, which was developed by a task force comprised of representatives from MDT and FHWA, includes procedures and guidelines for implementation. It also includes eight appendices that cover various elements of the policy in more detail, such as defining significant projects, process review guidelines, training, transportation management plan (TMP) guidance, public information guidance, transportation operations guidance, work zone crash data guidance, and strategies for managing work zone impacts.
New York State Department of Transportation
Chapter 16 of the New York State DOT (NYSDOT) Highway Design Manual contains NYSDOT's Policy on the Maintenance and Protection of Traffic in Highway Work Zones. This chapter also contains procedures, guidance, and standards to help implement NYSDOT's Policy. The policy includes NYSDOT’s overall vision for work zone safety and mobility and its goals and objectives for NYSDOT construction projects. Chapter 16 also includes policy provisions such as guidelines and standards to assist designers in the consistent use of traffic control devices and safety devices and barriers on construction contracts and maintenance operations. It also provides guidance and procedures for the development of Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (MPT) plans and the selection of traffic management strategies for various project types and situations.
North Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has issued a final version of its Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy. Components of the policy include a policy statement, goals and objectives, and guidelines for implementation of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy. The policy has been signed by both the NCDOT State Highway Administrator and the FHWA North Carolina Division Administrator. Additional specifics for the guidelines are contained in a separate Guidelines document that will be updated as needed. The Guidelines include strategies to achieve the goals and objectives, roles and responsibilities for NCDOT staff, and specific provisions for application during planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Also included is an assessment component to ensure the requirements are effective and the work zone strategy practices and procedures are continuously reviewed.
- NCDOT Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (PDF 448KB)
- NCDOT Guidelines for Implementation of the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy (PDF 134KB)
North Dakota Department of Transportation
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has developed a document outlining its work zone safety and mobility policy and procedures (PDF 880KB). The policy and procedures were developed by a task force comprised of personnel from the Design, Planning and Programming, and Construction Services divisions of NDDOT, representatives of several local governments, and a representative from the FHWA North Dakota Division. Each section describes the requirements of the Rule, implementation guidance, NDDOT implementation procedures, and how the Rule element applies to significant and non-significant projects.
Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed and adopted a policy that sets limitations on the number of lanes that may be closed for construction activities on freeways and "freeway look-alikes" (other highways that are similar to freeways). The policy defines how many lanes are required, based upon needed capacity, for each segment of an interstate or an interstate look-alike on an hourly basis. The policy also provides for allowable queue thresholds.
- ODOT - Traffic Management in Work Zones Interstate and Other Freeways, Policy No.: 516-003(P), July 18, 2000 (PDF 128KB)
- ODOT Traffic Management in Work Zones - This web page provides a number of Ohio DOT resources for managing traffic in work zones.
Utah Department of Transportation
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has developed a work zone policy and procedures document (PDF 60KB). This document contains a short policy statement and then describes procedures for implementing the policy, indicating the position title responsible for implementing each section of the Rule and the actions to be taken to implement each section. The document also provides general traffic guidelines, full road closure guidelines, permit guidelines, traffic modeling guidelines, and a work zone user impact process flow diagram.
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has developed a work zone policy that identifies work zone-related roles and responsibilities across the program delivery process, based on a belief that, "effective work zone safety and mobility strategies minimize traffic delays and provide a safe environment in which to work and drive" (as stated in the Policy Purpose Statement). The policy, developed through the collaborative efforts of the WSDOT Development Team; Work Zone Safety Task Force; Program Managers; and Communications Office is a four page document that describes WSDOT's overall purpose/approach to work zone management, why WSDOT needs this policy, and what it is intended to do. It then identifies the primary responsibilities for the five program areas that have work zone responsibilities. The intent of the policy is not to provide details, such as processes, procedures, and solutions, but to establish roles and expectations for the identified program areas. In this way, WSDOT is not introducing the Rule as a new program or a new process, but it is building it into the existing WSDOT program structure. WSDOT feels that the policy allows for greater communication and cooperation from all the groups affected by the Rule by providing a clear understanding of expectations.
- Work Zone Safety and Mobility Secretary's Executive Order, February 2007 (PDF 99KB)
- Washington State DOT's Rule Implementation Process and Policy by Frank Newboles, State Work Zone Safety and Mobility Manager, Washington State DOT & Cathy Nicholas, P.E., Construction & Materials Engineer, FHWA Washington Division (PPT 39KB)
Lane Closure Policies
Many agencies have policy provisions that address specific aspects of decision-making during project delivery. Agencies may choose to develop and implement policy provisions in the form of mandated requirements and/or in the form of policy guidance, as appropriate to their individual operating environments. Several States have developed lane closure policies, which are an example of a policy provision. In order to facilitate the determination of when a lane closure is permitted during the day, some state transportation agencies have developed lane closure policies, or strategies, that they use as guidance in determining daily permitted lane closure times. Permitted lane closure times define what times of the day, week, or season a lane closure is allowed on a facility and at a specific location or segment.
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