Full road closure, while not amenable to all construction situations, is a methodology many agencies are giving greater consideration to in order to perform required roadway maintenance and rehabilitation. Simply stated, the full closure approach is designed to eliminate the exposure of motorists to work zones and workers to traffic by temporarily closing a facility under rehabilitation or maintenance. In many cases, work may be performed more quickly since the work area is effectively cleared of interference from motorists passing through a site. Based on interviews with project personnel (when available) and literature reviews, six projects using a full road closure approach are described, including benefits, considerations for success and lessons learned. Factors related to duration, cost, safety, mobility, quality, and public sentiment during the application of full road closure are presented. The goal of this examination is to provide transportation agency staff with greater awareness and a better understanding of the reasons for the use of full closure, and the benefits associated with the approach.
Abstract