Road construction and maintenance operations create an impediment to traffic flow in any area. In urban areas, the effect upon the motorist can often be severe and far reaching. Workzones create an unexpected obstacle on the highway, requiring the motorist to take some type of action that is not normally necessary. They create unexpected bottlenecks, causing delay and frustration. The construction activity itself provides enough entertainment to distract the driver from the immediate task at hand, namely, safely negotiating a path through the work area. The City of Columbus utilizes a number of workzone management techniques to address these problems. Temporary traffic control is designed to maintain as much of the roadway capacity as possible. Excess demand is siphoned off by closing freeway entrance ramps and approach roads to the work area and by providing alternate routes around the project. A strong traveler information program is utilized to keep the public informed of unusual roadway conditions in the metropolitan area. Public perception of the planning and implementation of road construction has grown from a 34% positive acceptance rate in 1990 to a 69% positive acceptance rate in 1994. Other measures of public acceptance have also increased during that period. (A)
Abstract