Work zones for pavement resurfacing on multiple-lane highways often require closing two or more lanes at a time, one lane for access and the other(s) for resurfacing. This paper develops a work zone optimization model for multiple-lane highways with time-dependent inflows, a detour, access lanes, and time constraints. Two algorithms SAUASD (Simulated Annealing for Uniform Alternatives with a Single Detour) and SAMASD (Simulated Annealing for Mixed Alternatives with a Single Detour) developed in our previous studies are used to find the best schedules and diversion fractions for successive work zones. The objective is to minimize total cost, including agency cost and user cost. Four possible time constraints (none, AM, PM, AM+PM) are analyzed in our numerical examples for six-lane highway work zones. Thus, traffic management plans are developed with uniform or mixed alternatives for successive zones within a multiple-lane highway resurfacing project.
Abstract