Nighttime Work Zone Safety Issues: The State DOT Perspective

SLIDE 1

National Traffic Management and Work Zone Safety Conference
October 9, 2007

Nighttime Work Zone Safety Issues
The State DOT Perspective

Craig Ruyle, P.E.
New York State Department of Transportation

A big letter T inside a circle

A guy walking on a very narrow construction frame above the ground and a construction worker with hard hat on is far behind him.

SLIDE 2
  • Construction on the Brooklyn-Queens 
    Expressway 1968 
  • The idea of "Safety" has changed a lot 
    over the past twenty years

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

SLIDE 3

Nighttime Work Zones:
Where Have We Been?
Where Are We Going?

SLIDE 4

Nighttime Work Zones

  • There are many reasons for doing construction and maintenance at night.
    • Safety
    • Cost
    • Congestion
    • Community Issues
    • Productivity
SLIDE 5

Nighttime Work Zones

  • Specifications
    • Early specifications did not address many night work issues.
    • Often standard traffic control specifications were used with lighting requirements left to the contractors and field staff.
SLIDE 6

Nighttime Work Zones

  • Specifications
    • Gradually specific nighttime specifications were developed.
    • Traffic Control Devices.
    • Visibility Requirements.
    • Lighting Requirements.
SLIDE 7

Nighttime Work Zones

  • NYSDOT has recently adopted a new Work Zone Specification.
    • Spec has been changed from "Maintenance and Protection of Traffic" to "Work Zone Traffic Control"
    • This spec includes detailed Nighttime Work Zone Requirements. All of the previous special specs have been incorporated into the new spec.
SLIDE 8

Nighttime Work Zones

  • Spec Highlights:
    • Sets specific lighting requirements
    • Sets visibility requirements for workers
    • Sets nighttime standards for traffic control devices and signs
    • Provides a pay item for nighttime operations
      • Requires the contractor to submit a nighttime lighting plan
SLIDE 9

A photo of a night work zone

SLIDE 10

A photo of a distant view of a night work zone

SLIDE 11

A photo of well lit night work zone with workers at present

SLIDE 12

Nighttime Work Zones

  • What's Next for Nighttime Work Zones?
    • NYSDOT is developing Nighttime Traffic Control Standard Sheets to be included in plans with night work.
SLIDE 13

An image of a traffic control plan for night work developed by NYDOT

SLIDE 14

Nighttime Work Zones

  • Continue to research and develop new equipment and ideas.
    • NYSDOT along with Renselear Polytechnic Institute is researching the use of Semi-Permanent High Mast Lighting on long duration projects.
    • NYSDOT is also testing vehicle lighting.
SLIDE 15

A picture of a construction vehicle equipped with lighting system

SLIDE 16

A picture of the back of a construction vehicle equipped with lighting system

SLIDE 17

Thank You

  • Additional References:
    • NCHRP 476
    • NCHRP 498
    • NYSDOT Standard Specifications 2006 Ed updated September 6, 2007

Thanks to Tom Melander and Sidney Camille of NYSDOT for their assistance.

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