Two Simplified Intelligent Transportation System-Based Lane Management Strategies for Short-Term Work Zones

Intelligent transportation systems-based lane management technologies were introduced to work zones in an attempt to reduce congestion and diminish queue lengths. Two forms of lane merging–the early merge and the late merge–were designed to advise drivers on definite merging locations. This study suggests two SDLMS–early merge and late merge–to supplement the current Florida Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plans. Data were collected in work zones on I-95, Florida using three different traffic maintenance treatments. The first MOT plan treatment was the standard MOT used by the Florida Department of Transportation. The second MOT plan was the early SDLMS, and the third MOT was the late SDLMS. Results showed that the maximum queue discharge rate (or capacity) of the work zone was significantly higher for the early SDLMS compared to the conventional Florida Department of Transportation MOT plans. The late SDLMS did not result in significant increase in the work zone capacity. Moreover, results showed that early merging rate was the highest for the early SDLMS and the lowest for the late SDLMS, which suggests that some drivers were complying with the messages displayed by the system.