In reviewing the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) self assessment, FHWA asked two questions:

• Has the agency established measures to track work zone congestion and delay?
  and
  
• Has the agency established work zone performance guidance that addresses maximum queue lengths, number of open lanes, maximum traveler delay  and other related issues? 

VDOT’s five operations regions have developed tables for allowable work hours, which show when lane closures can be accomodated without creating delays. However, pressure to work outside these hours continues.

The purpose of this project is to develop work-zone operational performance thresholds for Virginia to determine the acceptable limits for queue lengths and/or delays. These will then allow VDOT to fairly evaluate requests seeking to exceed the allowable hours for such lane closures in work zones. Contact  Michael Fontaine for further information.