This project summary report highlighted the findings of a two-year project that evaluated the impacts of work zone safety technologies deployed at multiple high-speed rural work zones in Texas, within TxDOT's Childress District. During the first year of operations (September 1998 to August 1999) a combination of several technologies were evaluated at nine different highway maintenance work zones. During the second year (September 1999 to August 2000), the most effective technologies were redeployed and evaluated at eight additional work zones. The analysis considered traffic speeds, the number of vehicle conflicts, and worker and driver comments.

Researchers highlighted the following three technologies and provided recommendations for their deployment.

DEVICE	FINDINGS	RECOMMENDATION
Speed display trailers	Reduced the average speed by 5 mi/h in work zones Reduced percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit Positive worker comments	Speed display trailers should be considered when there are concerns about speed limit compliance or safety at a site.
Portable dynamic message signs (DMS)	When DMS were active, the number of cars in the closed lane 1000 feet upstream from the lane closure taper decreased by 50 percent. The number of late merges and sudden braking maneuvers near the work zone taper also decreased. When DMS were active, there was a 1 to 2 mi/h reduction in average speed.	Portable DMS should be considered when there is a lane closure on a high-speed facility.
Fluorescent yellow-green worker garments.	Fluorescent yellow-green garments had greater luminance (brightness) than orange garments and were more visible than orange garments against common work zone backgrounds.	Worker should be equipped with fluorescent yellow-green vests.

Notes

For more detailed information see the related year-one and year-two project reports.

• Carlson, P., M. Fontaine, and G. Hawkins. Evaluation of Traffic Control Devices for Rural High-Speed Maintenance Work Zones, Prepared by TTI for the Texas DOT, Austin, TX: October 2000.

• Fontaine, M., P. Carlson, and G. Hawkins. Evaluation of Traffic Control Devices for Rural High-Speed Maintenance Work Zones: Second Year Activities and Final Recommendations, Prepared by TTI for the Texas DOT, Austin, TX: October 2000.