# Presentation: 469652

## MUTCD Part 6:  Temporary Traffic Control 

**MUTCD Part 6:  Temporary Traffic Control **

**Notes:**
The title to Part 6 has changed to “Temporary Traffic Control”.  This title replaces the “Standards and Guides for Street and Highway Construction, Maintenance, Utility, and Incident Management Operations.”

## Definition of Temporary Traffic Control Zones

- Work zones
- Roadway incidents
- Special events

**Notes:**
The new definition states that  “A temporary traffic control zone is an area of a highway where road user conditions are changed because of a work zone or an incident though the use of temporary traffic control devices, police, or other authorized officials.  An incident area is an area of a highway where temporary traffic controls are imposed by authorized officials in response to a road user incident, hazardous material event, weather related incident, natural disaster, or special event.”

## Reason for Shift

- Work zones becoming more important
- Increase in road users
- motorists, bicyclists, 	pedestrians
- Increased need for worker safety
- Minimize delay

**Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:**
- _[http://www.aaafts.org/photolib/signs_signals/](http://www.aaafts.org/photolib/signs_signals/Merge_sign.JPG)_
- _[Merge_sign.JPG](http://www.aaafts.org/photolib/signs_signals/Merge_sign.JPG)_

**Notes:**
There are many reasons for these changes.  First, there are simply more road users ...more drivers, more pedestrians, and more bicyclists.  

Second, the increase in the number of work zones means that travelers face more delays and inconvenience.  Better management and an emphasis on the temporary aspect of these work zones helps to alleviate driver and road user frustrations, which also helps to increase safety.

Third, and quite important, is the issue of ensuring the safety of the road users and workers.

## Temporary Traffic Control Plans

- New Guidance:*  *
- provides GUIDANCE statement to provide additional information on minimizing the need to reduce speed limits in temporary traffic control zones
- no economic impact on state and local highway agencies

**Notes:**
The provision of speed minimization guidelines in Temporary Traffic Control Zones should have no economic impact on State and local highway agencies.  However, roadway safety and efficiency should increase because research has shown that speed reductions should occur in no greater than 10 mph increments.

## Worker Safety 

- Shadow vehicles
- Crash Cushions
- Other devices to protect workers
- Flagger uniforms

**Notes:**
Worker safety is of paramount importance to the FHWA.  As a result, the 2000 MUTCD includes important information on shadow vehicles, crash cushions and other devices to protect workers, and flagger procedures, especially the use of retroreflective clothing.

It should be noted that the 2000 MUTCD replaced the term, “protection vehicle” with “shadow vehicle”.  A shadow vehicle may be used to protect the workers from impacts by errant vehicles.  

Additionally, the 2000 Manual provides many references to the use of flaggers and the need to have flaggers look official with the proper retroreflective clothing. 

## Sign Placement

- New considerations: not to have signs on sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or other areas designated for pedestrian or bicycle traffic

**Notes:**
Sign placement guidelines are added to the Millennium Edition so that the placement of temporary traffic control signs does not hinder the movement of pedestrians and bicyclists.  Specifically, portable sign supports should not be located on sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or areas designated for pedestrian or bicycle traffic.

**New Regulatory Signs**

**Notes:**
The Millennium Manual includes New REGULATORY SIGNS.  Several of these signs were in the Typical Application diagrams in the 1993 MUTCD revision, but there was no discussion as to their proper use.

## New Warning Signs

**Notes:**
Also, a total of eight new WARNING SIGNS have been illustrated in the new MUTCD.  Similar to the Regulatory Signs, this change has been made because several signs were in the Typical Application diagrams in the 1993 Edition, but there was no discussion as to their proper use.  These signs were added as Guidance.  Shown here are the CENTER LANE CLOSED AHEAD signs, the THRU TRAFFIC MERGE RIGHT (LEFT) sign, an ON RAMP plaque, the RAMP NARROWS sign.

## New Warning Signs (cont’d)

**Notes:**
Shown here are the UTILITY WORK AHEAD, SLOW TRAFFIC AHEAD, EXIT CLOSED, and EXIT OPEN signs.

## Portable Changeable Message Signs

**Photo courtesy of Federal Lands Program Office of U.S. DOT**

**Notes:**
Portable message signs provide the opportunity to give motorists advance information when traveling through work zones.  Portable message signs are particularly effective when the message has to vary throughout the work zone.  

The 2000 MUTCD adds guidance for message format, placement, and providing treatments for portable changeable message signs.

## Portable Changeable Message Signs (cont’d)

- Guidance on the design of message displays
- top line...problem
- center line...location or distance ahead
- bottom line...driver action
- Guidance for location and providing protection for portable changeable message signs

**Notes:**
This was instituted to add a message format for Portable Changeable Signs in response to recommendations contained in the Older Driver Highway Design Handbook. The Handbook showed that motorists may benefit from having a message in a logical sequence. 

In Section 6F, guidance is provided that states “Messages should be designed taking into account the following factors:   [1] If the message can be displayed in one phase, the top line should present the problem, [2] the center line should present the location or distance ahead, and [3] the bottom line should present the recommend driver action.” 

We have provided guidance for locating and providing protection for portable changeable message signs.  This GUIDANCE will maintain traffic flow efficiency and improve safety.

## Arrow Panels

**Notes:**
Guidance on Arrow Panels has been added to the Millennium Edition of the MUTCD to help maintain traffic flow efficiency and improve safety.  An arrow panel is a sign with a matrix of elements capable of either flashing or sequential displays.  An arrow panel is intended to provide additional warning and directional information to assist in merging and controlling road users through or around a temporary traffic control zone.

## Arrow Panels (cont’d)

- definition of “arrow panel” is a STANDARD
- 1st paragraph changed from SUPPORT to STANDARD
- New Guidance:
- shielding with barrier or crash cushions

**Arrow Panels**** (cont’d)**

**Notes:**
Arrow panels minimum size, legibility distance, number of elements, and other specification are shown on Figure 6F-3.  Type A, B, and C arrow panels shall have solid rectangular appearances.  Type D is a new arrow panel and shall conform to the shape of the arrow.  All arrow panels shall be finished in non-reflective black.  The arrow panel shall be mounted on a vehicle, a trailer, or other suitable support.  A vehicle displaying an arrow panel shall be equipped with rotating lights or strobe lights. 

An arrow panel should be placed on the shoulder of the roadway, or if practical, further from the traveled lane.  It should be delineated with retroreflective temporary traffic control devices, or when within the clear zone, shielded with a barrier or crash cushion.

## Drums

- New standard will provide better uniformity on the top color of all drums

**Notes:**
The new manual includes a new standard on the uniformity of drums.  The standards states that each drum shall have a minimum of two orange and two white stripes with the top stripe being orange.  

## Direction Indicator Barricade

**Notes:**
The direction Indicator Barricade shall consist of a retroreflective horizontal arrow top panel and a striped retroreflective bottom panel, both mounted horizontally to the ground.

The arrow panel shall be black on an orange background.  The stripes on the bottom panel shall be alternating orange and white retroreflective stripes slopping downward at 45 degrees in the direction road users are to pass. The Strips shall be 4 inches wide.  The arrow panel shall be 24 x 12 inches.  The bottom panel shall have a length of 24 inches and a height of 8 inches.  

The direction indicator barricade should be crashworthy.  It may be used in tapers, transitions, and other areas where specific directional guidance to drivers is necessary.  If used, direction indicator barricade should be used in series to direct the driver through the transition and into the intended travel lane.

## Work in Urban Areas

**Notes:**
As we’ve stated earlier, the 2000 Manual gives additional emphasis to bicyclists and pedestrians on the roadway.  

Section 6 G includes changes from Support language to a Standard, that ensures that bicyclists and pedestrians are accommodated during a temporary traffic control zone.  The emphasis is on the need to maintain clear pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians during construction and maintenance work.

## 46 Typical Applications

- More notes
- Highway-rail grade crossing guidance
- Crashworthy treatments
- Pedestrian and bicycle emphasis

**Notes:**
We have 46 typical applications that provide guidance and examples of how to manage a temporary traffic control zone.  The TAs include short-term, medium-term, and long-term applications.  The TAs have been upgraded with new notes, guidance, and management of temporary traffic control work zones around a highway-rail grade crossing.  

## TA-12: Lane Closure

**TA-12: Lane Closure**

**Notes:**
This typical application provides new standard and guidance for a Lane Closure on two lane roads using traffic control signals.  

New Standard:
Note 4 added to TA-12 Lane Closure on Two-Lane Road Using Traffic Control Signals:  Stop lines SHALL be installed with temporary traffic control signals
Note 8 added to TA-14, Haul Road Crossing:  Stop lines SHALL be used on existing highways with temporary traffic control signals
These changes will be in compliance with Part 4, Chapter 4D, of the 2000 Millennium Edition of the MUTCD dated December 18, 2000, which discusses the location of stop lines with respect to traffic signals. 

## TA-14: Haul Road Crossing

**Notes:**
Typical application 14 provides several notes on Haul Road Crossings.  These are some of the notes.

Note 3 indicates the traffic control method selected shall be used in both directions.

Note 5 provides several procedures for the flagger on the haul road crossing and references Sections 6E.04 and 6E.05.  

## TA-45: Movable Barriers

**TA-45: Movable Barriers**

**Notes:**
A new Figure 6H-45 (TA-45), Temporary Reversible Lane Using Moveable Barriers, and notes for Figure 6H-45 have been added.  Many jurisdictions are using moveable barriers; therefore, we have added a new Figure and guidance and support notes have been added for these devices which were not in the 1988 MUTCD, Revision 3, dated September 3, 1993.
Guidance has been added to accommodate unbalanced peak-period traffic.  There are four motor vehicle traffic phases:
Phase A-two travel lanes northbound and one lane southbound.
Transition Phase A to Phase B – one travel lane in each direction.
Phase B-one travel lane northbound and two lanes southbound.
Transition Phase B to Phase A – one travel lane in each direction.
The typical application on the left illustrates the placement of devices during Phase A.  The typical application on the right shows conditions during the transition from Phase A to Phase B.

Multilane divided highway.

Diagram of both phases are shown.

Read the full text for Notes for Figure 6H-45 (TA-45) 

## TA-46: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

**TA-46: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing**

**Notes:**
TA-46 is new and provides information on Work in the Vicinity of a highway-rail grade crossing.  Important information is provided for early coordination with the railroad company. Early coordination should improve operations and safety at highway-rail grade crossings.  Thus, early coordination with the railroad company SHOULD occur before work starts.