Work Zone Lane Closure Warning Light System (7-3983-1)

This report has documented the research performed to assess the effectiveness of a flashing warning light system as a work zone traffic control device. Researchers investigated motorist understanding of and perceived usefulness of various designs of the warning light system in a simulated work zone at night at TTI's proving ground facility at the Texas A&M University Riverside Campus. Field studies of the warning light system were also performed at night to determine if the system would yield significant operational or safety benefits in actual work zone applications. Furthermore, researchers discussed the physical design of the warning light system in respect to the problems encountered while using the system in the proving ground and field studies.|Proving ground and field studies show that the warning light system is perceived positively and is not confusing to the motoring public, and may encourage motorists to vacate a closed travel lane sooner (which is believed to offer a potential safety benefit). However, researchers believe that the current design (cable interconnected directional LED lights) of the system will be difficult to implement and maintain in a field setting. Therefore, researchers recommend that TxDOT consider the following: 1) TxDOT should specify a desire for a wireless system that has a wider cone of vision than currently provided by the flashing LED lights; 2) if a revised system design can be reasonably obtained, TxDOT should consider limited demonstration evaluation at a few more lane closure sites to evaluate TxDOT and contractor ability to set up and maintain the system. Implementation Plan and Recommendation (IPR) funds should be pursued for purchase of such a system for field demonstration purposes; and 3) any field demonstrations of a revised system should comply with TxDOT's Request to Experiment with this type of device as approved by the FHWA.