Taffic Control Patterns

[Tricoach]

I need to design a traffic control pattern for work on two sides of a main highway. The actually work is going to be off of the shoulder but close enough to the road that a plan will be required. I do not usually do this type of design work, but since its a small project, I wanted to try it out. Can anyone give me any recommendation for examples to look at? The project in in Virginia. The speed limit of the main road is 45mph, and the two side roads of the intersection have limits of 25mph. I need a plan to divert traffic from the shoulders on both sides of the road, for a duration of up to (1) one week. I do not see a reason to narrow the roadways as the work will be off of the shoulder. However, i'd imagine barriers are still required given the duration of the scope of work.

Please advise on any resources or examples that I could look at.

 

[Maury]

You describe this as a main highway, which suggests that it is owned by the Virginia DOT. Since you are going to need a DOT permit for the work, go to them to discuss the project ASAP. They will tell you how they want traffic control to be done and will probably have standard details to use.

 

[Tricoach]

Maury,

Thanks, that was the direction I was heading in, but I was hoping to be able to reference a detail prior to discussing with them. I'll just see what they have to say though.

thanks for the quick response.

 

[francesca]

Tennessee has standard drawings for traffic control on various highway types. I imagine Virginia does too.

 

[Tricoach]

VA does as well, however I wasn't able to find one that matched my situation. I am talking with VDOT today though, so i'm sure they will shed some more light on the situation.

thanks.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

I hate to bring up the obvious, but have you checked Chapter 6H of the national MUTCD? There is a detail for shoulder closures in there.

How far from the edge line will you be? Will you have open trenches or other features that will need to be positively separated from traffic? If not, barrels may be enough.


"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

 

[Tricoach]

ACtrafficenger...

We'll i'm going to be doing work on both sides of the road as previously mentioned. it's going to be a jack and bore scenario. We will be passing a 12" DIP under the highway. I will be connecting to an existing water line on the opposite side of the road, so unfortunately there will be a large hole for a breif period of time, on both sides of the road. With the current detail I have, the open hole will be just off the edge of the shoulder on both sides. The one detail for the East side road shows us actually taking about a 1/2ft of the shoulder. The holes themselves will be rather large (36' +/- by 15') on both sides of the highway, for the Jack and bore.

I'm invisioning jersey barriers may be required, if barrels can not get it done.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

Depending on the depth of the pits and the speed and volume of traffic, the state transportation agency may require barriers.

Also, if you do use temporary concrete barrier, don't forget to include the substantial weight in your pit shoring design. They weigh ~5000#/12 ft section. Also, concrete barrier does deflect when struck, so you'll want some offset from the back of barrier to the top of cut.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928