ATSSA Signal September October 2020

The Signal | September/October 2020 21 Innovation ATSSA case studies address work zone safety solutions Series includes six parts to be released during 2021 Convention ATSSA collaboratedwith roadway safety infrastructure industry professionals to produce six new case studies this year. In this issue of The Signal , we look at case studies 3 and 4: • Portable Temporary Rumble Strips • Presence Lighting Nighttime Traffic Control The first two case studies were featured in the July/August issue of The Signal . The final two are planned for the November/ December issue. The six case studies will be combined into one case study booklet and officially released during ATSSA’s 51st Annual Conven - tion & Traffic Expo scheduled for Jan. 29–Feb. 2. Case study booklets are a member benefit and available for digital down - load at ATSSA.com/Case-Studies . Hard copies are also available for purchase on the ATSSA website. Booklets are available to non-members for a nominal fee and to members at discounted prices. Case Study 3 Portable Temporary Rumble Strips Temporary rumble strips have become a widely accepted traffic control measure at work zones because they alert driv - ers to an approaching change in the road environment by generating noise and vibration when a vehicle’s tires come in contact with them. They have been shown to reduce driver speeds and help prevent rear-end colli - sions and errant driving by alerting distracted drivers to changing road conditions. The noise they make also alerts workers on the road that vehi - cles are approaching. But traditional temporary rumble strips made of ther - moplastic or marking tapes can take several hours, or even days, to install and remove, limiting their utility in short-duration or mobile work zones. Portable temporary rumble strips can bring the benefits of rumble strips to work zones of shorter-duration and allow for movement of rumble strips as flagging operations shift locations. These portable strips are typically made from polymer or lightweight manufac - tured plastics and can easily be moved, installed, and removed. Both the Virginia Department of Trans- portation (VDOT) and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) have developed standards and guid - ance for the use of portable tempo - rary rumble strips. VDOT recommends their use in work operations that involve flaggers on a two-lane roadway during daylight hours where work will last between three and 72 hours, the speed limit on the road is 35 mph or greater, and the road has a markedcenter line (withsomeexceptions). MDT promotes portable temporary rumble strips as an added safet y measure for nighttime flagging oper - ations and in areas with a high level of distracted drivers, such as roads near national parks or tourist areas. BothDOTs say these strips should not be used on gravel, bleeding asphalt, rutted pavement, or unpaved surfaces. MDT’s guidelines advise outreach to nearby residents to warn them of the noise that can be caused by rumble strips. Case Study 3, Figure 3 – Installed Portable Temporary Rumble Strips. (Photo Courtesy of Antigo Times)