WisDOT Zoo Interchange Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System 07.21.16
Meeting Agenda 1. Zoo Interchange Project Overview 2. TMP (Traffic Management Plan) Strategies 3. Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods 4. Dynamic Late Merge/Queue Warning Design Outreach Results Lessons Learned 5. Orange Pavement Markings
Zoo Interchange Project Overview Junction of I-94, I-894 and I-41; 340,000 vehicles/day 9 miles of freeway 6 local access interchanges $1.7 billion project Major Construction 2013-2020
Construction Staging 2013-2020 Build key arterials first (2013 and 2014) Build local road bridges to lengthen spans over freeway (2013 2015) Bulk of the freeway/ core interchange work (2015 2020)
Zoo Interchange pre construction Milwaukee County Zoo State Fair Existing Zoo Interchange looking northeast
Zoo Interchange - future A 3D view of the planned Zoo Interchange core looking northeast A 3D view of the planned Zoo Interchange core looking northeast
Construction goals On time On budget Quality Build it with the community Keep routes open for business Build it safely
Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Traffic Operations Safety Mobility Incident Management Emergency response to/through the work zone Emergency response to Regional Medical Facilities Public Information Communicate design aspects, construction closures, and expected impacts
TMP Strategies Traffic Operations Travel Times (DMS, website, emergency responders) WisDOT STOC Coordination Weekly Traffic Meetings/Closure Schedule Adaptive Signal Network Transit Coordination Local Agency Coordination
TMP Strategies Incident Emergency Response Maps Emergency Contact Cards Incident Response Communication Plan Law Enforcement Coordination Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Liaison Management
Resident Outreach Noise, Dust, Vibration, Access Detour route impacts Business Outreach In This Together Direction Sheets Business Signage Special Events Traffic and Communications Planning Multiple Tools to Inform Print Materials Web site zooic.org 511wi.gov one-on-one meetings E-mail blasts Facebook Twitter Media TMP Strategies Public Information
Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods Dynamic Late Merge: First Use Work Zone ITS System Work Zone Systems Workshop Zoo Interchange Project Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Detection System
Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods Dynamic Late Merge: First Use March 2011: Dynamic Late Merge System implemented in southeast Wisconsin for the first time Three lanes of I-94 E-W reduced to two lanes in each direction during the three month resurfacing project Goal to divert 50% of daily freeway traffic; numerous mitigation strategies used Furnished, installed, and maintained by the contractor Zoo Interchange Marquette Interchange (Downtown Milwaukee) STH 16 Interchange Zoo Interchange
Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods Work Zone ITS System First work zone ITS system deployed with the Zoo Interchange project One-mile stretch of STH 100 reconstructed in 2013 to provide mitigation during the Zoo Interchange project Three lanes (37,900 AADT) reduced to two lanes in each direction for much of the project Independent, self-contained system; contractor responsible PCMS display HWY 100 travel time through the work zone
Prior to Zoo Interchange Core I & II project, held workshop to determine innovative work zone ITS needs Mapped the needs to technologies: Dynamic Late Merge (Zipper Merge) Queue warning Traffic detection Traffic surveillance Work zone intrusion alarms Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods
Zoo Int Core I & II Design Locations of long-term lane closure: I-94 WB at 68 th St (Dec 2014 Nov 2015) I-94 EB at Sunnyslope Rd (Mar 2016 Fall 2016) I-41/894 NB at National Ave (Apr 2016 Fall 2016) I-94 EB at 76 th St (21 days in June 2016)* *Zipper merge system not used due to short duration
Zoo Int Core I & II Design Special Provisions Items for Zipper Merge provided and maintained by third party company
Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System A system that provides real-time information to drivers regarding a lane closure ahead using sensors and traffic control devices Lane merge techniques Early merge encourage drivers as soon as possible Late merge encourage drivers to remain in their lanes until reaching the lane closure/merge point The Zoo Interchange project has adopted the name zipper merge for the late merge system to more easily describe the late merging pattern to the traveling public
Why is it important? Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System Maximize throughput so that queue doesn t extend through nearby interchanges that can be used for diversion 1. I-94 WB can divert to the Stadium Interchange 2. I-94 EB can divert to Moorland Road 3. I-41/894 NB can divert to the Hale Interchange Moorland Rd 2 3 1 Stadium Interchange Hale Interchange
Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System PCMS and Fixed Message Signs with Beacons, in advance of the lane closure, are activated when speeds are less than 40 mph. Signs are deactivated when speeds are above 40 mph (traffic is in a free-flow state) Flashing Beacons PCMS Boards Sensors (Speed)
Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System I-41/894 NB lane closure at National Ave Free Flow Condition
Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System I-41/894 NB lane closure at National Ave During Congestion
Outreach Media segments describing upcoming impacts Specific media campaign not needed due to established relationships from previous mega projects
Project Updates posted on the website and social media Outreach
Outreach Instructional video created by project PI team
Results Drivers have been dealing with lots of mega projects and other freeway construction and changes to driving configurations in recent years Marquette Interchange, Mitchell Interchange, I-94 North/South Projects included many lane and ramp closures Savvy drivers Have gotten used to changes Adapted to driving in work zones or using different routes Trust WisDOT s message of alternate routes, expected impacts, etc.
Results Travel times before/after lane reduction I-41/894 NB from the Hale Interchange to Greenfield Avenue
Travel times before/after lane reduction I-94 EB from Barker Road to WIS 100 Results
Results Volume throughput (vphpl) during lane reduction 1550 vphpl
Lessons Learned Pavement marking changes Added arrow markings at lane drop location Detection adjustment Too complex initially with each sign having its own detection which caused confusion Changed so that whole system is either on or off Contractor issues Staffing changes made coordination difficult
Lessons Learned Maximizes throughput through work zone Promotes safety and alertness to drivers Alerts drivers of upcoming delays Reduces speed differential between lanes Reduce drivers frustration Balancing impacts between aggressive drivers and conservative drivers Encourages use of alternate routes
Orange Pavement Markings History of Orange Pavement Markings Never used before in the United States Used before in other countries (Canada, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and New Zealand) in work zones Provide color correlation with other work zone devices
Orange Pavement Markings Why the Zoo Interchange? Lots of lane shifts in the project Very high traffic volumes Issues with salt residue on pavement making the white lines blend in during the winter months Removal of old markings left scars on the pavement making it hard to distinguish the correct lane lines Motorist confusion on where the travel lane really is
Orange Pavement Markings FHWA Approval for Experimentation Critically Important Experimentation Request submitted on October 20, 2014 Approval from FHWA received on November 5, 2014 Current experimentation is through June 2016 (for the Core I Project) Concerns from FHWA: Yellowing of orange marking over time Utilization of control sections (one direction of the roadway is orange and the other is white) Semi-annual reports required
Orange Pavement Markings Evaluation Plan for WisDOT CCTV cameras to detect driver reaction/traffic operations Dash-cam video footage used Continue to evaluate traffic operations, including operations during snow events (plowing and salting) Monthly retroreflectivity and color readings taken Survey of general public (located on WisDOT website) Utilize fixed message warning signs
Orange Pavement Markings Installation Challenges Trial and error The first orange was put down in early December 2014 Used on edgelines and lanelines Utilized orange epoxy Out of spec (too cold) Equipment issues Long cure time Not very reflective Poor adhesion Color closely resembled yellow epoxy
Orange Pavement Markings Survey Results on Original Orange Markings Did the Orange markings: Increase your awareness of being in a work zone? 53.5% Yes 46.5% No Seem more visible than the white pavement markings? 59.7% Yes 40.3% No Opinion of the Orange markings:
Orange Pavement Markings Survey Results on Original Orange Markings
Orange Pavement Markings Lessons Learned So Far Issues with color at night with high pressure sodium lighting Need to utilize a more fluorescent type of orange to pop out Fluorescent Orange Daytime Fluorescent Orange Nighttime
Orange Pavement Markings Installation Challenges The more fluorescent the orange, the more transparent it becomes Orange Fluorescent Orange
Orange Pavement Markings Results y Measurements with the LTL2000Y from Delta 0.6 White Yellow 0.5 Fluorescent Orange (initial) 0.4 0.3. Orange (initial) Orange (3 months, no traffic) Orange (3 months, skip) Orange ( 3 months, edgeline) Yellow (initial) Yellow (3 months, no traffic) White (initial) 0.2 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.75 White (3 months, no traffic)
Orange Pavement Markings Results Retro Readings over Time Fluorescent Orange (initial) Orange (no traffic) Orange (skip) Orange (edgeline) Yellow White 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 Time (months)
Orange Pavement Markings Results of Second Survey
Orange Pavement Markings Results of Second Survey
Orange Pavement Markings Fluorescent Orange Performance More fluorescent version (epoxy) applied in mid-march 2015 Survey #2 was conducted from April 10 to April 27, 2015 The fluorescent orange faded significantly during May, 2015 due to increased UV exposure Waterborne orange (without fluorescent materials) was placed in June and has maintained its color though the summer months
What s Next? Orange Pavement Markings $16.50 per gallon for waterborne vs. $65.00 per gallon for epoxy Usage of orange waterborne paint and tape on the Zoo Interchange Project First semi-annual report was submitted to the FHWA in September 2015 Extension to continue the experiment throughout Core II (until August 2018) was approved by FHWA Additional evaluations (orange tape) performed by the Smart Work Zone Pooled Fund through UW TOPS Lab (scheduled Fall 2016)
Contacts Ryan Luck, WisDOT SE Freeways Construction Chief Ryan.Luck@dot.wi.gov Chris Hager, WisDOT SE Freeways TMP Project Manager Christopher.Hager@dot.wi.gov Brian DuPont, WisDOT SE Freeways Oversite Engineer Brian.Dupont@dot.wi.gov
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