WisDOT Zoo Interchange Dynamic Late Merge and Queue … · 2018. 2. 21. · – PCMS display HWY...

WisDOT Zoo Interchange Dynamic Late Merge and Queue Warning System07.21.16

Meeting Agenda1. Zoo Interchange Project Overview2. TMP (Traffic Management Plan) Strategies3. Innovative Traffic Mitigation Methods4. 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

Existing Zoo Interchange – looking northeast

Milwaukee County Zoo State Fair

Zoo Interchange - future

A 3D view of the planned Zoo Interchange core – looking northeastA 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 Management

• Emergency Response Maps• Emergency Contact Cards• Incident Response • Communication Plan• Law Enforcement Coordination• Milwaukee Regional Medical

Center Liaison

TMP Strategies –Public Information

• 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

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

• 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)

Zoo InterchangeSTH 16 Interchange

• 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


Zoo Int Core I & II Design• Locations of long-term lane closure:

– I-94 WB at 68th 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 76th 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?• Maximize throughput so that queue doesn’t extend through

nearby interchanges that can be used for diversion1. I-94 WB can divert to the Stadium Interchange2. I-94 EB can divert to Moorland Road3. I-41/894 NB can divert to the Hale Interchange

312

Stadium Interchange

Hale Interchange

Moorland Rd


• 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)


• I-41/894 NB lane closure at National Ave Free Flow Condition


• 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

Outreach• Project Updates posted

on the website and social media

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 reductionI-41/894 NB from the Hale Interchange to Greenfield Avenue

Results• Travel times before/after lane reduction

I-94 EB from Barker Road to WIS 100

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

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.75

y Measurements with the LTL2000Y from Delta

White

Yellow

Fluorescent Orange (initial)

Orange (initial)

Orange (3 months, no traffic)

Orange (3 months, skip)

Orange ( 3 months, edgeline)

Yellow (initial)

Yellow (3 months, no traffic)

White (initial)

White (3 months, no traffic)

.

Orange Pavement Markings• Results

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5Time (months)

Retro Readings over Time

Fluorescent Orange(initial)

Orange (no traffic)

Orange (skip)

Orange (edgeline)

Yellow

White

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

Orange Pavement Markings• What’s Next?

– $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

– [email protected]• Chris Hager, WisDOT SE Freeways TMP Project Manager

– [email protected]• Brian DuPont, WisDOT SE Freeways Oversite Engineer

– [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



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WisDOT Zoo Interchange Dynamic Late Merge and Queue … · 2018. 2. 21. · – PCMS display HWY...

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