tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832026755264748338.post5397074906154396062..comments2023-06-21T06:43:19.137-05:00Comments on Missouri Department of Transportation: "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones" and Save LivesMatt Hieberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10159253226475082269noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832026755264748338.post-65073815701616654132009-04-20T22:57:00.000-05:002009-04-20T22:57:00.000-05:00As an engineer, I think that Mr. Barger make a goo...As an engineer, I think that Mr. Barger make a good argument, at least that it deserves examination, if it has not already been.<br /><br />However, he might not realize that in many cases, contractors utilize a "rolling lane drop". Also, that certain types of work don't allow for immediate reopening.<br /><br />Again, it is worth noting, that Mr. Barger's comment was exceptionally well versed, considering most "pot shots" that are usually spewed.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05136349291057509258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832026755264748338.post-11012248989322727912009-04-14T09:56:00.000-05:002009-04-14T09:56:00.000-05:00The problem is that with the number of stupid driv...The problem is that with the number of stupid drivers on the road alot of the work zones HAVE to be excessively long.<br /><br />Im sure that we have all noticed the number of barrels at the front of a work zone that are hit and dented from stupid drivers plowing straight through. Now imagine if those barrels were only a few hundred yards from the works. A driver that is so inattentive that they hit the orange barrels may not stop before running over workers or into equipment.<br /><br />If people on the road were slightly more patient and actully paid attention to what was going on around them...long lane closures prior to the actual work being done may not be needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8832026755264748338.post-17027729206158118262009-04-10T14:51:00.000-05:002009-04-10T14:51:00.000-05:00Other things being equal, longer "safety zone...Other things being equal, longer "safety zones" are more dangerous, costly, and driver-unfriendly than shorter zones. <BR/><BR/>Let me explain: I understand the thinking that, if you herd all vehicles into one lane sooner -- well before the construction -- safety will be improved. But this is wrong, as simple observation proves. <BR/><BR/>I wish UMR or Texas A&M or someone would do a study, for you'll find that, the longer the orange-barrel lane blockade, the disproportionately greater the traffic tie-up, fuel wastage, carelessness, and road rage. <BR/><BR/>In simple terms, what happens is that vehicles crowd down to a (nearly) bumper-to-bumper spacing at the point of the merge on, say, a four-lane highway or Interstate; THEN, as drivers drive through an unnecessarily long one-lane "chute," with the other lane blocked, the traffic spaces out to a more normal between-vehicle distance. <BR/><BR/>If you begin to sum (add up) all of the extra space between cars, the longer the chute, the greater the backup at the point of narrowing. The greater the backup, the more fuel and time wasted, and the angrier the drivers. <BR/><BR/>If you've ever driven on a heavily traveled Interstate after the first lane closure warnings are encountered, you'll often see selfish over-the-road truckers blocking traffic, infuriating drivers behind them; often, you'll see angry drivers try to go around these trucks on the shoulder, with stupid truckers sometimes pulling out of the travel lanes to block their passage. <BR/><BR/>Stupidity on top of stupidity. <BR/><BR/>I absolutely understand the need for safety, and that sometimes two construction zones are so close to one another that it makes no sense to force traffic to merge into one lane twice in, say, a mile. <BR/><BR/>However, often, on resurfacing projects, for instance, the construction crew will close one lane for several miles, because they hope to get that far during the day, rather than doing the extra, driver-friendly work of having a rolling closure that just stays a few hundred yards in front of the work being done. <BR/><BR/>If the idea of a four-lane highway is to move large volumes of traffic, then, only the bounds of SAFETY, not contractor convenience, should dictate the mileage length of a lane closure.<BR/><BR/>While I'm not an engineer or even trained in this subject, I am a reasonably intelligent observer, who understands the physical dynamics of traffic flow. <BR/><BR/>I believe that, if the right people in your organization were to look at this with an open mind, or would conduct a study, you would find that traffic flow and work zone safety would increase, rather than decrease, by reducing unnecessarily long lane closures.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for considering my comments.<BR/><BR/>Richard B. Barger<BR/>1156 Queen's Place<BR/>Kansas City, MO 64131-3264<BR/>816-942-2228<BR/>Rich@RBarger.comRichard B. Bargerhttp://www.cornerbarpr.comnoreply@blogger.com