909.2 Nonrecurring Congestion
Nonrecurring congestion can occur at any location at any time and results in delay to motorists as well as a potential for subsequent traffic incidents. TSMO strategies should be utilized to address each type of nonrecurring congestion generator.
Construction
- As an initial step, a project design should be selected to eliminate or minimize additional delays and traffic queueing during construction. EPG 616.13 Work Zone Capacity, Queue and Travel Delay provides tools to access the traffic impact of the proposed project design(s).
- Once a project design has been determined, the MoDOT Work Zone Impact Analysis Spreadsheet will assist in determining which smart work zones strategies should be included in the project to provide information and warnings to motorists to improve work zone safety and traffic mobility. Additionally, the Work Zone Management Guidebook provides information about tools and strategies for work zone management that will maximize safety and minimize the impacts to traffic. The Work Zone Management Guidebook Presentation provides additional information about the guidebook. Additional information can also be found in EPG 616.13 Work Zone Capacity, Queue and Travel Delay and EPG 616.14 Work Zone Safety and Mobility Policy.
- When traffic incidents occur within a work zone, it is imperative to clear the incident and restore traffic as quickly as possible. To aid in this effort, a project-based traffic incident management (TIM) plan should be developed for all significant projects on interstate and freeways.
Traffic Incidents
Traffic incidents occur without warning at any time and location on the highway system. On all segments of the interstate and freeway highway system, traffic incident management (TIM) plans should be developed in coordination with law enforcement and local responders to:
- Reduce response and clearance times
- Develop alternate plans for handling affected traffic
- Communicate and coordinate between responders
- Communicate traffic impacts to motorists.
Reference MoDOT’s Strategic Traffic Incident Management Plan for additional information.