Using GPS to measure the impact of construction activities on rural interstates

The presence of construction work zones on interstates impacts the traveling conditions encountered by motorists. These changes not only affect the traveling public, but also the workers that perform the construction. The impacts of the work being performed also tend to cause queuing. In addition, these periods of construction operations have been linked to an increase in the number of accidents and fatalities that involve road-users and construction crews. A research project was undertaken to evaluate possible options to improve the safety of construction work zones on interstates in the state of Indiana. One component of this project dealt with the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to collect traffic data and to relate the traveling conditions encountered with the differing construction activities taking place. This paper describes the GPS study conducted in three different rural work zones on Interstate 65 in Indiana. Multiple runs were conducted at each location to analyze the impact of traveling conditions to changes in lane restrictions during construction periods on traveling conditions.