UC Irvine Institute of Transportation Studies

This paper reports the results of an effort directed toward developing a consistent methodology to assess the impacts of traffic disruption due to major transportation reconstruction/rehabilitation projects during the period of implementation. In the approach taken by this research, state-of-the-art traffic simulation models are used to estimate the performance of the transportation system during various construction phases. Alternative construction and traffic redirection strategies designed to minimize both the direct and indirect losses associated with the construction/rehabilitation are then evaluated with the  development of a systematic, computerized procedure designed to: 

1. provide for the creation and comparison of multiple and 'layered' reconstruction/rehabilitation scenarios,

2. minimize the required knowledge of both the detailed interactions with the model as well as the host computer, and 

3. produce meaningful, comparative outputs that assist in the selection of reasonable alternatives. 

The resulting modeling environment is viewed as a convenient tool to assist both the traffic engineer and the transportation planner in selection of reasonable reconstruction/rehabilitation plans and schedules.