DOI

10.5703/1288284317105

Abstract

INDOT implements several hundred highway projects annually. One of the unintended (and adverse) consequences of road work is the establishment of work zones or full or partial closure of certain road links and the subsequent impairment of network connectivity during the construction season. The temporary reduction in network connectivity can lead to reduced mobility and decreased accessibility to businesses. The user costs incurred during highway construction can be significant, particularly where the affected links have very high traffic volumes or offer few opportunities to detour. Delay also inflicts costs on the non-traveling public, such as when it is necessary to reroute school buses in communities. Delay-related costs also impact the traveling public and shippers of raw materials and finished products. In some cases, construction-related disruptions cause adverse impacts on adjacent businesses. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology and software tool that INDOT’s Construction and Contracts Division could use to evaluate the systemic impacts of work zones on a network. The optimal schedules developed using the methodology were checked using data from past projects and was validated by comparing the reduction in user costs compared to actual past construction schedules. The case study results showed that, compared with INDOT’s current plan, the developed framework would greatly reduce the user and business disruption costs associated with network-wide construction plans by providing optimal construction schedules. The developed network-level project scheduling methodology and software tool will help INDOT to plan various construction projects in a given district while considering user and business disruption costs.

Report Number

FHWA/IN/JTRP-2019/25

Keywords

project scheduling, user cost, business disruption cost, optimization

SPR Number

4160

Performing Organization

Joint Transportation Research Program

Publisher Place

West Lafayette, IN

Date of this Version

2019

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