Intelligent traffic control system for highway work zones

Highway construction work zones generally create conflicts between the vehicular traffic and the work activity, leading to a reduction in the number of traffic lanes and to traffic conditions that violate motorists expectations. Current work zones signs do not provide specific, accurate and reliable information on congestion and, as a result, they are generally ignored by motorists. The paper presents a conceptual outline of a project, currently under way at the University of Cincinnati, to develop and implement a portable real-time traffic control system for highway work zones.