A Model for Estimating Excess User Costs at Highway Work Zones

Highway work zones reduce available lanes for traffic, form traffic bottlenecks, and cause traffic delays and congestion. The additional travel time and effort involved in changing driving maneuvers at work zones result in excess costs to motorists in time, consumption of fuel and oil, and wear and tear of vehicle parts. A model for estimating excess user costs at work zones was developed based on traffic data collected at work zones on Indiana’s freeways. Indiana’s model for estimating excess user costs at work zones is described. Individual components of user costs and total user costs at two work zones were calculated to show the applications of the model. Factors affecting the work zone user costs are also discussed, and examples of application are included. Also briefly presented are the values of traffic capacities, average vehicle speeds, and queue-discharge rates of work zones.