Determining Design Wind Loads for Work Zone Traffic-Control Devices

Abstract

Proper traffic control and delineation are critical to achieving safety in work zones. In addition to being crashworthy, a barricade or temporary sign support should have the ability to withstand anticipated service loads. If a barricade or temporary sign support fails or overturns, it cannot perform its intended function and the safety of the work zone may be compromised. Currently, no guidance is provided on the service loads that should be used in the design of these work zone devices. Recommendations are provided for design wind loads for work zone traffic-control devices. The results from field trials indicate that truck-induced wind loading is not a critical design issue for barricades and barricades with signs. The recommendations are thus based on an analytical determination of design wind speeds associated with different recurrence intervals that correspond to the duration of work zone activities. Analytical case studies are presented for two common barricade designs, with consideration given to both structural capacity and overturn. Guidance on the amount of ballast required to prevent overturn is provided as a function of wind speed, barricade length, and sign mounting height.