Traffic Management in Work Zones

Strategic Initiative Six from FY 2000 was "We will be second to none in maintenance of traffic practices." As a result of this Strategic Initiative, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has developed a policy for traffic management in work zones, Policy No.: 516-003(P). You may access the policy by clicking on the policy number. It requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you not not have this reader, there is a link a the bottom of this page to download it for free. There is a discussion of the policy in the July 2000 edition of the external Transcript. The Transcript is the ODOT newsletter. 

One item in the policy is a requirement that Districts develop permitted lane closure times for the Interstate/Freeway system. This is something that was already done in ODOT District One.  

For information on permitted lane closure times around the state click on the barrel. 

The policy requires studies to determine estimated queue lengths if work is to be done outside the permitted lane closure times. Information on the projected queue lengths and the reason work is requested to be done outside the permitted times must be submitted to the Multi-Lane Coordinator in ODOT Central Office. Approvals for work outside the times permitted times must be approved by the Central Office Maintenance of Traffic Exception Committee. 

A Maintenance of Traffic Alternative Analysis needs to be submitted for review and approval for any projects following the Major Plan Development Process (PDP) or for projects following the minor PDP on the interstate or interstate look alike system.  The ODOT Office of Traffic Engineering has posted sample documents on their Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) page

A March 8, 2005 ODOT fact sheet lists strategies to reduce traffic delays in work zones.

For information on work zone safety, please see the April 2, 2007 news release on National Work Zone Safety Awareness Safety Week. 

For information on construction projects around the state, please check the BuckeyeTraffic.org.

The ODOT District One Work Zone Manager is Eric Pfenning.  Contact information is as follows:

Eric R. Pfenning, P.E., P.S.
ODOT District One, Highway Management
1885 N. McCullough Street
Lima, Ohio 45801
Email:  Eric.Pfenning@dot.state.oh.us
Telephone:  (419) 999-6893        
Fax:  (419) 999-7089

District One of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) covers Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wyandot counties in northwest Ohio.

ODOT District One Planning & Engineering Web Site Manager:  Charles Schreck