The low-down on lane closures and traffic safety

Traffic safety in the fast lane

You might be driving along the highway and begin to see the tell-tale signs of a work zone in progress. Traffic barricades or drums line the road, and you’re directed one way or the other for an eventual lane closure. 

Lane closures and their purposes 

While potentially frustrating for drivers, as they can slow traffic down, lane closures are one of the most effective ways to manage an active work zone on roadways. The primary goal of most lane closures is to increase the safety of the work site and the construction crews there. Closing sections of roads nearly eliminates potential hazards that might exist if the lanes or road remained open during construction.

A lane closure is just that: a lane or number of lanes are closed and diverted, often to the other side of the road, so that construction crews can work effectively and safely in that area. This differs from a full road closure, which cordons off an entire roadway and detours drivers around it until construction is complete. With lane closures, the road can remain open, minimizing disruptions and allowing drivers to retain their normal routes while keeping the public and workers safe. 

Protection of the public, traffic safety and management, and more efficient work zone operations are all reasons that a lane might be closed during maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. 

How to spot a lane closure (hint: look for traffic control devices). 

Depending on the type and duration of work zone, a lane closure might be indicated in a few ways. A common sight is the classic orange traffic drum, which often slowly diverts your car until you’re in the intended lane. These are easy to misinterpret, however, and often cause anxiety for inexperienced (and even some experienced) drivers. However, they remain a staple because of their portability and ease of setup. For smaller roads or very temporary work areas, collapsible traffic cones (the classic orange cone) or highly visible and lightweight Vertical Panels might be used. 

Connecting construction barricades or barriers are also used in more permanent (but still temporary) sites to increase safety and decrease the chance that a motorist enters the work site. Think of an overhaul of a battered county highway or the installation of a new road next to an old one. These barriers might look like our 32” LCD or 42” LCD jersey barriers, which are perfect for creating channels (hence, the name “channelizer”) for cars to navigate through. Creating new, fully delineated lanes with jersey walls ensures that drivers are exactly where they’re supposed to be, giving work crews the freedom to work without fear of accidents caused by passing vehicles. 

In addition to the highly visible barricades, cones, or barriers, traffic signs and flashing lights are also often used to indicate that a roadway will be changing. In an effort to warn motorists well in advance, signs and lights will often be found miles in advance of the actual work site. They might state “road work ahead”, “lane closed ahead”, “right or left lane closed in ____ feet”, or depict a necessary lane merge, among other things. If a driver is aware and focused on the road, they won’t miss the many signs pointing to an upcoming lane closure! 

Traffic safety by the books: what are the rules for lane closures?

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) oversees the policies for situations like lane closures, but the details are up to each state. Colorado Department of Transportation, for example, has divided its state into six regions, each with lane closure policies specific to each region. This gives them the ability to tailor their regulations to the different types of terrains found in Colorado. Other states, like Indiana, have a state-wide closure policy and maps to go along with it. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is currently using a new technology to determine the proper type of closure on a case-by-case basis with a web-based system overseen by State traffic engineers. 

There are no specific hard and fast rules when it comes to lane closures, but the closure policies of each state generally cover how a lane may (or may not) be closed, and when during the day it would least disrupt operations or cause delays. Each state specifies the closure policies that work best for them, as it’s not a “one size fits all”.       

Meet the OTW Safety products (mentioned above!) that can help keep lane closures safe

The lightweight, go-to options:

• Our safety cones are reflective (reflective collars) and have an LED light and a rubber base that keeps the cone steady in the case of high wind. They collapse for easy storage, so they are perfect to have on hand if you’re on the road often, a first responder, or working on things like lane closures.
  • Pro-tip: Need a thoughtful gift to help keep your trucker safe? A collapsible safety cone kit is a must-have for when truck drivers need to stop on the side of the road for any reason.   
• The Vertical Panel is like a traffic cone… but better. Hi-vis prismatic reflective stripes make it hard to miss, and it can withstand the impact of cars, unlike cones. It meets MUTCD standards, is NCHRP-350 certified, and is approved on the PennDOT Bulletin 15. While these might not collapse like the cones in our kit, they are stackable for easy storage.

Heavier-duty options:

• As mentioned above, the 32” LCD Barricade is a longitudinal channelizing device that is perfect for lane closures. It is easier to deploy and store than your typical jersey barricade, thanks to its size and weight when empty, and is a force to be reckoned with when ballasted. These petite jersey barriers are small but mighty: good luck moving the 500 pounds of ballasted barricade! 
• The bigger sibling to the 32”, the 42” LCD Jersey Barricade fulfills the same channelizing needs on a larger scale. Manufactured in OSHA-approved (hi-vis) orange, they are approved by the NCHRP 350 at Test Level 3 (TL-3) criteria for use in high-speed construction zones. This means that these jersey barriers have been crash-tested at high speeds and are designed specifically to keep motorists and workers as safe as possible. At 1330 pounds when ballasted, these hefty jersey barricades won’t budge from their jersey wall. 

One-time lane closure or road closure coming up? You can also rent traffic barricades from OTW Safety. Rental barricades are convenient, and affordable, and will help you keep any site safe. Let’s find your perfect traffic safety barricade!

Keep traffic safety a priority: stay aware on the road, stay safe on the road

The number of fatalities from work zone collisions has been on the rise since 2020. Distracted driving has become an epidemic and drivers simply aren’t as aware as they used to be while they are on the road. This makes work zone safety and awareness all the more important if we hope to have a chance of bringing those numbers back down. 

Stay aware at all times while driving, but be especially mindful of your surroundings when that tell-tale construction orange appears: you just might save a life.   

State Lane Closure Policies: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/practices/factsheets/factsheet17/index.htm