Updated Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations will help states better manage work zones, travel disruptions, congestion, and crashes.
FHWA announced updates to the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule and the Temporary Traffic Control Devices Rule to improve safety in and around work zones. These regulations are designed to improve work zone safety for roadway workers as well as the movement of motorists traveling through work zones using comprehensive management strategies to ensure safety while also minimizing impacts and traffic disruptions to the traveling public. The updated rules will add safety and mobility performance measures for use by states when developing their work zone policies.
The final rule is the first update in 20 years and makes important changes to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) FHWA principal mission: to ensure America has the safest and most modern transportation system in the world. The updated rule also supports the USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the safety crisis on our nation’s roadways, including crashes in work zones.
Key updates include:
- Requiring the use of positive protection devices, such as temporary concrete barriers, to protect workers from motorized traffic operating at high speeds during construction, utility, and maintenance operations
- Encouraging the use of work zone programmatic reviews, which are more comprehensive, holistic, and data-driven
In the coming months, FHWA will develop various support materials and conduct outreach activities to help stakeholders implement the latest updates.
View the updated FHWA Final Rule.
Contact FHWA Press Office with comments or questions.