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TMAs and work zone protection

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MPENN

MPENN

Civil/Environmental
Feb 8, 2002
43
The MUTCD shows one required condition for a TMA and several conditions in which use of a TMA is recommended.

MUTCD text Section 6F.82 states that "Truck-mounted attenuators shall be energy-absorbing devices attached to the rear of shadow trailers or trucks. If used, the shadow vehicle with the attenuator shall be located in advance of the work area,workers, or equipment to reduce the severity of rear-end crashes from errant vehicles."

It seems clear from the MUTCD that the TMA is to reduce the severity of a rear end collision. The shadow vehicle provides protection to the work zone. However, is the TMA also intended to protect the work zone or is it incidental in providing protection to the work zone?

Looking for comment back from MUTCD/Work zone protection gurus.
 
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TMA's are used to protect construction workers and the traveling public.

------------------------------------------
"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail."

Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
 
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TMAs are utilized to reduce the occurance of a vehicle entering the workzone from an adjacent travel lane. The size of the work area and the approach geometrics need to be considered when placing the TMA.

We require them for operations on freeways that do not have a duation sufficient to justify the placement of concrete barrier.

I have not seen any studies evaluating their effectiveness.
 
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TMA's are for mobile operations and are not intended or designed for other applications. If you have short term operations which need protection and are mobile try looking into water filled barriers they are very effective and meet NCHRP 350 for 65 MPH protection.
 
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