LSU HURRICANE CENTERLSU HURRICANE CENTER

Addressing Hurricanes and Other Hazards and Their ImpactsOn the Natural, Built and Human Environments

Highway Design and Highway Design and Traffic Control for Traffic Control for

Hurricane EvacuationHurricane Evacuation

Brian WolshonBrian WolshonDept. of Civil and Env. EngineeringDept. of Civil and Env. Engineering

Aspects of Current Aspects of Current Design PlansDesign Plans

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• Median cross-over• Interchange ramp connections

Initiation & Termination Initiation & Termination DesignsDesigns

• The location and configuration of initiation points are based on local concerns and existing road network, geography, and terrain.

• Permanent split • “Bleed-off” and merge• Exit “normal” flow & x-over contraflow• Exit contraflow and re-route

• Termination designs also vary. Although, typically, the goal is not to merge the traffic streams.

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New Orleans New Orleans Contraflow Contraflow SegmentsSegments

New Orleans Evacuation New Orleans Evacuation RoutesRoutes

New Orleans Contraflow New Orleans Contraflow Initiation PointInitiation Point

Westbound I-10/Loyal Drive Interchange

Median Crossover

Westbound I-10/I-55 Drive Interchange

Median Crossover

New Orleans Contraflow New Orleans Contraflow Termination PointTermination Point

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Other Contraflow Other Contraflow Initiation PointsInitiation Points

Alabama DOT I-65Alabama DOT I-65 Initiation Point Initiation Point

Variable Message Signs

Temporary Signs and Barrels

DOT personnel on site

Quantity Summary

NCDOT I-40 InitiationNCDOT I-40 InitiationPointPoint

Traffic Control

Emergency Contact List

DMS Messages

Signal Settings

Personnel Req’mts

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Other Contraflow Other Contraflow Termination Termination

PointsPoints

Alabama DOT I-65Alabama DOT I-65 Termination Point Termination Point

“Normal” Traffic is Tapered to a Single Lane

Contraflow Traffic is Split

NCDOT I-40 Termination NCDOT I-40 Termination PointPoint

Contraflow Traffic Exits

Note: 2-way crossover for contraflow re-entry

SCDOT I-26 Interchange SCDOT I-26 Interchange Ramp Initiation PointRamp Initiation Point

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Design Plans Design Plans FeaturesFeatures

Alabama DOT I-65Alabama DOT I-65Typical InterchangeTypical Interchange

All On-Ramps open for exiting

Off-Ramp Reentry to Contraflow Lanes

“Flip Down” Contraflow Guidance Signs

No Off-Ramp Reentry to Contraflow Lanes

Georgia DOT I-16Georgia DOT I-16Typical InterchangeTypical Interchange

(without on-ramp exiting)(without on-ramp exiting)

On and Off-Ramps closed using Type III Barricades

No Off-Ramp Reentry to Contraflow LanesWith On-Ramp ExitingWith On-Ramp Exiting

On and Off-Ramps Closed Using Water Filled Barricades

No On-Ramp Exiting or Off-Ramp Reentry from/to Contraflow Lanes

Florida DOT I-4Florida DOT I-4Typical InterchangeTypical Interchange

TexDOT I-37 Reversal PlanTexDOT I-37 Reversal PlanEmergency

Contact Lists

Instruction List

Enforcement Configurations

and Personnel Locations

TexDOT I-37 Emergency TexDOT I-37 Emergency Vehicle Circulation PlanVehicle Circulation Plan

I-37 Corpus Christi to San Antonio

Parallel and frontage roads are

used for emergency vehicle

circulation

LSU Campus

Interstate 10

Traffic Recording Stations