See our newsletter for an article on planning for work zone safety and mobility.

The following classes are appropriate for both designers and field personnel:

• Roadside Safety
• Flagging
• Traffic Control Supervisor
  1. Evergreen Safety Council
  2. Northwest Laborers Union
  3. American Traffic Safety Services Association
• Work Zone Traffic Control Plan Design
• Contract Provision Preparation
• Contract Specification Writing
• Writing Documents in Plain Talk

• Work Zone Traffic Control Plan Design. Contact the Traffic Services Manager for a copy of this course. This class is also taught in the classroom. See above for more details.
• Contract Plan Reading Course Guide. This class is available on CD.

• Federal Highway Administration 
• National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse (Free)
• National Highway Institute (There is a cost for classroom training but most online training is free.)

Sign up for a listserv. This is a great way to ask questions, exchange information, and build relationships with others involved with work zone safety and mobility in Washington State and nationally.

• Traffic-Engineering-WA
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Operations Knowledge Communities
• Institute of Transportation Engineers Traffic List
• National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

For questions, assistance, or recommendations for specific situations contact the Traffic Services Manager.

Engineering judgement should be used with the following laws, rules, standards, and best practices.

Laws, Rules, and Standards For All Agencies:

• 2009 MUTCD. Note: Must be used with WAC 468-95.
• Washington State Modifications to the 2009 MUTCD (WAC 468-95)
• Signaling and Flaggers (WAC 296-155-305)
• Safety Standards for Construction Work (WAC 296-155)
• Traffic Control Devices (RCW 47.36)
• Closing Highways and Restricting Traffic (RCW 47.48.010)
• Standard Highway Signs (2012 Supplement): Including Pavement Markings and Standard Alphabets
• Electronic pictures of signs in the Standard Highways Signs (2012 Supplement
• Clarification of Federal Highway Administration’s Oversight Role in Accessibility 2006
• ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities
• ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) 2002

Some cities and counties adopt WSDOT or other standards. See your city or county code for these standards.

Additional Laws, Rules, and Standards for Agencies who Receive Federal-aid Highway Funding:

• WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines manual
• Final Rule on Temporary Traffic Control Devices
• Final Rule on Worker Visibility
• Final Rule on Work Zone Safety and Mobility

• WSDOT Design Manual
• WSDOT Work Zone Safety Web Page
• Work Zone Mobility and Safety Program, Federal Highway Administration
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) & Technology, Federal Highway Administration
• Traffic Incident Management Handbook, 2010, Federal Highway Administration
• Recommended Procedures for the Safety Evaluation of Highway Features (NCHRP Report 350)
• Crashworthy Work Zone Traffic Control Devices (NCHRP Report 553) (pdf 11.7 mb)
• Best practices for providing facilities for pedestrians with disabilities
• National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse
• A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 2004, AASHTO
• Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low-Volume Local Roads (ADT Less Than or Equal to 400), 2001, AASHTO
• Roadside Design Guide, 2006, AASHTO
• Highway Capacity Manual, 2000, TRB