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Work Zone Safety

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is committed to maintaining the safest possible work zones.

We do this by:

  • Developing highway safety policies, standards and guidelines related to work zone safety

  • Providing technical guidance, best practices and advice to work zone inquiries from internal and external customers

  • Interpreting federal and state regulations and requirements

The Work Zone Safety staff is responsible for developing and issuing the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual, the Work Zone Safety Guidelines for Temporary Traffic Control pocket guide, and other work zone-related material.

We also manage the VDOT Work Zone Traffic Control Training Program and the Virginia Flagger Certification program as well as coordinate Work Zone Awareness Week. 

Compliance to FHWA Final Rule to Subpart K

The following is the plan VDOT submitted to and had approved by FHWA to the Final Rule on Subpart K – Temporary Traffic Control Devices  Adobe Reader (PDF, 2 MB) 

Work Zone Traffic Control Training Requirements

The Virginia Department of Transportation has implemented work zone traffic control training requirements to meet Federal Regulations on Work Zone Safety and Mobility as noted in 23 CFR Part 630J. 

The following provides information on training requirements for personnel involved in the planning, designing, supervising, implementation, inspection and maintenance of work zone traffic control.  It also provides information for individuals and organizations on developing and/or providing work zone traffic control training courses. 

Only persons completing approved work zone traffic control training courses and possessing the appropriate valid and verifiable accreditation card will be allowed to oversee temporary traffic control activities within the Commonwealth of Virginia State Highway System right of way.

PDFs: Adobe Acrobat

 How to Begin a Flagger Certification Program for Your Company

  1. You must be a certified flagger to administer the program for your company.

    • To become a certified flagger, contact a Work Zone Safety coordinator, who will administer the free certification process to you and one additional person.

    • The coordinator will make an appointment for you to visit their office to review the basic flagger training video and handout information, and take the flagging certification test.

    • The coordinator will proctor a 25-question test (a passing grade is 80 percent) and answer any questions you have.

  2. After receiving your flagger certification card, complete an order form to purchase a Flagger Certification Kit. Orders will be processed within 10 business days of receipt.

  3. Once you receive the Flagger Certification Kit, you can begin your company's program. You must retain the bottom portion of the employee’s Flagger Certification Card and the Flagging Certification Test answer sheet for your company’s records.

An example of a type of AFAD unit

Automatic Flagger Assistance Devices

The FHWA has granted partial approval for the use of Automatic Flagger Assistance Devices, or AFADs, on two-lane roadways where one travel lane is closed. Based on a research project conducted by the Virginia Transportation Research Council on AFAD units used by VDOT personnel, the department now allows their use on projects which meet the following site conditions:

  1. A Two-lane, two-way roadway closed to one lane of traffic;
  2. Average daily traffic (ADT) count is 5,500 vehicles per day or less;
  3. Distance of the lane closure is 800 feet or less for one operator; approval by the Regional Traffic Engineer required for greater distances and multiple operators;
  4. Operator has unobstructed view of the Automatic Flagger Assistance Device and approaching traffic in both directions and;
  5. A log of their use is maintained and submitted to the Central Office Work Zone Safety section for review.

The typical traffic control figure to use for these devices is TTC-18.0 from the 2005 VA Work Area Protection manual, except the W20-7a graphic flagger sign may be eliminated if the flagger controlling the AFADs is removed from the roadway.

PDFs: PDF

  • The following form (11 KB) must be used to document daily used of the AFAD units.

  • VRTC study (372 KB)

 2005 Virginia Work Area Protection Manual

Flagger

The 2005 edition of the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual Adobe Reader (PDF, 26 MB) is effective now for all maintenance operations, and for all project advertisements after Nov. 1, 2005.

 The 2007 Work Zone Safety Guidelines for Temporary Traffic Control pocket guide Adobe Reader (PDF, 2 MB) is based on the 2005 Virginia Work Area Protection Manual.

Note - The following pages have been revised (with corresponding revision date) in the 2005 Virginia Area Protection Manual:

  • Page 6E-1 (8/05), Changed “Flaggers shall speak English only while performing their job duty as a flagger at the flagger station” to “Flaggers shall be able to communicate to the traveling public in English while performing their job duty as a flagger at the flagger station.”

  • Page 6C-6 (10/05), Combined the first two sentences in the second Guidance statement and changed Table 6C-2 to Tables 6C-3 and 4. 

  • Page 6D-6 (10/05), Changed Item E in last Support statement to Item D

    Work Zone Safety checklist Adobe Reader (PDF, 250 KB)

To order these materials, complete the forms below.

Work Zone Crash Facts

The Traffic Engineering Division, through Wilbur Smith Associates, recently reviewed five years of work zone crash data to track trends from both a statewide and a VDOT district perspective.

The 1999-2003 Virginia Work Zone Crash Facts Adobe Reader (PDF, 381 KB) report provides a comprehensive overview of traffic crashes occurring in work zones throughout the commonwealth. 



Page last modified: Nov. 9, 2009