Evaluation of Dynamic Speed Feedback Signs on Curves: A National Demonstration Project

CHAPTER 4. SIGN INSTALLATION

After a list of final sites was selected by the team and approved by FHWA, signs were ordered from the respective vendors and shipped to the respective States. Before installation, the team made site visits to collect "before" speed data. Within a month, the team returned to install the signs. Whenever possible, all signs were installed for a State at the same time to avoid additional trips.

Originally, 24 sites were selected and signs were scheduled to be installed at all sites by December 2008. As discussed in the following paragraphs, several challenges, delays, and setbacks occurred that reduced the number of sites and significantly prolonged the installation schedule. Ultimately, 22 signs were installed.

One State that had volunteered to participate during the proposal stage dropped out of the study. That State had submitted initial locations, and the team had made site visits, selected final sites, and conducted "before" data collection before the State decided to withdraw from the study. In addition, Texas, which was originally scheduled to have 12 signs installed in four districts, decided owing to budget cuts to proceed with only 4 signs in two districts.

Franklin County in Ohio and the Oregon Department of Transportation heard about the study and contacted the team about participating. Three sites were then selected in Ohio and four in Oregon, and site visits were made. To compensate for the sites that dropped out, in addition to adding Ohio and Oregon, the team added one additional site in Florida and two additional sites in Iowa. Even though Texas was one of the original States on board, signs were installed there last, owing to procurement problems and other delays. All of the issues described above affected the original project schedule.

The first set of signs was installed in July 2008, and the last four signs were installed in Texas on April 8 and 9, 2010. Table 25 shows the installation dates.

Table 25. Sign installation information.