A Study of Speed Control Strategies for Lanes Open to Traffic During the Reconstruction and Expansion of Ten-lane Expressway

To ensure traffic safety during road construction, this study investigates speed control strategies for lanes open to traffic in the “six-to-ten” expressway reconstruction and expansion project in Guangdong, China. Firstly, international projects and specifications on speed limits for highway work zones were examined and analyzed to maintain the design speed of the six-lane open-to-traffic construction zone during the highway expansion as a reference. Secondly, real-time speed characteristics of the studied expressways were measured and analyzed during construction. Finally, a traffic simulation model using VISSIM was built for the studied expressway during construction, with real-time traffic volume and vehicle proportions loaded to simulate running speeds. The simulation results suggest a recommended speed limit of 80 km/h for the studied expressway. The research methods and results of this study can provide valuable insights into speed control for future projects involving the ’’six to ten’’ highway reconstruction and expansion in China.