Highway Rehabilitation Corporation

You're not exempt from proper work-zone setup just because you're paving or blacktopping a road—even highways. The MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) mandates the use of a taper and a full temporary traffic control zone for road work, including paving. Here's how it breaks down: --- MUTCD Requirements for Paving Work Zones 1. Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Zones Are Mandatory MUTCD Section 6C.02 defines a work zone as any area of a highway where work activities occur, and it must be marked and protected accordingly—even for paving. 2. Four Key Components of TTC Zones Work zones must consist of these areas: Advance Warning Area Transition Area (where tapers are used to redirect traffic) Activity Area (where the actual paving occurs) Termination Area (with downstream tapers or “end work” signals). 3. Tapers Are Required in Both Transition and Termination Areas Transition Area: Tapers redirect drivers from their normal path into a designated traffic space. MUTCD states strongly that "when redirection of the road users' normal path is required, they shall be directed from the normal path to a new path." Types of Tapers: Depending on the operation, different taper types may be used: Merging Taper (longest): L = W × S² / 60 (for 40 mph or less) or L = W × S (for 45 mph or more), where W = offset width, S = speed limit. Shifting Taper: 0.5 L for speeds < 50 mph; full L for speeds ≥ 50 mph. Shoulder Taper: 0.33 L (about one-third the merging taper). Downstream Taper (Termination): ~100 feet per lane, with devices spaced every ~20 feet. 4. Tapers Are Not Optional or Situational As work—including paving—alters traffic patterns, a proper transition and termination scheme must be installed. There are no exemptions in MUTCD for paving operations. Temporary paving does change lane geometry and driver behavior, so a taper is needed both entering and exiting the work area.

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