“Reverse-Laning” I-65for

Hurricane Evacuations

“Reverse-Laning” I-65for

Hurricane Evacuations

What is a successful evacuation ?

The removal of residents from storm surge and areas predicted

to experience gale force winds.(eliminate deaths and injury)

This definition is no longer acceptable to the general

travelling public.

What is a successful evacuation ?

The removal of residents from storm surge and areas predicted

to experience gale force winds.(eliminate deaths and injury)

This definition is no longer acceptable to the general

travelling public.

REVERSE-LANING IN ALABAMA

With the support of Governor Siegelman, then-ALDOT

Transportation Director Mac Roberts called for the

preemptive development of a “Reverse-Laning” plan for Alabama

in April of 2000 to be ready for implementation

that hurricane season.

REVERSE-LANING IN ALABAMA

With the support of Governor Siegelman, then-ALDOT

Transportation Director Mac Roberts called for the

preemptive development of a “Reverse-Laning” plan for Alabama

in April of 2000 to be ready for implementation

that hurricane season.

Routes Considered

- InterstatesI-10I-65

- U.S. RoutesU.S. 231U.S. 331U.S. 43U.S. 31

- Alabama State RoutesAL 59

Routes Considered

- InterstatesI-10I-65

- U.S. RoutesU.S. 231U.S. 331U.S. 43U.S. 31

- Alabama State RoutesAL 59

Routes Rejected

- InterstatesI-10 (geometric & logistic constraints)

- U.S. RoutesU.S. 231 (operational

constraints/access)U.S. 331 (operational

constraints/access)U.S. 43 (operational

constraints/access)

- Alabama State RoutesAL 59 (operational

constraints/access)

Routes Rejected

- InterstatesI-10 (geometric & logistic constraints)

- U.S. RoutesU.S. 231 (operational

constraints/access)U.S. 331 (operational

constraints/access)U.S. 43 (operational

constraints/access)

- Alabama State RoutesAL 59 (operational

constraints/access)

Route Selected - Interstate I-65

Route Termini - Begin

Confluence of Mobile County and Baldwin County evacuation traffic

- EndLogical “scatter point” out of “harms way”

Alternate Southbound Route - US 31

Route Selected - Interstate I-65

Route Termini - Begin

Confluence of Mobile County and Baldwin County evacuation traffic

- EndLogical “scatter point” out of “harms way”

Alternate Southbound Route - US 31

KEY FEATURES

- Beginning Crossover Between Mobile River delta and Al 225

- Ending Crossover Between US 80 (Selma

Highway) and US 82 (Southern Boulevard) on the south side of Montgomery

KEY FEATURES

- Beginning Crossover Between Mobile River delta and Al 225

- Ending Crossover Between US 80 (Selma

Highway) and US 82 (Southern Boulevard) on the south side of Montgomery

Route Termini - Begin Confluence of Mobile County and

Baldwin County evacuation traffic

Route Termini - Begin Confluence of Mobile County and

Baldwin County evacuation traffic

Beginning Crossover Beginning Crossover

45 MPH Design Speed

Finish marking transitions with barrels

Route Termini - Ending Logical “Scatter Point”

Route Termini - Ending Logical “Scatter Point”

US 80

I 65

Ending Crossover (US 80) Ending Crossover (US 80)

Ending Crossover (I-65) Ending Crossover (I-65)

Water FilledTriton Barriers

KEY FEATURES

- Twenty (20) Interchanges within “Reverse-Laning” plan limits

- Four (4) Intermediate Crossovers within “Reverse-Laning” plan

limits:

South of AL 21 to AtmoreSouth of AL 113 to FlomatonSouth of AL 106 to GeorgianaSouth of AL 10 to Greenville

KEY FEATURES

- Twenty (20) Interchanges within “Reverse-Laning” plan limits

- Four (4) Intermediate Crossovers within “Reverse-Laning” plan

limits:

South of AL 21 to AtmoreSouth of AL 113 to FlomatonSouth of AL 106 to GeorgianaSouth of AL 10 to Greenville

Intermediate CrossoversIntermediate Crossovers

Water-Filed Triton Barriers

KEY FEATURES

Thirty (30) major Traffic Control Locations

- Dedicated Equipment

- Fold-Down Signs

- Variable Message Boards

KEY FEATURES

Thirty (30) major Traffic Control Locations

- Dedicated Equipment

- Fold-Down Signs

- Variable Message Boards

DEDICATED TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT

DEDICATED TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT

“FOLD-DOWN SIGNAGE”“FOLD-DOWN SIGNAGE”

VARIABLE MESSAGE BOARDSVARIABLE MESSAGE BOARDS

KEY FEATURES

- Each Location staffed with:

Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader

Experienced Supervisory StaffLocation Specific Checklists

Local District PersonnelSupport Staff

- Four ALDOT Wreckers stationed along route

KEY FEATURES

- Each Location staffed with:

Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader

Experienced Supervisory StaffLocation Specific Checklists

Local District PersonnelSupport Staff

- Four ALDOT Wreckers stationed along route

EQUIPMENT BOXES

Each of the 60 Team Members have been

issued a “Reverse-Laning” Equipment Box

EQUIPMENT BOXES

Each of the 60 Team Members have been

issued a “Reverse-Laning” Equipment Box

EQUIPMENT BOXESEQUIPMENT BOXES

IMPLEMENTATION

OR

How we are going to do it

IMPLEMENTATION

OR

How we are going to do it

Four Levels Defined

• Level 1 - Beginning of Hurricane Season– Preparations made by Division 6 and

Division 9 Maintenance Personnel– Conduct exercises and run-throughs

• Level 2 - Hurricane Watch Declared– Team Leaders placed on call

Four Levels Defined• Level 3 - Hurricane Warning

Declared– Team Leaders go to standby

positions– Team Leaders may deploy to

assigned locations

• Level 4 - Implementation of Reverse Laning– Plan put into effect

Category 3 or higher

hurricane warning

issued by NWS for Alabama Gulf Coast

ALDOT Employees:

report to assigned locations and on stand-by

Category 3 or higher

hurricane warning

issued by NWS for Alabama Gulf Coast

ALDOT Employees:

report to assigned locations and on stand-by

ALDOT Employees:

Flip down signs on southbound entrance & exit ramps

Anchor down Variable Message Boards

Unload barricades

ALDOT Director calls

for plan implementatio

n

ALDOT Employees:

Flip down I-65 South Detour signs

Barricade southbound exit ramp

Force traffic of I-65 at southbound exit ramp

ALDOT Director calls

for plan implementatio

n

ALDOT Employees:

Flip down I-65 South Detour signs

Barricade southbound exit ramp

Force traffic of I-65 at southbound exit ramp

Implementation Outline• SB interstate traffic will be

blocked at selected interchanges and is diverted onto other routes– Anyone can exit I-65 SB at any

interchange– At preselected interchanges,

everyone must exit I-65 SB•Allows for quicker clearing of the SB

traffic•Results in segments < 21 miles in

length

Implementation Outline• Exits where traffic is forced off

– #37 (SR 287, CR 47, Baldwin Co)

– #57 (SR 21, Escambia Co)

– #69 (SR 113, CR 17, Escambia Co)

– #77 (SR 41, Conecuh Co)

– #93 (US 84, Conecuh Co)

Implementation Outline• Exits where traffic is forced off

– #114 (SR 106, Butler Co)

– #130 (SR 185, Butler Co)

– #142 (SR 185, Lowndes Co)

– #158 (CR 26, Lowndes Co)

– #168 (US 80 & 82, Montgomery Co)

Implementation Outline• Southbound lanes are checked

to be sure they are clear– Asst Team Leader drives south on

SB lanes to next location where traffic is forced off

– Checks in with Team Members at each interchange passed

– Reports on problems observed during SB travel

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

Travels southbound on I-65 ensuring all traffic is cleared to next interchange

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

Travels southbound on I-65 ensuring all traffic is cleared to next interchange

Implementation Outline• Southbound lanes are checked

again to be sure they are clear– Asst Team Leader drives north on

SB lanes to his/her original location– Checks in with Team Members at

each interchange passed– Reports on problems observed

during NB travel

• NB traffic is placed on the SB lanes

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

Once the Asst Team Leader reports that I-65 south is cleared to the next interchange, barricades across I-65 SB are removed.

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

Once the Asst Team Leader reports that I-65 south is cleared to the next interchange, barricades across I-65 SB are removed.

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

They then travel back north on the southbound lanes to their original interchange double-checking that it is clear

ALDOT AssistantTeam Leader:

They then travel back north on the southbound lanes to their original interchange double-checking that it is clear

IMPLEMENTATION TIME

Approximately 4 hours for ALDOT employees to report to

assigned location once Stage One is called into effect

- Notification time

- Travel Time

Using 2 hours for this exercise

IMPLEMENTATION TIME

Approximately 4 hours for ALDOT employees to report to

assigned location once Stage One is called into effect

- Notification time

- Travel Time

Using 2 hours for this exercise

IMPLEMENTATION TIME

Approximately 1 hour for ALDOT employees to complete

implementation of the plan and have reversed-flow traffic moving

Evacuation should be complete and plan removed prior to storm landfall

and/or nightfall

Reversal not intended to be long-term

IMPLEMENTATION TIME

Approximately 1 hour for ALDOT employees to complete

implementation of the plan and have reversed-flow traffic moving

Evacuation should be complete and plan removed prior to storm landfall

and/or nightfall

Reversal not intended to be long-term

RETURN TRAFFIC

Currently no intention of utilizing the plan to

accommodate re-entry traffic after the storm.

RETURN TRAFFIC

Currently no intention of utilizing the plan to

accommodate re-entry traffic after the storm.

PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

Current - Reversed Direction Signing- Variable Message Boards- Alabama Emergency Radio (AEMA)- ALDOT web page

Future- Public Service Announcements- Printed Materials (Rest Areas, etc.)- Low-Band AM Radio

PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

Current - Reversed Direction Signing- Variable Message Boards- Alabama Emergency Radio (AEMA)- ALDOT web page

Future- Public Service Announcements- Printed Materials (Rest Areas, etc.)- Low-Band AM Radio

PUBLIC INFO & EDUCATION

• ALDOT’s web page– www.dot.state.al.us– Emergency Road Closures link– General posting of information

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page• A route or route segment on which the flow of traffic is

impacted due to an emergency/storm condition may be classified as follows: Advisory: Exercise extreme caution when travelling. Closed: No traffic permitted on this roadway except for emergency response and law enforcement. Impassable: Vehicular travel is prohibited on this roadway due to unsafe roadway conditions caused by the storm. Emergency response personnel are engaged in other storm related activities and are unable to install road closure devices at this time.

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page

ALDOT’s Road Closure Web Page

Q U E S T I O N S ?Q U E S T I O N S ?