Safety Contingency Funds: Q&A

Overview

The infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created an opportunity for state transportation agencies to create work zone safety contingency funds to pay for additional safety needs on a project that were not anticipated when the project began.

What are some examples of how it might be used?

While the Texas and Michigan programs were developed prior to the IIJA authorization, their examples of allowed use are instructive and include but are not limited to:

• Shifting traffic onto the shoulder and away from workers, including pavement markings, filling rumble strips, temporary pavement, etc.

• Adding innovative traffic control such as intrusion detection systems, mobile barriers, remote-operated safety attendants, speed safety cameras, speed trailers, portable rumble strips, TMAs, etc.

• Detouring traffic (ramp or mainline).

• Different closure layouts.

• Repairing potholes in the travel lanes created by increased heavy construction traffic hauling materials to and from the workspace.

• Deploying additional portable changeable message signs and TMAs to provide advance warning about queues.

• Hiring off-duty police to assist with traffic control where there are high volumes of construction traffic.

• Implementing work zone intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology to warn drivers when construction vehicles are exiting the workspace and merging into the traffic stream