Orange Work Zone Pavement Marking Midwest Field Test, April 2018, University of Wisconsin (Source WisDOT)

“The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) experimented with orange work zone marking on a high-volume long[1]term freeway-to-freeway interchange reconstruction project in Milwaukee; surveys indicate good driver acceptance, but the complex traffic flow characteristics and frequent configuration changes at the site make it difficult to separate the effects of the orange markings from other aspects of the work zone management strategy. To assess the driver behavior aspects of orange markings in a simpler environment, a matched-pair study was conducted on two bridge re-decking projects on I-94 near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Evaluation of vehicle positioning and speed data indicated very similar driver behavior with the two colors. Driver surveys and interviews with project field engineers indicated a preference for the orange marking when lateral lane shifts are required. Perhaps the most pragmatic approach is to reserve orange as an emphasis color for specific work zone locations that require difficult driving maneuvers.”