In 2002, the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works (NSTPW) had to repave about 8 kilometers of Highway 125—a two-way, two-lane highway that serves as the main arterial route connecting several communities. The daytime volume of traffic on Highway 125 and adjacent roadways dictated the need for nighttime construction. Because Highway 125 would be the first major paving project requiring all work to be done at night, NSTPW decided to develop a specification to address the special concerns of working at night. The measure also would respond to the requirement for due diligence under Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. To develop the specification, NSTPW staff relied on NCHRP Report 476, Guidelines for Design and Operation of Nighttime Traffic Control for Highway Maintenance and Construction, which was a source of practical advice on traffic control devices, safety features, and the operation of a nighttime traffic control system; and NCHRP Report 498, Illumination Guidelines for Nighttime Highway Work, which described the three levels of illumination recommended for nighttime construction. By implementing the NCHRP research findings and by learning from the experiences of other DOTs, Nova Scotia now has a state-of-the-art specification for night work.
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