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Contraflow lane reversal is the altering of the normal flow of traffic, typically on a controlled-access highway (such as a freeway or motorway), to either aid in an emergency evacuation (the most common usage of the term in the United States) or, as part of routine maintenance activities, to facilitate widening or reconstruction of one of the highway's carriageways (the most common usage in the United Kingdom).

Usually, the term is used to refer to reversal of lanes which are normally configured for travel in one direction; routinely changing the configuration of reversible lanes (such as during rush hour) is not normally considered contraflow lane reversal.^[1] On undivided highways, evacuation contraflow may be called evacuation reverse flow.^[2]

Disambiguation

There are similar setups with slightly different usages, although the terms may be commonly used interchangeably.

Contraflow lane: Typically used to refer to a bus lane running against a one-way street through the opposite direction.
Contraflow lane reversal: Typically used to refer to a temporary setup of a lane running opposite to normal during special times, such as emergency evacuations, sports tournaments, or road construction/repairs.
Reversible lane: Typically used to refer to a lane specifically designed to facilitate different directional usage regularly, with changes sometimes as frequent as twice a day.

Emergency evacuation

In an emergency evacuation, contraflow lane reversal roughly doubles the number of lanes available for evacuation traffic. Crossover sections are used to move outgoing traffic to these lanes. All incoming traffic is blocked until the end of the evacuation.

Contraflow lane reversal is usually done on freeways and other controlled-access roadways; however, some examples listed below (particularly in South Carolina) are divided and undivided roadways. Use of contraflow lane reversal is generally considered to be an emergency measure, as the contraflow lanes (and any associated ramps at interchanges) lack proper signage, signals, and other traffic control devices needed to orderly conduct traffic in the opposite direction.

Generally, a significant number of police officers or other officials are needed to manually direct traffic during a lane reversal (especially at interchanges, where ramp traffic in the wrong direction must intersect with other roadways that are operating normally).

Hurricane evacuation

From the 1990s, many states in the Southeastern United States adopted hurricane evacuation routes from coastal areas using contraflow lane reversals on Interstate Highways. State highway departments have coordinated on plans for traffic direction with state highway patrol agencies, constructed highway median crossovers, and installed signage for drivers and barriers and swing arms to inhibit wrong-way collisions.^[3]

Most evacuation plans involve only a single state; however, the states of Louisiana and Mississippi have developed coordinated plans to evacuate the New Orleans metropolitan area by using Interstate 55 and Interstate 59.

Current contraflow evacuation plans exist for:

Alabama
- Mobile via I-65^[4]

Georgia
- Savannah, via I-16^[5]
Louisiana
- Lafayette, via I-49
- Lake Charles, via I-10 and I-210^[6]
- New Orleans metropolitan area, via I-10, I-12, I-55, I-59, and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway^[7]^[8]
Maryland
- Ocean City, via US 50 and Maryland Route 90^[2]^[9]
Massachusetts
- Cape Cod via US-6, Route 3, and Route 28^[10]
Mississippi
- Mississippi Gulf Coast, via I-59 and US-49^[11]
- New Orleans metropolitan area, via I-55
New Jersey
- Jersey Shore, via Route 47/Route 347, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, Route 72/Route 70, Route 35, and Route 138/I-195^[12]
South Carolina^[13]
- Beaufort, via U.S. 21
- Charleston, via I-26
- Georgetown County, via U.S. 17
- The Grand Strand, via U.S. 501
- Hilton Head Island, via U.S. 278
Texas^[14]
- Corpus Christi, via I-37
- Houston, via I-10, I-45, I-69 (U.S. Highway 59), and U.S. 290
- Freeport, Surfside Beach, and Lake Jackson via SH 288 and SH 36.
- Rio Grande Valley, via I-2 (U.S. Highway 83) from Harlingen to McAllen, I-69E (U.S. Highway 77) from Brownsville to Harlingen, I-69C (U.S. Highway 281) from Pharr to Falfurrias
Virginia
- The Hampton Roads area, via I-64^[15]

Florida had contraflow evacuation plans in place until 2017. The plans were abandoned for emergency shoulder use.^[16] North Carolina has twice evaluated contraflow on I-40 from Wilmington to I-95 at Benson but rejected it.^[17]

Highway reconstruction

When roads are undergoing construction amid heavy traffic, one lane of traffic may be blocked and another lane reversed.

Single track roads

Single track roads are often closed during reconstruction.

Two-lane arterials

Traffic controllers direct traffic through half of a roundabout with STOP / SLOW signs, using contraflow conditions

A construction worker or police officer directs traffic with a "Stop/Slow Paddle", which is a sign displaying "STOP" on one side and "SLOW" on the other. The sign is turned, and the other side proceeds. Traffic signals are also sometimes used, especially during bridge construction or any situation in which a lane must be closed during times when construction crews are not at work. Other cases include treating the street as a temporary one-way street in areas in which several nearby parallel streets are available as a detour for the opposing side.

Roads with four or more lanes

If road construction necessitates the complete closure of one half of a road with four or more lanes, two lanes of traffic may be shifted to the other roadway. If the road being constructed is a highway, the used half is called a semi-highway.

Freeways and motorways

When controlled-access highways undergo reconstruction, both sides are often reduced to one lane. In some cases, traffic may be shifted onto one half, making it a temporary two-lane freeway corridor. An example of this is Interstate 10 in Arizona, in which eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane and shifted onto the westbound half of the road.^[18] Another technique is to treat the rightmost hard shoulder as a travel lane. On a six-lane freeway (i.e., one containing three lanes in each direction), a third lane may be kept open for the busier direction, or the shoulder may be opened to allow for four lanes of traffic but with little or no shoulder space; emergency breakdown areas may be added. In these situations, temporary "YIELD" or "STOP" signs are usually posted on merge ramps on freeways, expressways, and uncontrolled roads with interchanges. In such cases, opposing directions are separated by jersey barriers, or in rare circumstances, traffic cones.

Sporting events

At the beginning and end of major sporting events, the center turn lanes of roads around a stadium or arena may be used to accommodate event traffic. Because these lanes are typically not subject to lane control, this can be considered a limited form of contraflow reversal.

Contraflow lane reversal in operation on I-93 in Concord, New Hampshire after completion of a NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, looking south

Once a year, upon completion of NASCAR races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, a form of contraflow lane reversal, referred to as "borrow a lane," is conducted on Interstate 93 in Concord, New Hampshire. In this case, the left lane of northbound Interstate 93 is temporarily "borrowed" to use as a third southbound lane. Southbound traffic has the option of transferring to the "borrowed" lane north of the Interstate 393 interchange and can travel southbound in the left northbound lane to allow a bypass of heavy race traffic entering I-93 southbound from I-393 at Exit 15. The two lanes of traffic in the normal southbound lanes, and traffic in the bypass "borrowed" lane rejoin on the southbound side of the interstate just south of the Interstate 89 interchange in Bow.^[19]

Contraflow lane reversal is also used for NASCAR Cup Series and IndyCar Series races at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. For these races, two-lane Pennsylvania Route 115 becomes one-way southbound between Interstate 80 and the track the morning of the race until everyone has arrived at the track. After the race concludes, PA 115 becomes one-way northbound between Pocono Raceway and I-80 until everyone has left the track.^[20]^[21]

References

^ "Hurricane Evacuation Contraflow Videos". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
^ ^a ^b Shekhar, S.; Xiong, H. (2008). Encyclopedia of GIS. Springer. p. 169. ISBN 9780387308586. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
^ "Contraflow Evacuation". Floridaits.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ "Mobile County EMA > Evacuations Procedures > Contraflow". Mobile County Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
^ "Savannah Georgia Westbound I-16 Hurricane Evacuation Map". Coastalstorms.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ "South Louisiana Contraflow Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
^ "Phase III Contraflow: Metropolitan New Orleans Contraflow Plan". LSP. Archived from the original on 3 June 2005.
^ "Contraflow Evacuation Maps - New Orleans, Louisiana". Contraflowmaps.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ Wolshon, Brian (August 2001). ""One-Way-Out": Contraflow Freeway Operation for Hurricane Evacuation" (PDF). Natural Hazards Review. 2 (3): 105–112. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2001)2:3(105). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
^ Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, retrieved Sept 23, 2022
^ http://www.mdot.state.ms.us/Home/EmergencyPreparedness/pdf/ContraflowPlan.pdf^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ CDM Smith, on behalf of the National Hurricane Program; New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (April 2023). "5.6 Contraflow Operations". New Jersey Hurricane Evacuation Study (NJHES) Re-Study Report (Online PDF). Contract No. W912BU-15-D-0004 (FINAL REPORT ed.). pp. 5-18–5-19.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
^ "Coastal Evacuation Routes". SCDOT - Getting Around in South Carolina. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ "Emergency Portal". Texas.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-01. ^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Hurricane Evacuation Guide". Virginiadot.org. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ "Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU)". FDOT. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
^ "Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 1209 (Contraflow Provision)" (PDF). p. 29. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
^ "Traffic Control Plans for the July 14 NASCAR Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon". NHDOT. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
^ Staff (July 29, 2014). "Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
^ Staff (June 30, 2014). "Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2014-09-21.

[1] "Hurricane Evacuation Contraflow Videos". www.txdot.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-23.

[eofgis-2] Shekhar, S.; Xiong, H. (2008). Encyclopedia of GIS. Springer. p. 169. ISBN 9780387308586. Retrieved 2015-06-22.

[3] "Contraflow Evacuation". Floridaits.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[4] "Mobile County EMA > Evacuations Procedures > Contraflow". Mobile County Emergency Management Agency. Retrieved 2015-08-29.

[5] "Savannah Georgia Westbound I-16 Hurricane Evacuation Map". Coastalstorms.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[6] "South Louisiana Contraflow Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2008-04-27.

[7] "Phase III Contraflow: Metropolitan New Orleans Contraflow Plan". LSP. Archived from the original on 3 June 2005.

[8] "Contraflow Evacuation Maps - New Orleans, Louisiana". Contraflowmaps.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[9] Wolshon, Brian (August 2001). ""One-Way-Out": Contraflow Freeway Operation for Hurricane Evacuation" (PDF). Natural Hazards Review. 2 (3): 105–112. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2001)2:3(105). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2010-09-13.

[10] Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, retrieved Sept 23, 2022

[11] ttp://www.mdot.state.ms.us/Home/EmergencyPreparedness/pdf/ContraflowPlan.pdf^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[12] CDM Smith, on behalf of the National Hurricane Program; New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (April 2023). "5.6 Contraflow Operations". New Jersey Hurricane Evacuation Study (NJHES) Re-Study Report (Online PDF). Contract No. W912BU-15-D-0004 (FINAL REPORT ed.). pp. 5-18–5-19.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)

[13] "Coastal Evacuation Routes". SCDOT - Getting Around in South Carolina. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[14] "Emergency Portal". Texas.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-01. ^{[dead link‍]}

[15] "Hurricane Evacuation Guide". Virginiadot.org. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[16] "Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU)". FDOT. Retrieved 2023-09-12.

[17] "Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 1209 (Contraflow Provision)" (PDF). p. 29. Retrieved 2024-09-26.

[18] "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

[19] "Traffic Control Plans for the July 14 NASCAR Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon". NHDOT. Retrieved 2013-07-18.

[20] Staff (July 29, 2014). "Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2014-09-21.

[21] Staff (June 30, 2014). "Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race". Allentown, PA: WFMZ-TV. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2014-09-21.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Traffic control method}}
-{{Citation style|date=August 2008}}
-{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}
+{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
-[[Image:RitaHoustonEvacuation.jpg|thumb|Contraflow lane reversal in use during [[Hurricane Rita]]]]
-'''''Contraflow lane reversal''''' refers to plans that alter the normal flow of traffic, typically on a [[controlled-access]] [[highway]] (such as a [[freeway]] or [[motorway]]), to either aid in an [[emergency evacuation]] (the most common usage of the term in the United States) or, as part of routine maintenance activities, to facilitate widening or reconstruction of one of the highway's [[carriageway]]s (the most common usage in the [[United Kingdom]]).
+'''Contraflow lane reversal''' is the altering of the normal flow of traffic, typically on a [[controlled-access]] highway (such as a freeway or motorway), to either aid in an [[emergency evacuation]] (the most common usage of the term in the [[United States]]) or, as part of [[Planned maintenance|routine maintenance]] activities, to facilitate widening or reconstruction of one of the highway's [[carriageway]]s (the most common usage in the [[United Kingdom]]).
-Usually, the term is used to refer to reversal of lanes which are normally configured for travel in one direction; routinely changing the configuration of [[reversible lane#Entire roadway routinely reversed|reversible lanes]] (such as during [[rush hour]]) is not normally considered contraflow lane reversal.
+Usually, the term is used to refer to reversal of lanes which are normally configured for travel in one direction; routinely changing the configuration of [[reversible lane#Entire roadway routinely reversed|reversible lanes]] (such as during [[rush hour]]) is not normally considered contraflow lane reversal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.txdot.gov/driver/weather/hurricane-contraflow-vids.html|title=Hurricane Evacuation Contraflow Videos|website=www.txdot.gov|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> On undivided highways, evacuation contraflow may be called evacuation reverse flow.<ref name="eofgis">{{cite book |author1=Shekhar, S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6q2lOfLnwkAC |title=Encyclopedia of GIS |author2=Xiong, H. |date=2008 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9780387308586 |page=169 |access-date=2015-06-22}}</ref>
-==For use in emergency evacuation==
-In an emergency evacuation, contraflow lane reversal roughly doubles the number of lanes available for evacuation [[traffic]]. Crossover sections are used to move outgoing traffic to these lanes. All incoming traffic is blocked until the end of the evacuation.
+==Disambiguation==
-Contraflow lane reversal is usually done on [[freeway]]s and other [[controlled-access]] roadways; however, some examples listed below (particularly in South Carolina) are divided and undivided roadways.  Use of contraflow lane reversal is generally considered to be an emergency measure, as the contraflow lanes (and any associated ramps at interchanges) lack proper signage, signals, and other traffic control devices needed to orderly conduct traffic in the opposite direction.   Generally, a significant number of police officers or other officials are needed to manually direct traffic during a lane reversal (especially at interchanges, where ramp traffic in the wrong direction must intersect with other roadways operating normally).
+There are similar setups with slightly different usages, although the terms may be commonly used interchangeably.
+* [[Contraflow lane]]: Typically used to refer to a bus lane running against a one-way street through the opposite direction.
+* Contraflow lane reversal: Typically used to refer to a temporary setup of a lane running opposite to normal during special times, such as emergency evacuations, sports tournaments, or road construction/repairs.
+* [[Reversible lane]]: Typically used to refer to a lane specifically designed to facilitate different directional usage regularly, with changes sometimes as frequent as twice a day.
+==Emergency evacuation==
+In an emergency evacuation, contraflow lane reversal roughly doubles the number of lanes available for evacuation traffic. Crossover sections are used to move outgoing traffic to these lanes. All incoming traffic is blocked until the end of the evacuation.
+Contraflow lane reversal is usually done on freeways and other controlled-access roadways; however, some examples listed below (particularly in [[South Carolina]]) are divided and undivided roadways. Use of contraflow lane reversal is generally considered to be an emergency measure, as the contraflow lanes (and any associated ramps at interchanges) lack proper [[traffic sign|signage]], [[traffic signal|signals]], and other traffic control devices needed to orderly conduct traffic in the opposite direction.
+Generally, a significant number of police officers or other officials are needed to manually direct traffic during a lane reversal (especially at [[interchange (road)|interchanges]], where ramp traffic in the wrong direction must intersect with other roadways that are operating normally).
 ===Hurricane evacuation===
+[[Image:Hurricane evacuation route marking.JPG|thumb|right|Hurricane evacuation route marking near the Texas Gulf Coast]]
-Beginning in the 1990s, many states in the [[Southeastern United States]] adopted [[hurricane evacuation route]]s from coastal areas using contraflow lane reversals on [[Interstate Highways]].  State highway departments have coordinated on plans for traffic direction with state [[highway patrol]] agencies, constructed highway median crossovers, and installed signage for drivers and barriers and swing arms to inhibit wrong-way collisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridaits.com/Contraflow_Evac.htm |title=Contraflow Evacuation |publisher=Floridaits.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+From the 1990s, many states in the [[Southeastern United States]] adopted [[hurricane]] [[Hurricane evacuation route|evacuation routes]] from coastal areas using contraflow lane reversals on [[Interstate Highways]]. State highway departments have coordinated on plans for traffic direction with state [[highway patrol]] agencies, constructed highway median crossovers, and installed signage for drivers and barriers and swing arms to inhibit wrong-way collisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floridaits.com/Contraflow_Evac.htm |title=Contraflow Evacuation |publisher=Floridaits.com |access-date=2008-09-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922105826/http://www.floridaits.com/Contraflow_Evac.htm |archive-date=2008-09-22 }}</ref>
-Most evacuation plans only involve a single state; however, the states of [[Louisiana]] and [[Mississippi]] have developed coordinated plans to evacuate the [[New Orleans metropolitan area]] using [[Interstate 55]] and [[Interstate 59]].
+Most evacuation plans involve only a single state; however, the states of [[Louisiana]] and [[Mississippi]] have developed coordinated plans to evacuate the [[New Orleans metropolitan area]] by using [[Interstate 55]] and [[Interstate 59]].
-[[Image:Hurricane evacuation route marking.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Hurricane evacuation route marking near the Texas Gulf Coast]]
-Current contraflow evacuation plans exist for:
+Current contraflow evacuation plans exist for:
 * [[Alabama]]
-** [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] via [[Interstate 65|I-65]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcema.net/evac_routes.asp |title=MCEMA:: Mobile County Emergency Management Agency |publisher=Mcema.net |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+** [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] via [[Interstate 65|I-65]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcema.net/Evacuations-Procedures/Contraflow |title=Mobile County EMA > Evacuations Procedures > Contraflow |publisher=Mobile County Emergency Management Agency |access-date=2015-08-29}}</ref>
+[[File:Georgia I16eb on ramp from I95nb contra-flow gates.jpg|thumb|Crossing gates at the interchange between Interstate 16 and Interstate 95, used to prevent westbound access to I-16 during contraflow,  Pooler, GA]]
-* [[Florida]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridaits.com/PDFs/TWO45_ContraFlow/050606-FIHS_Contraflow_Rprt-V1.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - 050605 TWO45 FIHS Contraflow Rprt V1-5 _redl PLH_.doc |date= |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
-** [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]]
-** [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]] (eastbound)
-** [[South Florida metropolitan area|South Florida]] (Miami/Fort Lauderdale), via [[Florida's Turnpike]] and [[Alligator Alley]]
-** [[Southwest Florida]], via [[Interstate 75|I-75]]
-** The [[Space Coast]], via [[Florida State Road 528|SR 528]]
-** [[Tampa Bay Area|Tampa Bay]], via [[Interstate 4|I-4]]
 * [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
-** [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], via [[Interstate 16|I-16]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coastalstorms.com/evac_west_map.html |title=Savannah Georgia Westbound I-16 Hurricane Evacuation Map |publisher=Coastalstorms.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+** [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]], via [[Interstate 16|I-16]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coastalstorms.com/evac_west_map.html |title=Savannah Georgia Westbound I-16 Hurricane Evacuation Map |publisher=Coastalstorms.com |access-date=2008-09-01}}</ref>
 * [[Louisiana]]
 ** [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]], via [[Interstate 49|I-49]]
-** [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]] and [[Interstate 210 (Louisiana)|I-210]]<ref>http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/evacinfo/SWLAContraflowMap06.pdf</ref>
+** [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]] and [[Interstate 210 (Louisiana)|I-210]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/evacinfo/SWLAContraflowMap06.pdf |title=South Louisiana Contraflow Plan |access-date=2008-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227014404/http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/evacinfo/SWLAContraflowMap06.pdf |archive-date=2009-02-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-** [[New Orleans metropolitan area]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]], [[Interstate 12|I-12]], [[Interstate 55|I-55]], [[Interstate 59|I-59]], and the [[Lake Pontchartrain Causeway]]<ref>[http://www.lsp.org/contraflowmap2.html]{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contraflowmaps.com/ |title=Contraflow Evacuation Maps - New Orleans, Louisiana |publisher=Contraflowmaps.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+** [[New Orleans metropolitan area]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]], [[Interstate 12|I-12]], [[Interstate 55|I-55]], [[Interstate 59|I-59]], and the [[Lake Pontchartrain Causeway]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Phase III Contraflow: Metropolitan New Orleans Contraflow Plan |website=LSP |url=http://www.lsp.org/contraflowmap2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050603232347/http://www.lsp.org/contraflowmap2.html |archive-date=3 June 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contraflowmaps.com/ |title=Contraflow Evacuation Maps - New Orleans, Louisiana |publisher=Contraflowmaps.com |access-date=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+* [[Maryland]]
+** [[Ocean City, Maryland|Ocean City]], via [[U.S. Route 50 in Maryland|US 50]] and [[Maryland Route 90]]<ref name=eofgis/><ref>{{cite journal| last = Wolshon| first = Brian| title = "One-Way-Out": Contraflow Freeway Operation for Hurricane Evacuation| date = August 2001| journal = Natural Hazards Review| volume = 2| issue = 3| pages = 105–112| url = http://www.asce.org/uploadedFiles/Communications-NEW/Hurricane/One_Way_Out~Contraflow_Freeway_Operation_for_Hurricane_Evacuation.pdf| access-date = 2010-09-13| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003042202/http://www.asce.org/uploadedFiles/Communications-NEW/Hurricane/One_Way_Out~Contraflow_Freeway_Operation_for_Hurricane_Evacuation.pdf| archive-date = 2012-10-03| url-status = dead| doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2001)2:3(105)}}</ref>
+* [[Massachusetts]]
+** [[Cape Cod]] via [[U.S. Route 6 (Massachusetts)|US-6]], [[Massachusetts Route 3|Route 3]], and [[Massachusetts Route 28|Route 28]]<ref>[https://www.mass.gov/doc/cape-cod-emergency-traffic-plan/download Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, retrieved Sept 23, 2022]</ref>
 * [[Mississippi]]
-** [[Mississippi Gulf Coast]], via [[Interstate 59|I-59]]<ref>http://www.mdot.state.ms.us/Home/EmergencyPreparedness/pdf/ContraflowPlan.pdf</ref>
+** [[Mississippi Gulf Coast]], via [[Interstate 59|I-59]] and [[U.S. Route 49|US-49]]<ref>http://www.mdot.state.ms.us/Home/EmergencyPreparedness/pdf/ContraflowPlan.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
-**[[New Orleans metropolitan area]], via [[Interstate 55|I-55]]
+** [[New Orleans metropolitan area]], via [[Interstate 55|I-55]]
 * [[New Jersey]]
+** [[Jersey Shore]], via [[New Jersey Route 47|Route 47]]/[[New Jersey Route 347|Route 347]], [[Garden State Parkway]], [[Atlantic City Expressway]], [[New Jersey Route 72|Route 72]]/[[New Jersey Route 70|Route 70]], [[New Jersey Route 35|Route 35]], and [[New Jersey Route 138|Route 138]]/[[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|I-195]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=CDM Smith, on behalf of the National Hurricane Program |url=https://www.nj.gov/njoem/plan/pdf/maps/NJHES_ReStudy_FINAL_REPORT_APRIL_2023.pdf |title=New Jersey Hurricane Evacuation Study (NJHES) Re-Study Report |last2=New Jersey Office of Emergency Management |year=April 2023 |edition=FINAL REPORT |series=Contract No. W912BU-15-D-0004 |pages=5-18–5-19 |chapter=5.6 Contraflow Operations |format=Online PDF}}</ref>
-** Coastal [[New Jersey]] <ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=6q2lOfLnwkAC&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=new+jersey+contraflow&source=bl&ots=-0W9n8n6-t&sig=r41hieZoaOxqgwHspkj6nDnyOVE&hl=en&ei=AHwoSva3IoyvtwfOuMzWBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7</ref>
+* [[South Carolina]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.sc.us/getting/evacuation.shtml |title=Coastal Evacuation Routes |website=SCDOT - Getting Around in South Carolina |date=18 August 2008 |access-date=2008-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008012744/http://www.dot.state.sc.us/getting/evacuation.shtml |archive-date=8 October 2008}}</ref>
-* [[North Carolina]]
-** [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], via [[Interstate 40|I-40]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/ |title=NCDOT: Travel Information |publisher=Ncdot.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
-* [[South Carolina]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.sc.us/getting/evacuation.shtml |title=SCDOT - Getting Around in South Carolina - Coastal Evacuation Routes |publisher=Dot.state.sc.us |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
 ** [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]], via [[U.S. Highway 21|U.S. 21]]
 ** [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], via [[Interstate 26|I-26]]
@@ Line 46: / Line 50: @@
 ** The [[Grand Strand]], via [[U.S. Highway 501|U.S. 501]]
 ** [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]], via [[U.S. Highway 278|U.S. 278]]
-* [[Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texas.gov/portal/tol/en/emergency/evacuating/#maps |title=Emergency Portal |publisher=Texas.gov |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+* [[Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texas.gov/portal/tol/en/emergency/evacuating/#maps |title=Emergency Portal |publisher=Texas.gov |access-date=2008-09-01}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
 ** [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]], via [[Interstate 37|I-37]]
-** [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]], [[Interstate 45|I-45]], [[U.S. Highway 290|U.S. 290]], and [[U.S. Highway 59|U.S. 59]]
+** [[Houston]], via [[Interstate 10|I-10]], [[Interstate 45|I-45]], [[Interstate 69|I-69 (U.S. Highway 59)]], and [[U.S. Highway 290|U.S. 290]]
-** [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]], [[Surfside Beach, Texas|Surfside Beach]], and [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]] via [[Texas State Highway 288|SH 288]] and [[Texas State Highway 288|SH 36]].
+** [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]], [[Surfside Beach, Texas|Surfside Beach]], and [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]] via [[Texas State Highway 288|SH 288]] and [[Texas State Highway 36|SH 36]].
-** [[Rio Grande Valley]], via [[U.S. Highway 83]] from [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] to [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], [[U.S. Highway 281]] from [[Pharr]] to [[Falfurrias]]
+** [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]], via [[Interstate 2|I-2 (U.S. Highway 83)]] from [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]] to [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], [[Interstate 69E|I-69E (U.S. Highway 77)]] from [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] to [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]], [[Interstate 69C|I-69C (U.S. Highway 281)]] from [[Pharr]] to [[Falfurrias]]
 * [[Virginia]]
-** The [[Hampton Roads]] area, via [[Interstate 64|I-64]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/reversal.asp |title=Hurricane Evacuation Guide |publisher=Virginiadot.org |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>
+** The [[Hampton Roads]] area, via [[Interstate 64|I-64]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/reversal.asp |title=Hurricane Evacuation Guide |publisher=Virginiadot.org |access-date=2008-09-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608010122/http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/reversal.asp |archive-date = 2008-06-08}}</ref>
+Florida had contraflow evacuation plans in place until 2017. The plans were abandoned for emergency [[Shoulder (road)|shoulder]] use.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-09-12|title=Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU)|url=https://www.fdot.gov/emergencymanagement/esu/default.shtm|website=FDOT}}</ref> North Carolina has twice evaluated contraflow on [[Interstate 40 in North Carolina|I-40]] from [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]] to [[Interstate 95 in North Carolina|I-95]] at  [[Benson, North Carolina|Benson]] but rejected it.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-09-26|title=Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 1209 (Contraflow Provision)|url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop20026/fhwahop20026.pdf|page=29}}</ref>
 ==Highway reconstruction==
-When roads are undergoing construction amid heavy traffic, one lane of traffic may be blocked and another lane reversed.
+When roads are undergoing [[Roadworks|construction]] amid heavy traffic, one lane of traffic may be blocked and another lane reversed.
 ===Single track roads===
@@ Line 61: / Line 67: @@
 ===Two-lane arterials===
+[[File:Contraflow traffic through roundabout on North Beach Road.ogv|thumb|right|Traffic controllers direct traffic through half of a roundabout with STOP / SLOW signs, using contraflow conditions]]
-A [[construction worker]] directs traffic with a sign with "STOP" on one side and "SLOW" on the other.  The sign flips, and the other side proceeds. [[Traffic signal]]s are also sometimes used, especially during [[bridge]] construction or any situation in which a lane must be closed during times when construction crews are not at work.  Other cases include treating the street as a temporary one-way street in areas in which several nearby parallel streets are available as a detour for the opposing side.
+A [[construction worker]] or [[police officer]] directs traffic with a "Stop/Slow Paddle", which is a sign displaying "STOP" on one side and "SLOW" on the other. The sign is turned, and the other side proceeds. [[Traffic signal]]s are also sometimes used, especially during bridge construction or any situation in which a lane must be closed during times when construction crews are not at work. Other cases include treating the street as a temporary one-way street in areas in which several nearby parallel streets are available as a detour for the opposing side.
 ===Roads with four or more lanes===
-If road construction necessitates the complete closure of one half of a road with four or more lanes, two lanes of traffic may be shifted to the other roadway. If the road being constructed is a [[highway]], the used half is called a [[semi-highway]].
+If road construction necessitates the complete closure of one half of a road with four or more lanes, two lanes of traffic may be shifted to the other roadway. If the road being constructed is a highway, the used half is called a [[semi-highway]].
 ===Freeways and motorways===
 {{Main|Semi-highway}}
-When controlled-access highways undergo reconstruction, both sides are often reduced to one lane. In some cases, traffic may be shifted onto one half, making it a temporary [[two-lane freeway]] corridor.  An example of this is [[Interstate 10]] in [[Arizona]], in which eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane and shifted onto the westbound half of the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=33.630566,-114.41146&spn=0.004315,0.008347&t=k&om=1 |title=Google Maps |publisher=Maps.google.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref>  Another technique is to treat the rightmost [[hard shoulder]] as a travel lane. On a six-lane freeway (i.e., one containing three lanes in each direction), a third lane may be kept open for the busier direction, or the shoulder may be opened to allow for four lanes of traffic but with little or no shoulder space; emergency breakdown areas may be added. In these situations, temporary "YIELD" or "STOP" signs are usually posted on merge ramps on freeways, expressways, and uncontrolled roads with [[interchange (road)|interchange]]s.
+When [[controlled-access highway]]s undergo reconstruction, both sides are often reduced to one lane. In some cases, traffic may be shifted onto one half, making it a temporary [[two-lane freeway]] corridor. An example of this is [[Interstate 10]] in [[Arizona]], in which eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane and shifted onto the westbound half of the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=33.630566,-114.41146&spn=0.004315,0.008347&t=k&om=1 |title=Google Maps |publisher=Google Maps |access-date=2008-09-01}}</ref>  Another technique is to treat the rightmost [[hard shoulder]] as a travel lane. On a six-lane freeway (i.e., one containing three lanes in each direction), a third lane may be kept open for the busier direction, or the shoulder may be opened to allow for four lanes of traffic but with little or no shoulder space; emergency breakdown areas may be added. In these situations, temporary "YIELD" or "STOP" signs are usually posted on merge ramps on freeways, expressways, and uncontrolled roads with interchanges. In such cases, opposing directions are separated by [[jersey barrier]]s, or in rare circumstances, [[traffic cone]]s.
-==Other situations==
+==Sporting events==
+At the beginning and end of major sporting events, the center turn lanes of roads around a stadium or arena may be used to accommodate event traffic. Because these lanes are typically not subject to lane control, this can be considered a limited form of contraflow reversal.
-While these traffic plans may not necessarily be referred to as "contraflow", they share the essential feature of using lanes normally expected to carry one direction of traffic for vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
+[[Image:I-93ContraflowLaneReversalConcordNH.jpg|thumb|right|Contraflow lane reversal in operation on [[Interstate 93|I-93]] in [[Concord, New Hampshire]] after completion of a [[NASCAR]] [[2013 Camping World RV Sales 301|race]] at [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]], looking south]]
-===Sporting events===
-At the beginning and end of major sporting events, the center turn lanes of roads around a stadium or arena may be used to accommodate event traffic.  Because these lanes are typically not subject to lane control, this can be considered a limited form of contraflow reversal.
+Once a year, upon completion of [[NASCAR]] races at [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]] in [[Loudon, New Hampshire]], a form of contraflow lane reversal, referred to as "borrow a lane," is conducted on [[Interstate 93]] in [[Concord, New Hampshire]]. In this case, the left lane of northbound Interstate 93 is temporarily "borrowed" to use as a third southbound lane. Southbound traffic has the option of transferring to the "borrowed" lane north of the [[Interstate 393]] interchange and can travel southbound in the left northbound lane to allow a bypass of heavy race traffic entering I-93 southbound from I-393 at Exit 15. The two lanes of traffic in the normal southbound lanes, and traffic in the bypass "borrowed" lane rejoin on the southbound side of the interstate just south of the [[Interstate 89]] interchange in [[Bow, New Hampshire|Bow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nh.gov/dot/media/nr2013/20130708-nascar-traffic-controls.htm |title=Traffic Control Plans for the July 14 NASCAR Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon |publisher=NHDOT |access-date=2013-07-18}}</ref>
-===Mass transit===
-Contraflow [[bus lane]]s , areas in which a dedicated lane of an otherwise one way street is reversed for buses and other mass transit, exist in locations such as:
-*[[Downtown Los Angeles|Downtown Los Angeles, CA]]
-*[[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]
-*[[Belfast|Belfast, Ireland]]
-*Through the [[Lincoln Tunnel]] between [[New Jersey]] and [[New York City]]
-*[[Downtown Minneapolis|Downtown Minneapolis, MN]]
-*[[London|London, England]]
-*[[Edmonton|Edmonton, AB]]
-*[[Downtown Portland|Downtown Portland, OR]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trimet.org/portlandmall/index.htm |title=TriMet: What's New on the Portland Mall? |publisher=TriMet|date= |accessdate=2009-06-25}}</ref>
-*[[Boston|Boston, MA]] (for the [[Silver Line (MBTA)|Silver Line]] bus)
-*[[Montreal|Montreal, QC]] ([[Champlain Bridge (Montreal)|Champlain Bridge]])
+Contraflow lane reversal is also used for [[NASCAR Cup Series]] and [[IndyCar Series]] races at [[Pocono Raceway]] in [[Long Pond, Pennsylvania]]. For these races, two-lane [[Pennsylvania Route 115]] becomes one-way southbound between [[Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 80]] and the track the morning of the race until everyone has arrived at the track. After the race concludes, PA 115 becomes one-way northbound between Pocono Raceway and I-80 until everyone has left the track.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=July 29, 2014|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/Regional-Poconos-Coal/Local/special-traffic-patterns-planned-for-pocono-race/27202978|access-date=2014-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623003052/http://www.wfmz.com/news/Regional-Poconos-Coal/Local/special-traffic-patterns-planned-for-pocono-race/27202978|archive-date=2015-06-23|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Staff|title=Special traffic patterns planned for Pocono race|publisher=WFMZ-TV|location=Allentown, PA|date=June 30, 2014|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/Regional-Poconos-Coal/Local/special-traffic-patterns-planned-for-pocono-race/26729224|access-date=2014-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623015430/http://www.wfmz.com/news/Regional-Poconos-Coal/Local/special-traffic-patterns-planned-for-pocono-race/26729224|archive-date=2015-06-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-From June 1990 to June 2002, [[Montreal bus rapid transit|a similar line]] existed in [[Montreal]], along [[Pie-IX Boulevard]]; this was indefinitely suspended after two fatalities.
-Government buses use a bus-only contraflow lane on Macquarie St in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]].
+==See also==
-[[Tram lane]]s are an extension to this system found in cities with curbside [[streetcar]] networks. For example, tram lanes in [[Zagreb]] can be used only by trams, buses, and taxicabs.
+* [[Contraflow lane]]
+* [[Shoulder (road)#Emergency use by all traffic|Emergency shoulder use]]
+* [[Reversible lane]]
+* [[Road diet]]
+{{clear}}
-===Cycle lanes===
-In several cities, cycle lanes have been created to allow cycling in the direction opposite traffic on an otherwise one-way street.  Sidewalks along one-way streets also allow for opposite direction cycling.
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+{{Road junction types}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Contraflow Lane Reversal}}
 [[Category:Emergency management]]
 [[Category:Sports culture]]
-[[Category:Road infrastructure]]
+[[Category:Road traffic management]]
+[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]