Dynamic work zone safety system and method

(a) Field of the Invention A novel dynamic work zone safety system and method of traffic control for a construction work zone are provided herein. The system includes at least two traffic signalling device which are positioned along a roadside immediately upstream of a point where traffic is diverted to a single lane. The traffic signalling devices selectively flash a suitable warning, e.g., "DO NOT PASS" or "MERGE LEFT" or "MERGE RIGHT", thereby to provide at least two "NO PASSING" or "MERGE LEFT" or "MERGE RIGHT" zones which is defined by the distance between the traffic signalling devices and the end of the work or construction zone. The "NO PASSING" or "MERGE LEFT" or "MERGE RIGHT" zones traffic signalling device and the end of the work or construction zone may thus be expanded or contracted. A plurality of spaced-apart sensors is disposed along the roadway both downstream of, and upstream of, the traffic signalling devices to detect and determine the length of traffic queues upstream of the traffic signalling devices, and provides signals which are representative of the length of the traffic queues. The processor receives the traffic queue signals and generates activation signals when the traffic queue reaches a predetermined length. It also generates a deactivation signal when the traffic queue is less than the predetermined length. This dynamically increases or decreases the "NO PASSING" or "MERGE LEFT" or "MERGE RIGHT" zone.