VHB partnered with the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) to update the City’s Work Area Traffic Control Handbook (WATCH), advancing Charlotte’s temporary traffic control practices and guidelines to align with the latest national standards and support safer conditions for road users and workers.
The WATCH was last revised in 2014. Since then, significant changes have been made to national traffic control guidance, including the publication of the 11th Edition of the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) in 2023. Additionally, the updates reflect Charlotte’s commitment to safe, equitable, and multimodal transportation for all Right-of-Way users as established in the City’s adopted Strategic Mobility Plan.
VHB thoroughly reviewed the 2014 handbook by evaluating language, requirements, and technical drawings for consistency with the latest MUTCD standards and national guidance. The team created an updated edition of the handbook that reflects current best practices in temporary traffic control.
“The updates in the 2026 WATCH reflect CDOT’s commitment to maintaining a transportation system that is safe for all users,” said Martin Brown, City of Charlotte Engineering Program Manager. “As a Vision Zero city, Charlotte is committed to eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. The 2026 WATCH added illustrative guidance for field crews that will improve cyclist and pedestrian safety while navigating work zones.”
The revised WATCH provides CDOT staff, contractors, and consultants with the latest guidance for planning and implementing work zone traffic control throughout Charlotte. By aligning local standards with the latest federal requirements, the handbook improves consistency, enhances safety for all transportation system users, and supports the delivery of infrastructure and maintenance projects.
"Partnering with CDOT on the updated WATCH handbook gave us an opportunity to help make Charlotte’s work zones safer while also making critical guidance more accessible to the people who use it in the field,” said Sam Bush, Senior Graphic Designer. “Through thoughtful visual communication, and a practical pocket-size format, the handbook puts essential temporary traffic control information directly in the hands of workers, contractors, and inspectors at the worksite."
Together, VHB and CDOT are making certain Charlotte’s work zone traffic control guidance remains current, practical, and responsive to the needs of a growing city.
Learn more about VHB’s approach to safety on our roadways.
