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C-31 Traffic Control Practice Questions - California CSLB C-31 Construction Zone Traffic Control Examination Exam
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Question
1
of 25
QUESTION 1 / 25
What is the minimum required merging taper length (L) for closing a 12-foot wide traffic lane on a California highway with a posted speed limit of 55 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
660 feet, calculated using L = W × S for speeds of 45 mph or greater.
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B
302 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 60 for low-speed urban streets.
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C
440 feet, calculated using L = 0.67 × W × S for shifting tapers only.
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D
220 feet, calculated using L = 0.33 × W × S for shoulder tapers only.
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QUESTION 2 / 25
A traffic control contractor is designing a merging taper to close a 12-foot lane on an urban street posted at 35 mph. What is the minimum taper length required?
Choose one answer below.
A
420 feet, calculated using L = W × S for high-speed highway merging tapers.
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B
245 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 60 for speeds of 40 mph or less.
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C
123 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 120 for shifting tapers on streets.
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D
82 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 180 for shoulder tapers on streets.
✓
QUESTION 3 / 25
A contractor must install a shifting taper to align traffic across a 12-foot lateral shift on a highway posted at 60 mph. What is the minimum required shifting taper length?
Choose one answer below.
A
720 feet, which represents the full merging taper length for a 60 mph zone.
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B
540 feet, which represents three-quarters of the full merging taper length.
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C
360 feet, which equals L / 2 (half of the full merging taper length).
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D
240 feet, which equals L / 3 (one-third of the full merging taper length).
✓
QUESTION 4 / 25
What is the minimum required shoulder taper length when closing a 10-foot wide paved shoulder on a roadway with a posted speed of 50 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
500 feet, which is the full merging taper length required for closing lanes.
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B
333 feet, which is two-thirds of the full merging taper length for shifts.
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C
250 feet, which is half of the full merging taper length for shifts.
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D
167 feet, which equals L / 3 (one-third of the merging taper length).
✓
QUESTION 5 / 25
What is the standard taper length range specified in CA MUTCD for one-lane, two-way traffic control using flaggers or temporary signals?
Choose one answer below.
A
50 feet to 100 feet maximum, using 5 to 6 channelizing devices.
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B
150 feet to 300 feet maximum, using 10 to 12 channelizing devices.
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C
300 feet to 500 feet maximum, using 15 to 20 channelizing devices.
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D
500 feet to 1000 feet maximum, using 25 to 30 channelizing devices.
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QUESTION 6 / 25
According to CA MUTCD Table 6C-2, what is the minimum required longitudinal buffer space length for a work zone with a posted speed limit of 45 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
250 feet, based on urban low-speed stopping sight distance metrics.
✓
B
360 feet, based on standard stopping sight distance for 45 mph.
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C
495 feet, based on rural high-speed stopping sight distance metrics.
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D
645 feet, based on freeway express stopping sight distance metrics.
✓
QUESTION 7 / 25
According to CA MUTCD Table 6C-2, what is the minimum required longitudinal buffer space length for a freeway work zone posted at 65 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
425 feet, which corresponds to the stopping distance at 50 mph.
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B
570 feet, which corresponds to the stopping distance at 60 mph.
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C
645 feet, which corresponds to the stopping distance at 65 mph.
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D
730 feet, which corresponds to the stopping distance at 70 mph.
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QUESTION 8 / 25
A traffic estimator is calculating the number of channelizing devices required for a 660-foot merging taper on a 55 mph highway. What is the minimum device count?
Choose one answer below.
A
7 devices, spaced at double the speed limit (110 feet apart).
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B
9 devices, spaced at 75-foot intervals along the merging taper.
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C
11 devices, spaced at 60-foot intervals along the merging taper.
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D
13 devices, spaced at the speed limit in feet (55 feet apart).
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QUESTION 9 / 25
How many cones are required for a 1,000-foot tangent section of a freeway lane closure with a posted speed limit of 60 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
9 cones, placed at a maximum tangent spacing of 2 × S (120 feet).
✓
B
14 cones, placed at a maximum tangent spacing of 1.25 × S (75 feet).
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C
18 cones, placed at a maximum tangent spacing of 1.0 × S (60 feet).
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D
26 cones, placed at a maximum tangent spacing of 0.67 × S (40 feet).
✓
QUESTION 10 / 25
When reading Caltrans Standard Plan T9, what does a dashed line of channelizing devices positioned diagonally across a lane represent?
Choose one answer below.
A
A permanent shoulder widening project boundary line.
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B
A merging taper for closing an active traffic lane.
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C
A buffer zone boundary reserved for emergency vehicles.
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D
A pedestrian detour channelization path across work areas.
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QUESTION 11 / 25
In a rural advance warning area on a two-lane highway, what is the standard recommended spacing between advance warning signs (A, B, and C)?
Choose one answer below.
A
100 feet between signs in dense rural residential corridors.
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B
250 feet between signs in moderate rural commercial corridors.
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C
500 feet between signs in open rural highway environments.
✓
D
1,000 feet between signs in mountainous low-speed environments.
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QUESTION 12 / 25
What are the standard advance warning sign placement distances (A, B, and C) specified by Caltrans for freeway lane closures?
Choose one answer below.
A
100 feet, 250 feet, and 500 feet upstream of the merging taper for local street closures.
✓
B
250 feet, 500 feet, and 1,000 feet upstream of the merging taper.
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C
500 feet, 1,000 feet, and 1,500 feet upstream of the merging taper.
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D
1,000 feet, 1,500 feet, and 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) upstream of the taper.
✓
QUESTION 13 / 25
A traffic estimator is locating a flagger station on a two-lane road posted at 40 mph. Based on stopping sight distance (Table 6E-1), how far in advance of the work area must the flagger be positioned?
Choose one answer below.
A
305 feet in advance of the work activity area.
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B
200 feet in advance of the work activity area.
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C
155 feet in advance of the work activity area.
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D
100 feet in advance of the work activity area.
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QUESTION 14 / 25
Where should a Portable Changeable Message Sign (PCMS) be placed relative to a major freeway lane closure decision point?
Choose one answer below.
A
Directly inside the merging taper behind the first channelizing cone.
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B
At least 1,000 feet upstream of the decision point or advance warning signs.
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C
Adjacent to the work crew inside the activity area for maximum visibility to approaching traffic.
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D
In the termination area past the work zone to inform exiting traffic.
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QUESTION 15 / 25
When positioning a stationary shadow truck equipped with a Truck-Mounted Attenuator (TMA) upstream of a work crew, what factor determines the required roll-ahead distance?
Choose one answer below.
A
The length of the advance warning sign array and number of warning signs posted.
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B
The height of the TMA display board lights.
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C
The mass of the shadow vehicle and traffic speed.
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D
The total width of the paved road shoulder.
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QUESTION 16 / 25
On Caltrans highway construction projects, how is the core 'Traffic Control System' typically paid under contract bid items?
Choose one answer below.
A
Per cone placed per hour of active work.
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B
Per linear foot of traffic taper installed.
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C
Per square foot of warning sign surface.
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D
As a contract Lump Sum (LS) bid item.
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QUESTION 17 / 25
What is the minimum merging taper length for an 11-foot lane closure on a road posted at 40 mph?
Choose one answer below.
A
294 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 60.
✓
B
440 feet, calculated using L = W × S.
✓
C
147 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 120.
✓
D
98 feet, calculated using L = W × S² / 180.
✓
QUESTION 18 / 25
What is the primary function of a lateral buffer space in a temporary traffic control zone?
Choose one answer below.
A
To provide space for storing construction materials and worker vehicles.
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B
To provide a side separation between open traffic and the work activity space.
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C
To provide an area for mounting large permanent advance warning signs.
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D
To serve as a designated queue area for vehicles waiting at flagger stations during peak hours.
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QUESTION 19 / 25
How many days in advance must a C-31 contractor submit a proposed freeway lane closure schedule to the Caltrans District Traffic Manager (DTM)?
Choose one answer below.
A
1 calendar day prior to planned implementation.
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B
3 calendar days prior to planned implementation.
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C
7 calendar days prior to planned implementation.
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D
30 calendar days prior to planned implementation.
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QUESTION 20 / 25
What permit must a C-31 contractor possess before placing any temporary traffic control devices within the California State highway right-of-way?
Choose one answer below.
A
A Local Municipal Building Permit.
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B
A Cal/OSHA Excavation Permit.
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C
A California Air Resources Board Permit.
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D
A Caltrans Encroachment Permit.
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QUESTION 21 / 25
What is the primary role of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers assigned under the COZEEP program in a construction zone?
Choose one answer below.
A
To enforce speed limits and enhance safety in construction zones.
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B
To manually set up and dismantle traffic control cones and signs.
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C
To perform quality control inspections on temporary pavement tape.
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D
To direct daily construction operations and supervise work crews.
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QUESTION 22 / 25
Prior to implementing a full road closure for a construction project, which agencies must the contractor notify first?
Choose one answer below.
A
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
✓
B
Local emergency services including police, fire, and EMS.
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C
The Regional Water Quality Control Board.
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D
The Federal Highway Administration regional office and state DOT coordination office.
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QUESTION 23 / 25
Under California Government Code 4216, how much advance notice must a traffic control contractor provide to Underground Service Alert (USA 811) before driving posts into the ground?
Choose one answer below.
A
At least 4 hours before driving any post into the ground.
✓
B
At least 24 hours before driving any post into the ground.
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C
At least 2 working days before driving any post into the ground.
✓
D
At least 10 working days before driving any post into the ground.
✓
QUESTION 24 / 25
When a work zone closure will significantly disrupt public transit bus routes, what coordination step is required?
Choose one answer below.
A
No notification is needed if the work zone operates exclusively at night on residential streets.
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B
Bus stops must be removed permanently without public notification.
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C
Contractors must install makeshift bus stops inside active buffer spaces.
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D
Transit agencies must be notified in advance to relocate stops and adjust routes.
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QUESTION 25 / 25
What is the standard Caltrans policy regarding non-emergency lane closures during major holiday periods (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day)?
Choose one answer below.
A
Lane closures are strictly prohibited during designated holiday restriction periods.
✓
B
Lane closures are permitted provided double cone spacing is maintained.
✓
C
Lane closures are permitted if approved by the local police department.
✓
D
Lane closures are mandatory during holidays to take advantage of reduced commuter traffic.
✓
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