Evaluation of the operation efficiency of implemented highway project

Abstract

Traffic congestion is a considerable problem that big cities face and has undesirable consequences such as uncomfortable usage of roads, car accidents, worsening of performance of road networks, air pollution and economic issues. Therefore, governments have been planning to solve this problem and reduce the traffic congestion level (1). Recently, it is observed that Baghdad city has suffered from severe daily traffic congestion. The key reasons include the great increase in the number of private cars and the deterioration of public transit services. The planners tend to building new highways, such as overpasses and underpasses, to accommodate the increase in the traffic volume and alleviate congestion. However, it is noted that this problem has been persisted in several locations in Baghdad city even after the operation of the new overpasses and underpasses. It means that the implemented projects have not efficient in achieving their aim. Thus, it has been important to investigate the reasons behind this failure. This study focused on evaluating the efficiency performance of two selected overpasses at the Al-Shaab quarter and at the Bab al-Muadam place as the congestion is still in its highest level there, especially at peak hours. A traffic analysis study was accomplished involving a collection of traffic data in the two locations and analysing them using the HCS2000 program in order to specify the reasons of poor performance. It was found that level of service is F after construction, therefore the paper proposed number of alternative suggestions to develop their performance.