TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDY AND CONGESTION SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Traffic Engineering is used to accomplish secure and time bound commutation of persons and freights on road network which in turn relies on traffic flow. Due to an increase in the standard of living of middle-class families in the last decade, traffic volume has considerably increased. Thus, lack of proper management of roads can result in non-sustainable development. This work analyses traffic properties of Shivaji Marg, Janakpuri district centre, Delhi, India by performing direct manual counting method of survey. Objective of this study is to record traffic volume of the site for the weekdays from 8AM to 2PM, determine the morning peak hour and the morning peak hour factor using the standard passenger car unit (PCU) values. Also, this study attempts to determine the practical PCU values for different automobiles running on the site and calculate the corresponding morning peak hour factor. Lastly, this work comments on the congestion level of the site by comparing the recorded hourly traffic volume with the permissible volume per hour. The study found out that the practical PCU values differ from their corresponding standard values as it depends on the speed and space occupied by the automobiles which can vary from site to site. Also, it was found that the hourly traffic volume is within the permissible limit implying no congestion in the current scenario. There are, however, certain limitations of this work like absence of advanced technology, variation in the PCU values, time constraints. Nevertheless, this study will help the stakeholders in the construction sector to prioritise their resources towards factors which need to be improved to enhance the serviceability of the highway for present as well as for the future generation.