Capacity and road user cost analysis of Work zones in urban heterogeneous Traffic conditions

Abstract

Work zone is the segment of highway apportioned to pursue upon newlineroad maintenance, upgrading, infrastructure construction, incident newlinemanagement etc. Work zones are inevitable elements in the management and newlineupgrading road and transport infrastructure. Work zones become more critical newlinein urban areas due to heavier traffic volumes. Work zones are formed by newlineeither partial or full closure of lanes. Work zones could result in significant newlinedelays, increased fuel consumption and negative impact on road safety. The newlinespeed of traffic stream and capacity of the road sections would vary newlinedepending on the configuration/geometry of the work zones. On road users newlineperspective, work zones are seen as an undesirable element for free traffic newlinemovement. Proper planning with due traffic control measures could reduce newlinethe impacts on road users. For effective management of traffic in the work newlinezone stretches, it is essential to understand the traffic impact of work zones. newlineLong term lane closures for work zones during metro rail, elevated road, newlinegrade separator construction etc., need to be carefully planned accounting the newlinetraffic impacts else it may cast a negative perspective on the developed newlineinfrastructure itself. newlineThe objective of this work is to study the traffic flow at the urban newlinework zones and quantify its effect on speed, capacity and road user costs at newlinethe work zone stretches. It is also proposed to compare the speed and capacity newlinechanges at selected work zones by comparing the traffic parameters with that newlineof a similar ideal road section without work zone. newline