Study on Traffic Regulation at Highway Intersection

A sound understanding of the importance of intersections within a road network is a key factor forth efficient and effective management and control of transport networks when traffic operations are saturated. Conventional indices (e.g. level of service, degree of saturation, capacity or delay) reflect only the states of an intersection itself, but lack the ability to describe the influences among the intersections within a road network. To reduce traffic congestion at a grade intersection, one method is construction of flyover at intersection. The flyover facilitates the traffic flow in the direction of bridge, but the infrastructure cannot fully solve all of the problems especially on the secondary roads. Under the bridge, although it relieves the traffic congestion at the intersection, traffic signal at intersection also reduce congestion and accidental rate. Channelized intersection provides more safety and efficiency. It reduces the number of possible conflicts by reducing the area of conflicts available in the carriageway. If channelizing is not provided the driver will have less tendency to reduce the speed while entering the intersection from the carriageway. The presence of traffic islands, markings etc. indicates the driver to reduce the speed and becomes more cautious while passing through the intersection. A channelizing island also serves as a safety for pedestrians and makes pedestrian crossing safer. Traffic congestion on major roads depend upon existing bottlenecks at intersections is a major problem in India. To change this trend, this research was carried out in order to design effective traffic control mechanisms at the troubled spots in India. Traffic volume data was collected throughout the day. Furthermore, discharge headway and delay data were collected using stop watch. The geometric and traffic data collected were analysed using Microsoft Excel. An appraisal of Maui Intersection indicated that the major contributors to traffic are trucks, passenger cars, motorcycles and other modes of transportation traversing the intersection.