Case Study - Benefits from Constructing a Grade-Separated Interchange

Abstract

The paper presents the results of analyzes regarding the benefits of the planned road network development, reconstruction of a road intersection of the national road No. 25 and provincial road No. 254. Actual and forecasted traffic volumes and saturation factors on the road network were calculated based on the regional simulation transport demand model. The value of transport work performed by all vehicles traveling on this network, the value of travel time of drivers and passengers traveling during the weekday as well as the costs of impact of traffic into the environment were also determined. On this basis, a preliminary economic analysis was made as the base for a feasibility study, to proof economic benefits of such investment. Traffic analyzes, the results of which were presented in this paper, were made using the actual and prognostic four-stage regional simulation transport demand models. The authors adopted a typical trumpet-type of grade separated interchange for economic analyzes. It is a collision-free interchange, and therefore very safe in its very nature. The experience of current road practice indicates that significant improvement of road traffic safety will be the undoubted benefit resulting from the construction of such interchange. Additionally, such construction will also reduce time lost by road users in traffics. It should be noted that at present a railway at-grade crossing located in a short distance from the abovementioned intersections is the most serious source of time lost in traffic by road users. The railway line with heavy passenger and freight traffic causes each closing of the turnpikes effectively blocks traffic on main turns of above mentioned intersection. The construction of the grade separated interchange will enable collision-free intersection of the road with the railway, and thus will reduce the loss of time - a significant improvement in the functioning of the analyzed area.