Optimal Lane Closure for Rail Line Construction to Mitigate Urban Traffic Impacts

Abstract

As a result of lane closures during rail line construction, traffic conditions inevitably deteriorate and cause traffic congestion. This paper proposes a paradigm for identifying optimal lane closures to maximize the average speed (Vavg) in the construction area. The framework begins with creating a simulation model to examine the traffic impact of each lane closure alternative and applies the Box-Behnken design technique to limit the number of possible scenarios. The case study for this research was the six-lane (three lanes in each direction) Road 304 in Bangkok, Thailand. The results confirmed that the partial lane closure alternatives would increase Vavg by at least 5% from having one lane fully closed. The optimal construction spacing in the case study was 1.5 km to obtain the maximum Vavg. However, the optimal lane closure length occurred when its value was close to 0 km, which is impractical. Thus, the paper recommends a lower threshold for the lane closure length of 1.4 km compared to other literature. Furthermore, the longest possible lane closure should be designated for light traffic volumes, whereas a dynamic speed limit should be implemented to alternate the speed limit during peak and off-peak periods for high traffic volumes.