Alternatives to enhance traffic conditions at U-turn sites

Abstract

Traffic simulation models play a major role in allowing traffic engineers to assess complex traffic situations such as U-turn section. Such models help in proposing solutions and proposing alternative scenarios without committing too many expensive resources and these models are necessary to implement alternative strategies in the field. Simulation traffic models can significantly improve the quality of road network planning and design in urban areas. According to filed observation, the U-turn movement cause traffic congestion at both origin and distention (opposite) roads. This study introduced many alternatives to enhance the movement at U-turn section. These alternatives have been tested by using simulation models. The PTV VISSIM software was used to development the models. This development model has been calibrated and validated by using filed data collected from Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq. The results show from the simulation results are in good agreement with the real data.