CHAPTER TWO
TRAFFIC STUDY
2.1 Introduction
Factual information on expected traffic volumes is an essential input to design. This indicates
the need for improvements and directly affects the geometric features and design. Traffic flows
vary both seasonally and during the day. The directional distribution of the traffic and the
manner in which its composition varies are also important parameters. A thorough
understanding of the manner in which all of these behave is a basic requirement of any realistic
design.
2.2 Objectives of Traffic Study
The objectives of carrying out various traffic studies are described below. These are:-
Identification of spatial influence of the project stretch
Deriving Growth Factors for Traffic demand forecasting
Providing inputs for pavement design
Providing inputs for design of intersections
Providing traffic inputs for economic and financial analysis
Providing traffic inputs for Environmental Impact Assessment
2.3 Traffic Count Period and Location
Manual counting system was adopted thorough supervision of qualified Traffic
Engineers for Volume Counts and at the same time Origin - Destination survey
was undertaken along the road. The O-D survey is also carried out for 12hrs on
each day for three days.
2.4 Vehicle classification
The classification of vehicles for conducting traffic surveys are as follows:
Cars
Buses
Medium Trucks
Heavy Trucks
Articulated trucks
Trailers
2.5 Traffic data of the project
The adjusted normal traffic (ANT) for the road project was found as tabulated below:-
Section Car Bus Medium Heavy Articulate Directional ADT
truck truck d truck split
Sawla- 30 50 48 9 3 51/49 140
Maji
Table 2.1 the adjusted ANT for sawla-maji road
2.6 traffic forecasting
The components of traffic of a project road are normal, diverted and generated traffic. Brief
descriptions and the procedures adopted to estimate this traffic is mentioned herein under.
Normal traffic is the traffic which would pass along an existing road or track even if no new
pavement were provided.
Diverted traffic is the traffic that changes from another route (or mode of transport) to the
project road because of the improved of the pavement, but still travels between the same origin
and destination. Reduction in transport cost and travel time represents the major diversion
factors. Diverted traffic is assumed to be 40% of the normal traffic.
Generated traffic is the additional traffic which occurs in response to the provision or
improvement of a road and it is assumed to be 25% of the normal traffic. The generated traffic
can be broken down into two components:
Increased traffic due to a decrease in transport costs and,
Induced traffic from specific local economic development, as a result of the improved
road accessibility (e.g. location of a new industrial plant, increased agricultural
production, migration into the road influence area, etc).
Since the construction of the proposed road will provide efficient and less costly services than
the present available transport system, and may result in substantial volumes of generated traffic.
By considering these parameters and assuming 5% annual traffic growth and taking the time
period from the time of traffic survey to the opening of the road to be 6 years i.e from
(1997-2002) EC, the average annual daily traffic will be estimated by the formula
AADT=AADT¿0 ¿¿¿ (1+i) x
Where:
AADT- the estimated average annual daily traffic on the year 2002EC
¿0 ¿ ¿
AADT ¿ -the average annual daily traffic on the year 1997EC
i- Estimated annual traffic growth rate which is assumed to be 0.05
x-the time period from the time of traffic survey to the opening of the road i.e. from 1997-2002
EC which is 6 years. The results will be tabulated as below.
Vehicles AADT0 AADT= AADT Diverted traffic Generated Total One
0 (1+0.05)
x =(0.4*AADT) Traffic Directi
onal
traffic
Cars 30 41 17 11 69
Bus 50 67 27 17 111
Medium 48 65 26 17 108
trucks
Heavy 9 12 5 3 20
Trucks
Articulate 3 4 2 1 7
d Trucks
Total 189 77 49 315
Table 2.2 estimation of AADT for sawla-maji road
One directional traffic was assumed to be 0.51 of the total estimated AADT at the year
2002 EC. from the above table the AADT for the road is found to be 315 therefore by
consulting the ERA Manual the design standard was found to be DS 4
RoadFunctionalClassification Design Standard Design Traffic Flow (AADT)
No.
DS1 10,000 – 15,000
T
DS2 5,000 – 10,000
R
L U DS3 1,000 – 5,000
I N
M
DS4 200 – 1,000
N K
A
K
I DS5 100 – 200
C
F N
O DS6 50 – 100
E
L
E A DS7 30 – 75
L
D C
E
E C
C
R E
T
S
O
S
R
DS8 25 – 50
DS9 0 – 25
DS10 0 – 15
Table 2.3 ERA provision for design standards of roads
2.3 LIMITATIONS OF TRAFFIC FORECASTING
Traffic forecasting is not as such easy task. To forecast the given traffic one has to have full information
starting from growth rate up to current corrected traffic count. In this way effective estimation may be
achieved. This is not only factor to arrive at satisfactory result but the economic growth of assessing areas
should be known. Because, it is very helpful to find generated traffic to the area.
2.4 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT DURING CONSTRUCTION
Maintenance of a safe flow of traffic during construction is closely related to sequencing of
construction. The use of alternative routes around a construction site is frequently impractical
especially for this project it is untouchable and it is normally necessary to maintain flow of
traffic through the construction area. Sometimes traffic lanes are closed, shifted, or encroached
upon in order that the construction can be undertaken. When this occurs, designs for maintenance
of traffic should minimize the effect on traffic operations by minimizing the frequency or
duration of interference with normal traffic flow. Devices used to manage traffic through a
construction area, as well as causing disruption to traffic flow, have significant safety
implications for road users (motorists, cyclists, pedestrians) and construction workers.
Design changes and additional works may be required as a result of construction sequencing and
traffic management considerations. Preparing an adequate sequence or construction and traffic
management plan is thus an essential component of the design process.
Traffic movements - considerable attention must be given to the safety of traffic movement and
the management of traffic through the project. This may include
(i) lane closure
(ii) traffic diversion via another route
(iii) construction or side tracks, paved and sealed, or other temporary roadways:
Depending on circumstances, movement of traffic may be achieved in one of the following
ways:
(i) around the work area by a detour which may be via a side track or an existing road.
(ii) Safety and convenience
In order to achieve minimum disruption and inconvenience to road users only the minimum
practicable length and width of a road shall be closed off at any time.