Modeling Traffic Impact of Flyover at an Urban Intersection Under Mixed Traffic Environment

Abstract

In order to ease transportation problems, many urban authorities in India have taken up initiative for construction of flyovers at major intersections. However, in most of the cases a comprehensive planning approach has not been adopted, either due to lack of fund or ignorance about the planning perspective of such proposals. The locations for flyovers have been decided based on present day operating conditions and the traffic impacts of such flyovers at adjacent intersections have not been analysed. In the present paper, the traffic impact of a flyover along with its adjacent intersection has been analysed, using a simulation model developed for mixed traffic operations and poor lane discipline prevailing in India. Through the case study presented in the paper, it has been demonstrated that an ill planned flyover only shifts the location of the problem without bringing any benefit to traffic. The potential use of simulation model for analyzing traffic impacts has been shown; and the need for such analysis for the planning of flyovers has been highlighted.