Modeling of Traffic Flow in Jiaodong'ao Tunnel of Ningbo-Dongguan Expressway

Abstract

A modified two-lane cellular automata traffic model is proposed for studying the traffic flow in Jiaodong'ao Tunnel section, which is located at the Ningbo-Dongguan Expressway. From a realistic perspective, the asymmetric lane changing rules of right-lane preference are adopted for trucks, and the symmetrical lane changing rules are adopted for cars. Particularly, the characteristics of the tunnel is considered. The flow-density relationship obtained from the numerical simulation is basically consistent with the measured data. The unbalanced utilization of two lanes are captured from the spatial-temporal diagrams, and the trucks' effect on the cars' lane-changing behavior is reproduced. Furthermore the influence of Jiaodong'ao Tunnel on the traffic state of its upstream section gradually expands with the increase of the density. The properties of average velocities are studied with the variation of densities and tunnel positions, and the underlying mechanics are analyzed. The results will provide a theoretical reference for the traffic management and optimization of tunnel sections.