Alternatives to enhance traffic conditions at U-turn sites

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 this 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 introduces many alternatives to enhance the movement at U-turn section. These alternatives have been tested by using simulation models. The PTV VISSIM software is used to development the models. This development model has been calibrated and validated by using filed data collected from Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq. References [1] Combinido, J.S.L. and Lim, M.T., "Modeling U-turn traffic flow", Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Vol. 389, No. 17, (2010), 3640-3647. [2] Della, R. H., Hanafiah, Arliansyah, J., & Artiansyah, R. (2015). Traffic Performance Analysis of U-turn and Fly Over U-turn Scenario; A Case Study at Soekarno Hatta Road, Palembang, Indonesia. Procedia Engineering, 125, 461–466. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.123  [3] Al-Obaedi, J., "Investigation the effect of speed humps on merging time of u-turn traffic", Ain Shams Engineering Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1, (2019), 1-4. [4] Al-Obaedi, J., " Simulating the Effect of Speed Humps on the U-Turn Traffic", international Journal of Engineering, Vol. 32, (2019), Pages 1773-1780. [5] Meel I, Satirasetthavee D, Kanitpong K, Brannolte U. The Optimal Design of UTurns on Thai Highways. Acta Technica Jaurinensis 2014;7(1):21–32. [6] Meel I, Brannolte U, Satirasetthavee D, Kanitpong K. Safety impact of application of auxiliary lanes at downstream locations of Thai U-turns. IATSS Research 2017;41(1):1–11. [7] Meel, I., "The optimal design of u-turns on thai highways", Acta Technica Jaurinensis, Vol. 7, No. 1, (2014), 21-32. [8] Yang, X. (2001),” CORSIM-Based Simulation Approach to Evaluation of Direct Left Turn Versus Right Turn Plus U Turn from Driveways. (Ph.D dissertation), University of South Florida, Tampa. [9] Detemple, J., Garcia, R., & Rindisbacher, M. (2007). Chapter 21 Simulation Methods for Optimal Portfolios. Handbooks in Operations Research and Management Science, 867–923. doi:10.1016/s0927-0507(07)15021-0. [10] Vaitkus, Audrius, et al. "Traffic Calming Measures: An Evaluation of the Effect on Driving Speed." PROMET –Traffic &Transportation 29.3 (2017): 275-285.doi: 10.7307/ptt. v29i3.2265. [11] World Health Organization. Global status report on road safety 2015. World Health Organization, 2015 [12] AL-Jameel H. A. E (2014). Contribution to the U-turn design at median opening in Iraq: Al-Najaf city as a case study, Kufa Journal of Engineering (K.J.E). [13] Della, R. H., Hanafiah, Arliansyah, J., & Artiansyah, R. (2015). Traffic Performance Analysis of u-turn and Fly Over u-turn Scenario; A Case Study at Soekarno Hatta Road, Palembang, Indonesia. Procedia Engineering, 125, 461–466. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.123  [14] Zainab A T Al-Kareawi and Jalal T S Al-Obaedi (2021). Simulation of U-turn traffic based on VISSIM and PARAMICS micro simulation, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1895 012030 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1895/1/012030.