A macroscopic traffic model for highway work zones: Formulations and numerical results

Abstract

This study presents a multilane model for analyzing the dynamic traffic properties of a highway segment under a lane-closure operation that often incurs complex interactions between mandatory lane-changing vehicles and traffic at unblocked lanes. The proposed traffic flow formulations employ the hyperbolic model used in the non-Newtonian fluid dynamics, and assume the lane-changing intensity between neighboring lanes as a function of their difference in density. The results of extensive simulation experiments indicate that the proposed model is capable of realistically replicating the impacts of lane-changing maneuvers from the blocked lanes on the overall traffic conditions, including the interrelations between the approaching flow density, the resulting congestion level, and the exiting flow rate from the lane-closure zone. Our extensive experimental analyses also confirm that traffic conditions will deteriorate dramatically and evolve to the state of traffic jam if the density has exceeded its critical level that varies with the type of lane-closure operations. This study also provides a convenient way for computing such a critical density under various lane-closure conditions, and offers a theoretical basis for understanding the formation as well as dissipation of traffic jam.

Visco‐elastic traffic flow model

“…It is necessary to note that in the solution of Equation , the acceleration ( R / ρ ) and pressure gradient () are combined to form a new variable ( ϕ ), which is solved under a periodic condition before the evaluation of density and flow in terms of the TVD. Some detail of the TVD's application can be found elsewhere .…”

“…However, the LWR model cannot more satisfactorily predict the stop and moving waves that might be caused by red lights or traffic accidents. Nevertheless, the development of the extended LWR models has been reported to be capable of predicting the traffic hysteresis , observing the evolution of density waves as well as explaining the critical transition in bottleneck affected traffic .…”

Optimal subwork zone operational strategy for short‐term work zone projects in four‐lane two‐way freeways

“…To deal with this problem, Chen and Schonfeld [8] and Tang and Chien [15] adopted the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm and genetic algorithm (GA) to find the optimal subwork zone strategy with time window constraints, respectively. In addition, some researchers further investigated the effects of lane-changing behavior [16] and route-changing behavior [17] on the optimal work zone strategy.…”

“…The uniform subwork zone length constraint, shown by Equation (14), ensures that each subwork zone has the uniform length. Equation (16) implies that the ith subwork zone is carried out immediately after the completion time of (i À 1)th subwork zone. Equations (17 and 18) make sure that the work zone project is completed within the given time window.…”

Improvement of Highway Work Zone Performance by Traffic Management

“…However, operating strategies such as using the shoulder area and temporarily reducing the width of the existing lanes to form additional lanes can be used to alleviate infrequent traffic congestion at work zone [9]. All negative impacts of lane-changing maneuvers due to blocked lanes on traffic condition like congestion level, flow density and existing flow rate is tested by macroscopic traffic simulation method [10]. Information about driver compliance, merging behavior, speed differentials, lane changing, and braking maneuvers are extracted to be used in the simulation calibration for temporary ramp meters at seven work zones [11].…”