Analytical Procedures for Estimating Capacity of Freeway Weaving, Merge, and Diverge Sections
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 8
Abstract
The paper identifies a total of 34 different weaving section configurations that are modeled while operating at capacity using the INTEGRATION software for a wide range of weaving section lengths and travel demand distributions. Subsequently, the simulation results are utilized to develop analytical procedures for estimating the capacity of Type A, B, and C weaving sections. The proposed procedures overcome the shortcomings of the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) procedures by considering short (less than ) in addition to long weaving section lengths, by accounting for the source and distribution of weaving flow, and by ensuring that the capacity of a weaving section reverts to basic freeway capacity when the volume ratio is zero (no weaving flows) regardless of the weaving section length. The model can also estimate the capacity of merge and diverge sections at the appropriate boundary conditions. The paper demonstrates that the proposed model capacity estimates are consistent with field data while the HCM procedures tend to overestimate weaving section capacities significantly (exceeding 100%).
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the financial support of the Mid-Atlantic University Transportation Center (MAUTC) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in conducting this research effort. The writers acknowledge the editorial support of Ms. Robin Marshall and Paul Ruggiero in addition to the suggestions provided by the anonymous reviewers.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 8 • August 2006
Pages: 618 - 628
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 15, 2005
Accepted: Dec 9, 2005
Published online: Aug 1, 2006
Published in print: Aug 2006
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