Modeling Traffic Volume Reduction as a Function of Winter Weather Factors for a Cold Region Highway
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 37, Issue 1
Abstract
This research aims to quantify the impact of winter weather conditions (cold temperatures and snowfall) on traffic volume. Traffic data and winter weather data (temperature and snowfall intensities from November to March) were collected for 5 years from a cold region highway in Alberta, Canada. The study results suggest that, overall, traffic volume substantially reduces under extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall conditions. Yet, truck traffic was estimated to increase in the combined presence of some weather conditions, which could be due to more trucks being used and/or trucks potentially being rerouted from other routes. Highway agencies may use the proposed methodology to determine (1) the optimal snowplowing schedules, and (2) when to close (or reopen) highways in winter.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Alberta Transportation for providing the WIM data used in this study.
References
Roh, H.-J. 2020a. “Development of winter climatic hazard models on traffic volume and assessment of their performance with four types of model structures.” Nat. Hazard. Rev. 21 (3): 04020023.
Roh, H.-J. 2020b. “Modelling chronic winter hazards as a function of precipitation and temperature.” Nat. Hazard. 103 (5): 1723–1745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04243-x.
WO (Weather Office). 2018. Environment Canada, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Accessed October 20, 2020. www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/canada_e.html.
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 26, 2021
Accepted: Nov 7, 2022
Published online: Dec 20, 2022
Published in print: Mar 1, 2023
Discussion open until: May 20, 2023
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