The Effect of Barzan Highway Improvements on the Traffic Stream Parameters

Abstract

The rapid economic growth in Duhok City has resulted in high traffic volumes, increased the flow of stream traffic, and decreased the speed of running. Therefore, over the last few years, many roads have suffered from non-uniform traffic flow, traffic jams, and increased traffic accidents. There are several causes for the development carried out by the Duhok Governorate on the Barzan Highway, where signalized at-grade intersections were replaced by bridges and tunnels to prevent conflicts between vehicles on the highway. This study will evaluate how much improvement has been made to the Barzan Highway's main parameters after the improvements have been made. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the underpasses have contributed to the creation of safer roads by reducing the accident rate by 47%, decreasing the average traffic flow from west to east (Imam Hamza underpass to Farmanda underpass) by 32%, and decreasing the average traffic flow from east to west by 10%, reducing travel time from west to east by 48%, and from east to west by 45%; moreover, the density improved from west to east by approximately 60%, while from east to west by 63%.