ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC DISTRIBUTION IN THREE LANE UNI-DIRECTIONAL FREEWAY

Developed analytical model for three lane uni-directional freeway revealed that, traffic distribution can be more accurately expressed by total traffic flow, heavy vehicle composition and average speed. Statistical tests were used to provide some insight to examine how location, geometry features and light condition might affect the traffic distribution. Moreover, developed theoretical concept revealed that amount of lane changeovers between adjacent lanes highly affects the traffic distribution in an uninterrupted freeway segment, and these lane changeovers are influenced by two defined traffic parameters., ratio of average speed and ratio of average traffic density between adjacent lanes. Analysed results revealed that, with the increasing total traffic flow, the changes in ratio of average density had very strong influence on traffic distribution. Finally, based on these results, three measures that might increase the freewaycapacity were suggested.