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Comparison of Traffic Growth Factors in Three Major Highways of Bangladesh: A Case Study



Author(s)

Mohammad Ahad Ullah, Hamid Nikraz and Md. Shamsul Hoque

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2142/2015.02.005

The unanticipated increase in vehicle population and heavy axle loads has brought the road network of Bangladesh to a crumbling stage. The network is grossly short of its structural capacity, highly distressed and has started showing signs of premature failure. The RHD (Roads and Highways Department) of Bangladesh uses 8%~10% growth rate of traffic for structural design of these highways that need to be upgraded due to present high traffic volume demand. An attempt has been made through this case study, by using traffic flow data from different computerized toll plaza established in recent times, to predict traffic growth pattern of different highways of Bangladesh. The toll collectors of different computerized toll plaza have been recording and preserving round-the-year continuous flow data in a systematic manner. The study has taken this prospect of utilizing several years of flow data along Dhaka-Chittagong Highway (N-1), Dhaka-Sylhet Highway (N-2), Dhaka-North Bengal Highway (N-5) and found the traffic growth factor of 21.03%, 23.79% and 11.31%, respectively, which is much higher than that transport authority of Bangladesh is currently using. By the use of accurate traffic engineering parameters such as traffic growth factors, it is possible to resist frequent distress of pavement and sustainable pavement management can be implemented by RHD.

Traffic growth factor, traffic volume, national highway, geometric design standard