• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.195-205
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• 2001

The objective of the paper is to analyze the traffic characteristics for freeway merging area. Freeway merging area is different from basic section due to ramp vehicles. Therefore, to understand the traffic characteristics of (leeway merging area, this study focused on two factors including critical time headway required in merging maneuver and maximum possible merging volume. In this paper, new model that adopts critical time headway instead of critical time gap in calculating the maximum possible merging volume based on probability function was developed In previous studies, for calculating the maximum possible merging volume, it was considered that merging vehicles could merge freely if a given time gap was greater than the critical time gap. Also, the critical time gap was used as the same value in all traffic flow conditions. But, a time gap required in merging maneuver could be changed, even to the same driver, because difference of relative speed varies in different traffic flow conditions. So, in some cases, the critical time gap could be insufficient value in merging maneuver. Therefore, in this study. a calculating procedure for critical time headway in all traffic flow conditions was presented. Also, the maximum possible merging volume and capacity for freeway merging area were calculated by using the previously found critical time headway.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2D
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• pp.227-234
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• 2009

At present, the length of deceleration lane at freeway diverging areas are designed based on the design speed of main lines and ramps. This is possible on assumption that diverging vehicles decelerate at deceleration section after moving to shoulder lane in advance. But with high diverging volume, several vehicles will try to change to exit lane at the same time. This will cause the distribution of main lane flows or some vehicles may encounter short deceleration length because they miss the proper time to change the lane. The purpose of this study is to establish a design guideline of the length of deceleration section considering the volume of diverging traffic. Also, the results of analysis by the FRESIM simulation model shows that some improvements in respect of delays, speeds and speed deviations of mainline and deceleration lane.