• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.116-126
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• 2016

In this study, lane-wise traffic flow characteristics were analysed on uninterrupted flow using a new notion of "lane-wise travel speed reversal (LTSR)" which is defined as a phenomena that travel speed in the median lane is lower than other lanes. Mathematical formulation was also proposed to calculate the strength of LTSR. The experiment road site is Seoul Outer Ring Expressway (Jayuro-IC~Jangsoo-IC), and travel trajectories for each four lane were collected for weekdays (Mon. through Fri.) during morning peak. Comparing lane-wise travel speeds for entire test road section, no LTSR was observed, meaning that the travel speed in the median lane is the fastest, followed by 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lane as in order. Howerver, the result of microscopic analysis using 100-meter discrete road section based data shows that LTSR occurs many times. Especially the strength of LTSR is higher in congestion area and freeway merge and diverge segment. It is expected that these results could be used as a fundamental data when establishing lane-by-lane traffic operation strategy and developing lane-wise traffic information collection and dissemination technology.