Assessment of traffic flow parameters on congested sections of the primary road network of the resort region

Introduction. The article proposes an approach to determining traffic flow parameters on congested sections of the primary road network in a resort region, aimed at estimating time losses and road transport accessibility of tourist and transport hubs. Two representative sections of federal highways in Krasnodar Krai have been considered: M-4 “Don” section with a sequential reduction in the number of traffic lanes, and A-147 section within the boundaries of Dagomys settlement with controlled intersections.

Materials and Methods. The initial database was compiled from traffic management projects, data from stationary traffic detectors, navigation services, and field surveys using the floating car method. For comparison, the Bureau of Public Roads function, the Highway Capacity Manual approach, and traffic simulation modeling have been applied. 

Results. It is shown that seasonal tourist demand and commuting migration create significant unevenness in traffic intensity. On M-4 “Don” highway, the maximum monthly traffic volume in August reaches 1.35 million vehicles per month, which is 256.2% higher than the figures recorded in February during the low tourist season. On A-147 highway, traffic intensity increases to 1.36 million vehicles per month, exceeding the February level by 43.7%. During peak periods, traffic speed decreases to 8–11 km/h, while queue lengths reach 9.8 km on M-4 and 2.4 km on A-147. 

Discussion and Conclusion. Calculation methods provide a smoothed assessment of traffic conditions and underestimate travel time under congested conditions. The simulation model reproduces vehicle accumulation, queue propagation, and stop-and-go regimes; therefore, it is advisable to use it as the primary tool for analyzing congested sections and selecting targeted measures to improve network efficiency.

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