Development of Analysis Model and Improvement of Evaluation Method of LOS for Freeway Merging Areas

The analytic methodology of a merging area in KHCM(2004) supposes that congestion nay occur when traffic demand is more than capacity However, in many cases, congestion on merging area occurs when summation of traffic demand of main line and ramp is less than capacity, and in present methodology analysis of how main line and ramp flow effect on congestion occurrence is difficult. In this study, the model that is able to estimate traffic flow condition on merging area in accordance with the combination of main line and ramp demand flow is developed. Main characteristic of the model is estimation of maximum possible throughput rate and maximum throughput rate according to the combination of main line and ramp demand flow. Through the estimation of maximum possible throughput rate and maximum throughput rate. it was Possible to predict whether congestion would occur or not and how much maximum throughput rate and congestion would be on merging area. On one hand, in present LOS evaluation methodology on merging area, congestion state is determined as un-congested flow if demand flow is less than capacity. Therefore, to establish more reasonable In evaluation method, new criterion of LOS evaluation on merging area was searched based on the model of this study