ABSTRACT
Due to population growth, limited resources for road construction, increased car usage has led to deteriorating road conditions and traffic congestion in Asaba, Delta State. This study aim to asses congestion using volume to capacity ratio and speed performance index. Traffic study was carried out at Ibusa junction, focusing on three sections: Ibusa – Stadium junction, Ibusa – Ilukwu junction, and Ibusa – Ogbeogonogo junction. Traffic counts were conducted to assess traffic volume, road capacity was determined from past studies, and were used to calculate the level of service (LOS) while speed studies were performed during regular weekdays and peak festive (Christmas) periods to evaluate speed performance indices (SPI), within a 5 days duration respectively. Vehicular class along ibusa-stadium road on a Monday is (26.93%) three wheelers, (28.11%) passenger cars, (12.21%) small buses, (11.26%) medium buses, (10.10%) light goods vehicles and (11.39%) heavy goods vehicles. Along Ibusa- Ilukwu junction is 30.13%, 30.78%, 11.06 %, 9.76%, 10.06% and 8.21%. lastly Ibusa- Ogbeogonogo junction is 30.43%, 28.09%, 11.56%, 10.88%, 9.94% and 9.1%. The volume of traffic along this road sections were within the range of 2834 vehicles to 3151 vehicles, but during the festive period the volume of traffic were within the range of 3154 vehicles to 3712 vehicles. The volume to capacity ratio on the different road sections were within the range of 0.61 to 0.70, which implies that the LOS was of Class B. The SPI from the speed study were within the range of 61.57% to 71.87% which indicated that the traffic state was smooth as stated in Table 2.2, but during the festive season the SPI was within the range of 48.30% to 59.63%, which indicated that the traffic state was that of mild congestion. Continuously monitoring and analysing traffic data using the volume to capacity ratio and speed performance index to identify emerging vi congestion patterns was conducted in other to anticipating future traffic demand and plan accordingly.
