STUDY OF A URBAN INTERSECTION IN THE CITY OF ALYTUS

Abstract

The increasing number of vehicles leads to higher traffic intensity on city streets and intersections. As a result, intersections become more congested, which may reduce their efficiency and increase the likelihood of traffic accidents as well as environmental pollution. This study analyses a four-way intersection of Naujoji, Putinų, and Kalniškės streets in the city of Alytus. The aim of the research was to evaluate the traffic flow capacity of this intersection and propose measures to improve traffic efficiency. The analysed intersection is a high intensity transport node and serves as one of the main entry and exit routes in Alytus. Traffic intensity was examined during morning and evening peak hours. Data on passing vehicles were collected over a two-week period. Before performing traffic flow modelling, vehicles moving through the intersection in all possible directions were counted. The “PTV Vissim” software was used for traffic flow modelling, and an alternative intersection model was created to evaluate whether it could more effectively distribute traffic flows and reduce congestion during the morning peak period. The results showed that during the morning peak the highest traffic flow occurs in the direction of Naujoji Street (south) straight movement, reaching 745 vehicles per hour. During the evening peak, the opposite trend was observed, when vehicles return from the Kaunas direction and the highest flow occurs in the direction of Naujoji Street (north) straight movement, reaching 620 vehicles per hour.