Study of Vehicular Traffic Congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

Authors

  • Francois Mahama Lecturer, Department of Planning, Takoradi Polytechnic, Takoradi
  • Jonathan Annan Lecturer, Department of Information Systems and Decision Science -School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, University Post office (PMB) Kumasi, Ghana – West Africa,
  • Samuel Kwame Amponsah Professor, Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post office (PMB) Kumasi, Ghana – West Africa
  • Charles Sebil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/ijbsr.v3i7.271

Keywords:

Traffic Volume Count, Road Geometry, Flow Capacity

Abstract

Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, the Western Regional capital of Ghana, faces severe vehicular traffic congestion due to the influx of people into the Metropolis because of the recent discovery of crude oil in some environs of the Region. This has resulted in rapid and uncontrolled development by an unacceptable level of disparity in transportation demand and supply scenario. This research paper presents the traffic volume count, survey of road geometry and calculation of flow capacity. Secondary data was collected from the Department of Urban Roads Sekondi-Takoradi. The study revealed that Kwesimetim to Ajep link, the core link of the city was found as the busiest link, whereas, the Kwame Nkrumah circle was found to be the most congested zone depicting a maximum average traffic volume at a rate of 3138 Veh/h and 3985 Veh/h for the AM and PM peak periods respectively. Two vehicular traffic congestion peaks at 6:00AM to 9:00AM and 4:00PM to 7:00PM were identified in the study. A traffic growth rate of 1.51% was identified. The Roadway Congestion Index of 3.18 indicated the severity of traffic congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

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Issue

Vol. 3 No. 7 (2013): July

Section

Article

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