Determining the Road Traffic Severity in a Developing City: A Case Study at Sekondi-Takoradi

Abstract

Traffic saturation in both pedestrian and vehicular situations is common on all the principal streets of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The situation has become to a large extent unbearable to the inhabitants of the city. In the study, the following surveys were conducted: Manual Classification Count, Intersection Count, Screenline Classification Count, Parking Studies, Pedestrian Studies, Travel Time Studies, Mode of Travel and Waiting Times Surveys. The study revealed that traffic variation factors were almost the same at the designated classified Stations, Agona Nkwanta Road recorded the highest vehicular traffic during the AM and PM peak periods, and the busiest intersection during the AM peak period was the Sekondi Road / Takoradi Polytechnic Road. The highest pedestrian AM hourly volume of 2861ped/hr was recorded at Ashanti Road. The Ahanta Road registered the highest (2662 ped/hr) in pedestrian volume for the PM peak period. The highest Congestion Severity Index of 65.74 minutes delay per kilometer travelled and 86.82 minutes delay per kilometer travelled were identified for the AM and PM peak periods respectively at the Takoradi Market Circle Round About. Buses were the frequently used mode of transport for most commuters in the city.