Sustainable Transportation Design: Examining the Application Effect of Auxiliary Lanes on Dual-Lane Exit Ramps on Chinese Freeways

Yutong Liu (), Zhipeng Fu, Yiyun Ma and Binghong Pan ()
Additional contact information
Yutong Liu: Highway Academy, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Zhipeng Fu: C.C.C.C. First Highway Consultants Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710064, China
Yiyun Ma: Highway Academy, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
Binghong Pan: Highway Academy, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-23

Abstract: Numerous design cases of abandoning auxiliary lanes for freeway dual-lane ramps with low traffic volumes exist, adapting to complex engineering conditions and reducing construction costs, but the national specifications have not posed specific setup conditions for auxiliary lanes. Thus, this paper uses traffic flow theory and simulation tools to study the critical traffic conditions applicable to auxiliary lanes on dual-lane exit ramps of freeways. Initially, the vehicle operation data in the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) aerial video were extracted using an object detection algorithm. Subsequently, the VISSIM simulation calibration procedure was developed based on traffic flow theory and the orthogonal experimental method. The impact of auxiliary lanes on the capacity of the freeway diverging area was analyzed through the simulation results based on traffic flow theory. Eventually, the critical traffic conditions applicable to auxiliary lanes were proposed. The results show that the maximum traffic volume applicable to non-auxiliary lane designs decreases with increasing diverging ratios. The research findings define the application conditions for auxiliary lanes on dual-lane ramp exits, contributing to the sustainable development of transportation design and operations. The VISSIM simulation calibration procedure based on data collection and traffic flow theory developed in this paper also provides an innovative and sustainable approach to road design issues.

Keywords: freeway; auxiliary lane; applicable conditions; traffic flow theory; VISSIM simulation; object detection algorithm; sustainable transportation design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/4/1533/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/4/1533/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:1533-:d:1589859

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().