Port induced road traffic on key sections of road

Traffic impact assessment study analyzing port-induced road traffic on key highway sections connecting port to hinterland. The study quantified current and projected truck traffic volumes generated by port operations, identified congestion points, assessed road infrastructure adequacy, and recommended improvements to handle growing port-related traffic.

State highway authority and port operator facing complaints about traffic congestion on roads serving the port. The client needed comprehensive traffic study to quantify port's contribution to road traffic, identify infrastructure gaps, and justify investment in road widening and improvement projects to accommodate port expansion plans.

The challenge was to segregate port-induced traffic from general traffic, forecast future traffic volumes based on port expansion plans, identify critical bottleneck sections, assess road pavement conditions and load-bearing capacity for heavy trucks, and recommend phased improvement program aligned with port development timeline and available budgets.

The study involved comprehensive traffic surveys at multiple locations including classified vehicle counts, origin-destination surveys of trucks, and speed-delay studies to assess congestion. Port cargo data analysis established correlation between cargo volumes and truck trips. Traffic projections incorporated port expansion plans, modal shift assumptions (road vs. rail), and container penetration forecasts. Road condition assessment covered pavement strength, geometric design, and capacity utilization. Intersection analysis identified signal timing improvements and grade separation requirements. Cost estimation for recommended improvements prioritized interventions for maximum impact.

i-maritime's study quantified that port operations contributed 45-50% of total heavy vehicle traffic on key highway sections. Current port traffic generated approximately 3,000-3,500 truck trips per day, projected to grow to 6,000-7,000 trips by 2030 with port expansion. Identified three critical bottleneck sections requiring immediate widening from 4-lane to 6-lane configuration. Recommended phased improvement program: Phase 1 (2 years) - widening critical 15 km section and grade separators at 3 intersections (Rs. 450 crores); Phase 2 (3-5 years) - remaining 25 km widening and bypass road (Rs. 800 crores); Phase 3 (5-10 years) - dedicated truck corridor and rail connectivity augmentation. The study supported successful approval of World Bank funding for Phase 1 improvements, significantly improving port connectivity and reducing transit times by 30-40%.