Study of Vehicular Traffic Congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

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2012-06-08
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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 Western Region. This has resulted in rapid and uncontrolled development by an unacceptable level of disparity in transportation demand and supply scenario. To assess the severity of the existing vehicular traffic system engulfed by tremendous vehicular traffic congestion in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, a study was conducted. In the study, traffic volume count, survey of road geometry and calculation of flow capacity was performed. Relevant secondary data was also 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 ( Zone 5) 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, first at 6:00AM to 9:00AM and 4:00PM to 7:00PM were identified in the study. Illegal occupations on the roadside by hawkers, mobile shops etc. were among the major causes of vehicular traffic congestion in the commercial hub of the Metropolis (Takoradi Market Circle). A traffic growth rate of 1.51% was identified. The Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) of 3.18 indicated the severity of traffic congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
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A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Science Degree in Industrial Mathematics, APRIL, 2012
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