Evaluating the Effectiveness of Reversible Lanes in Reducing Traffic Congestion: A Case Study of Key Corridors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Ephrem Gebremariam | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ephrem Zeleke | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-19T07:26:59Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-19T07:26:59Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-06-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Traffic congestion is a pressing issue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, requiring innovative traffic management strategies, beyond constructing and expanding infrastructure. This study evaluates the effectiveness of reversible lanes in reducing peak hour congestion. Two roads, Asko to Winget and Mexico to Mesqel Square, were selected, representing peripheral and central areas of the city, respectively. Traffic data were collected at major intersections along these roads using video recording, and SUMO traffic simulation was used to analyze key parameters, including travel time, speed, time loss and traffic volume under existing conditions and proposed reversible lane scenarios. From reversible lanes setups, a two-lane reversible configuration provided the best network wide performance, where travel time and time loss reduced by 27.44% and 32.33%, Speed increased by 2.84% while traffic flow slightly decrease by 7.91%. However, no improvement on Mexico to Mesqel Square is gained due to balanced flows and westbound losses. The study also identified directional volume imbalance, number of reversible lanes, traffic light systems, intersections number and spacing as the major factors influencing effectiveness. Based on the findings, this study recommends the implementation of reversible lanes on major roads connecting the outskirts of the city to the center to optimize capacity without land acquisition, supported by adaptive signals and bus priority lanes to minimize disruptions. Additionally, the research recommends road specific traffic simulation studies before implementing such strategies. Moreover, the research provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking data-driven approaches to traffic management in Addis Ababa and other cities facing similar challenges. Keywords: congestion, reversible lanes, microsimulation, intersections | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/7035 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.title | Evaluating the Effectiveness of Reversible Lanes in Reducing Traffic Congestion: A Case Study of Key Corridors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |