A Comparison of Traffic Volume Study between Panthapath and Russel Square junction before and after the lockdown due to COVID-19 in Dhaka city.

Abstract

Traffic engineering uses engineering methods and techniques to achieve the safe and time efficient movement of people and goods on roadways. The safe and time efficient movement of the people and goods is dependent on Traffic flow, which is directly connected to the traffic characteristics. The three main parameters before and after COVID-19 traffic flow are volume, speed and density. To investigate the impact of lockdown during the COVID-19, we conducted a traffic volume study in the same road at two different times (Before and after lockdown) in Dhaka city. This study specifically aims to assess the change of traffic volume with respect to travel behavior, traffic characteristics and socio-demographic characteristics with the change of control policies for the COVID-19. The current work studies traffic characteristics this COVID-19 situation in the city of Dhaka at one selected priority junction. In this work emphasis was given on traffic volume and the analysis was carried out through primary traffic flow surveys at Panthapath to Russel Square junction in Dhaka city. Traffic flow is studied by manual methods. For better understanding of the present status of traffic flow at the junction, traffic survey is conducted. With the help of the data collection, an attempt had been made to understand the traffic patterns during different time periods. Traffic control at that junction is also dependent on the traffic flow characteristics. Hence the results from the present study are helpful in controlling the traffic at the intersection and also in suggesting some of the remedial measures to improve the traffic safety in the region. In the case of COVID-19, the “stay-at-home” order and implications of social distancing measures, which aim to “flatten the curve” of the spread and in turn, have significantly changed people’s travel behavior in different ways. However, the data we found did not serve the overall purpose of the stay-at home theory. Before lockdown the Hourly PCU of Panthapath to Russel Square junction was 1739 whereas at present in the lockdown we got Hourly PCU 1728.72. So level of Service (LOS) of this junction remains “F” like before. So, the lockdown had no effect on this Panthapath to Russel Square junction