Analysis of traffic congestion at Jattu Junction (Auchi) with queuing theory using TORA and SIDRA softwares

Traffic congestion is a major problem in developing country like Nigeria. Traffic congestion at intersection is on the increase in Auchi metropolis as the numbers of vehicles increases there, which eventually lead to traffic delay and traffic crash casualties. For this research, an Markovian/Markovian/1 (M/M/1) queuing model was used to analyse the queuing characteristic of the intersection to determine the arrival rate and service rate of the vehicles. An operation research software known as Temporary-Ordered Routing Algorithm (TORA) version 2.5 was used to analyze the arrival and service time data obtained to determine the operating characteristics of the M/M/s model for each of the intersection. The result showed that the average traffic intensity of the intersections was more than the optimal traffic intensity of 0.5 indicating the intersections were congested. Signalised & unsignalised Intersection Design and Research Aid (SIDRA) software was further used to analyse the intersection to access the performance measure of the intersection. The result from the SIDRA software also confirmed that the intersection was congested. It was recommended that the capacity of the intersection should be increased; government should construct traffic signals and enforce law to sanction motorists that inappropriately park along the road sides close to intersection; appropriate government agency should carry out more public enlightenment on the use of traffic signal and other roads signs; and alternative roads should be constructed to mitigate the congestion at intersections.