A framework for prioritizing arterial-freeway interchange types using multi-criteria analysis -

Abstract

An interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation to accommodate different volumes of traffic safely and efficiently through interconnecting roads. There are many types of interchanges, each of which has different characteristics and applications. Different interchange types are appropriate to use in certain contexts. Previous research related to evaluation of different interchange alternatives has focused on a limited set of criteria, mainly operational performance and safety, while few others included cost impacts. In this thesis, a prioritization framework is proposed for selecting a suitable interchange type for grade-separated intersection configurations based on a variety of performance measures, including operational performance, socio-environment, safety, and cost. The assessment is based on a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) approach. A linear additive model is used to evaluate each scheme on a set of criteria derived from several objectives. The relative importance of the criteria is obtained using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In making a decision, Saaty’s AHP-Eigenvector method involves ranking the alternatives based on a set of criteria. The weights of these criteria are derived using multilevel hierarchic structures. This research introduces a case study at the intersection of Sheikh Jaber road and Prince Bandar Bin Abdulaziz road in Riyadh city. Three different Arterial-Freeway interchange types are compared based on the set of performance criteria. This research helps in defining the main factors that play a significant role in determining the preferred design scheme, and the extent to which each of these factors has an effect on the overall priority of a certain interchange configuration. The results of the study showed that the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) outperformed its interchange counterparts and was chosen as the most preferred interchange configuration. The Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) ranked second while the Tight Urban Diamond (TUDI) w