ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG SANGO- IDIROKO ROAD, OTA, OGUN STATE.

Abstract

The free flow of traffic on the road is a potential tool for economic development of a city, and must be encouraged. This study examines the causes of traffic congestion along Sango-Owode, Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State with a view to providing information that will enhance traffic management. The travel time within the study area was examined by a moving vehicle set at a specific speed while the time taken to cover a zone was recorded, hence, Sango and Oju-Ore zones experienced the most of the delay with about 17 minutes on average wasted for a journey of about two minutes. In assessing the traffic volume, traffic volume counts were conducted for one week (Monday to Sunday) along the study route between Sango and Winners between the hours of 7.00 AM and 7.00PM while the outcome was subjected to PCU analysis of Lewis Keeble. The study revealed that congestion is a common occurrence along the corridor with its peak in the morning periods of 8. 00AM to 10.00AM and in the evening between 5.00PM upwards. The calculated value of PCU's per hour in each zone indicates that the Sango traffic zone 2,218PCU's per hr (highest value), Oju-Ore traffic zone is 1,777PCU's per hr (lowest value), Obasanjo, and Winners' zones (1,556 PCU's per hr and 1,637 PCU's per hr respectively). The result from the PCU revealed that the road under investigation is functioning far above its capacity, and as vehicles queue up on the road; this results to release of carbon emission which contradicts SDG goals 3 and 11. Therefore, there is need to divert or decongest the traffic pressure on this corridor to avoid carbon emission as a result of concentration of vehicles on the way.