Research on spatiotemporal resource allocation methods for intersections facing spillover from flared approaches

Abstract

The operational status of intersections serves as a critical evaluation metric for urban road networks. For intersections featuring lane widening sections, once traffic volume reaches a certain threshold, queue spillover frequently occurs within these widened segments; this leads to a waste of effective green light time and a consequent reduction in intersection capacity. Addressing the issue of spillover in widened sections, this paper constructs a spatiotemporal resource optimization model specifically designed for such intersections. The model was solved using MATLAB software, and the results demonstrate that, following optimization, the average vehicle delay at the intersection was reduced by 22.7% overall, while the length of the left-turn queue was shortened by 42 meters. This model effectively enhances the overall traffic efficiency of intersections, prevents queue spillover, and offers valuable insights for the improvement and reconstruction of intersection facilities.