Vehicle trajectory changes on a closed road network due to major renewal works

Abstract Currently, Japan is entering a phase of infrastructure improvement that requires repair of highways and bridges. However, large-scale renewal work that requires long-term road closure is rare. Therefore, this study analyzes the construction activities on the Hanshin Expressway, which involve road closures, to understand their impact on traffic conditions. Understanding the actual situation is useful for improving prediction models and calibrating simulations. This study focused on vehicle-trajectory data, where the ease of data collection, quantity, and accuracy have improved in recent years. The use of vehicle-trajectory data enables the changing behavior of each vehicle to be tracked when road networks are disrupted. This paper presents a method for detecting the impact of roadworks on vehicle trajectories by comparing normal conditions, lane restrictions, and road closures. Specifically, we proposed a special origin and destination (OD) identification procedure and a route-choice variety index corresponding to changes in the set of selectable routes based on road closures. Subsequently, this was used to identify the characteristics of susceptible ODs based on the traffic flow, travel time, and route choice. The results showed that detours were extensive and spread over many routes during OD trips sandwiched between construction sections. The different levels and types of impact caused by the characteristics of ODs could be useful for traffic management in upcoming renewal projects.