The Possibility for Implementing the Superstreet Unconventional Intersection Design in Jordan

Naghawi, Hana; AlSoud, Alaa; AlHadidi, Taqwa · 2018 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3311/pptr.11635

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Summary

This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing the Superstreet, an unconventional arterial intersection design (UAID), at the Tabarbour intersection in Amman, Jordan. The research addresses the persistent congestion, long vehicle queues, excessive delays, and high emissions plaguing this major signalized intersection, which connects the Al Shaheed arterial road with minor roads Prince Hamza and Tareq. While conventional measures such as signal optimization and lane widening had failed to improve performance, the authors sought to determine if the Superstreet design—which reroutes left-turning traffic to eliminate conflicts and operates with two-phase signals—could provide a viable solution under real-world traffic conditions. The methodology employed microscopic traffic simulation software to model and compare the existing conventional intersection against the proposed Superstreet design. First, SYNCHRO software was used to optimize the signal timing for the conventional intersection, revealing a Level of Service (LOS) F with an average delay of 199.5 seconds per vehicle. Subsequently, VISSIM models were developed for both designs using real traffic data collected from the Greater Amman Municipality. The models were validated using the root mean square percent error (RMSPE), achieving a high accuracy of 0.87%. The analysis included aggregated network performance and disaggregated movement-specific metrics, as well as a future demand scenario projecting a 3% annual traffic growth over five years. The results demonstrated significant operational improvements for the Superstreet design under current traffic volumes. Aggregated analysis showed that the Superstreet reduced average delay per vehicle by 70.44% and maximum queue length by approximately 73%, improving the LOS from F to C. Disaggregated data indicated delay reductions ranging from 13% to 87% for most movements, with queue length reductions reaching up to 97%. However, the North-East turning movement experienced increased delay and queue length. Crucially, the future demand analysis revealed that under projected heavy traffic volumes, the Superstreet design would degrade to LOS F, indicating it is not suitable for high-volume conditions despite its efficiency under current loads. The study concludes that while the Superstreet design offers substantial benefits in reducing delay and queue lengths for the Tabarbour intersection under existing traffic conditions, its capacity is limited. The findings provide policy makers with an objective assessment, highlighting that UAIDs like the Superstreet are effective for mitigating congestion caused by left-turn conflicts but may fail under significantly increased future traffic demands. This underscores the importance of evaluating unconventional designs against projected growth rates rather than relying solely on current operational performance.

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• intersection design