SmartUrbs successfully conducted a pilot run of its patented intersection design to convert a 4-phase traffic signal to a 2-phase signal last month at the Sector-105 Hajipur Intersection in Noida.
In the existing 4-phase crossing, a vehicle has to wait for all three sides to pass before the signal turns green. This results in elongated queues and congestion at every lane. Smart Crossing converts this conventional 4-phase traffic signal to 2 phase signal, by turning the two opposite signals green at a time. It prohibits to take a right turn, resulting in a smooth flow of traffic from two opposite lanes at a time. In order to turn right from the crossing, one has to take a left turn, followed by a c-turn.
The essence of this concept lies in the fact that c-turns are only allowed when the signal for a c-turn is green so that a vehicle can easily take c-turn without conflicting with the prevailing traffic on that lane. Watch the concept video here.
The test run enabled commuters traveling to Sector 100 from the Hajipur underpass to travel in a straight line without any traffic congestion as there is no need for a right turn and hence the traffic doesn’t stop unnecessarily.
The traffic police helped run the trial by ensuring that the experiment takes place smoothly and provided their full assistance to the SmartUrbs team. There were initial challenges like people were trying to move right even after restriction. This was resolved with adequate signages and pavement marking. With splitter placed before the junction to split straight and left-turning movement, now commuters are guided to stay left in order to take the right turn.
The SmartUrbs intersection design implementation has been finalized by the authorities after the pilot run was successful at the Hajipur intersection. The SmartUrbs intersection design has helped authorities to reduce congestion by 50% (queue length).
Smart-crossing is a very beneficial solution as it has the same impact that large investment projects such as the construction of flyovers or underpass make at a fraction of investment. The project enables more efficient and effective utilization of budgetary investments made by the government.
If the results of this simulation are to be believed, this concept reduced the congestion by up to 80% when compared to the existing system of road crossings.
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