Citation

Leclercq L, Laval JA, Chiabaut N. Transp. Res. B Methodol. 2011; 45(9): 1302-1313.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.trb.2011.05.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Newell-Daganzo merge model is not only very simple but also accurately reproduces experimental findings. However, the capacity downstream of the merge is an exogenous variable in the model. This is a serious limitation for merges that behave as active bottlenecks because their downstream capacity is a direct consequence of the merging behavior. This paper proposes an analytical model that extends the Newell-Daganzo model by incorporating, endogenously, the capacity drop related to the merging process. Two cases are investigated depending on the traffic states on the on-ramp. The model properties are analyzed and a sensitivity analysis is performed to quantify the relative contribution of the each parameter in the capacity drop. Finally, the extended Newell-Daganzo model is validated with experimental data coming from an active merge bottleneck on the M6 freeway in UK.