Estudo de viabilidade técnica para melhoria da capacidade da interseção entre a avenida Juscelino Kubitschek de oliveira e a rua Eduardo Sprada, em Curitiba/PR

Abstract

The continuous growth of urban population – mainly in big cities and state capitals – have requested even more mobility solutions and renovation of in-level intersections in the road network. Due to their inherent characteristics and traffic conflicts, these intersections are mainly responsible for the traffic jams and accident levels. Specifically with respect to the city of Curitiba/PR, the in-level intersection between the Eduardo Sprada Street and the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira (JK) Avenue has been constantly registering traffic jams and accidents. Hence, renovations are required to increase its capacity and improve the level of service to the users. In this manner, the present study aimed at analyzing the technical feasibility of the construction of a roundabout interchange in the intersection, thereby merging the two sides of the JK Avenue into only one intersection and removing the current stoplights. Traffic and pedestrian counting made by MOBPLAN Engenharia was used as a starting point to estimate the traffic and pedestrian flows in the years of 2027 and 2032. Linear regression trendlines were adopted to calculate the growth rates of vehicles and urban population of Curitiba/PR in each design year. The analytical method of calculation of capacity and level of service of roundabouts prescribed by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT, in Portuguese) was applied in the investigation, and traffic simulations were performed in the AIMSUN software. In general, the proposed roundabout interchange is not technically feasible due to the insufficient capacity and poor level of service – two approaches will show a level of service equal to “F” in 2027 and 2032. In terms of the data obtained by the AIMSUN software, it was observed low average traffic speeds, as well as long average waiting and delay times – mainly in 2032. Therefore, individual interchanges between the Eduardo Sprada Street and each side of the JK Avenue are recommended to solve (or at least to minimize) the traffic jams faced by the users.