| Author(s) | Ibrahim R. S. Al-Jwair |
| Affiliation | Assistant Professor of Housing Design & Architectural Professional Practicem Department of Arehitecture & Building Sciences College of Architecture and Planning, King Saudi University |
| Title | The Role of Roads, Streets, and Intersections' Design in Increasing Traffic-circulation Problems: The Case of Kingd Saudi University Campus |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Architecture & Planning. Volume 19, No 2. (2007/1427) |
| Abstract | The traffic-circulation problems on the campus of King Saud University are apparent to all drivers from the moment they enter it. Users of Hasen Al Elshaik's ring road as well as other roads suffer from traffic congestion on it and at its intersections during peak periods while entering or exiting the campus. They also suffer from traffic accidents at certain places. Despite the fact that campus total land area is Nine kilometers squares, the concentration of buildings in the south west side placed a permanent limit on expansions. Mistakes in the planning and in designing the entrances as well as in the road design of Hasen Al elshaik's ring road, and rotary intersections all resulted in a substantial vehicular circulation problem, and thus accidents. The importance of this paper lies in the attempts to prove the hypothesis which indicate that traffic congestion and accidents are caused by: 1.The design errors on the main entrances, on Hasen Al Elshaik's ring road and its intersections, and on secondary streets and intersections. 2. The obstructions of driver's vision by trees and other objects. Site observations of vehicular circulation helped in determining the location of vehicular congestion and its time periods. The analysis of data obtained from the safety department led to determining the number, types, and cases of accidents for the year 1422-1425H. Site analysis of the existing condition on the roads and entrances mentioned above confirmed the design falses and the obstructions of driver's vision in several locations. Open-ended interviews of administration staff and other related departments also exhibited the awareness of the traffic problems. The actual causes of the problem, however, were not vivid to the sample. Later on in the mid of 1425 H, some vision obstructing trees were partially removed from four rotary intersections. A fast rehabilitation of the ring-road and its intersections, and secondary streets and intersections will help in easing traffic congestions and minimizing traffic accidents. |
