Geometric Improvement and Traffic Signal Design at Angadippuram Intersection

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and the increasing number of vehicles have led to severe traffic congestion at urban intersections, affecting traffic efficiency and road safety. This study presents a traffic analysis and improvement proposal for the Angadipuram intersection, which experiences heavy congestion during peak hours. Traffic volume studies and field observations were conducted to evaluate the existing traffic conditions, geometric characteristics, and operational performance of the intersection. The collected data were analyzed to identify the major causes of delays, queue formation, and traffic conflicts. Based on the analysis, suitable geometric improvements and an optimized traffic signal design were proposed to improve intersection performance. The proposed measures include roadway widening, channelization, improved turning movements, and effective signal phasing. The effectiveness of the proposed modifications was evaluated in terms of traffic flow efficiency, delay reduction, and safety enhancement. The results indicate that the recommended improvements significantly reduce congestion, improve vehicle movement, and enhance overall operational efficiency and road safety at the intersection. This study highlights the importance of proper traffic engineering and intersection design in addressing urban traffic problems and supporting sustainable transportation development.

Introduction

Traffic congestion at Angadippuram intersection in Malappuram district (NH 966) is mainly caused by heavy mixed traffic, commercial activity, pedestrian movement, and poor geometric design. The study analyzes existing traffic conditions and proposes improvements to enhance safety and reduce delays.

Traffic data were collected through field surveys using video recording and manual counting, then converted into Passenger Car Units (PCU) using IRC standards. Analysis of traffic volume, peak hour flow, and directional distribution showed that morning and evening peak hours experience severe congestion, with the Malappuram–Perinthalmanna approach identified as the most critical traffic movement.

Geometric studies revealed issues such as narrow road width, poor turning radii, lack of channelization, and inadequate pedestrian facilities. To address these, improvements like road widening, better turning lanes, traffic islands, improved markings, and pedestrian facilities were proposed.

Conclusion

The study at Angadippuram intersection revealed severe traffic congestion, inadequate road geometry, and unsafe vehicle movements during peak hours. The traffic signal design using Webster’s method resulted in a high cycle length, indicating that a conventional signal system alone may not be effective for this junction. Since a bypass road is proposed in the future, improving the existing intersection through geometric improvements, proper channelization, and traffic management measures is considered more suitable for reducing congestion and improving road safety.

References

[1] IRC Guidelines for Traffic Signal Design [2] Khanna & Justo, Highway Engineering [3] Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning – Kadiyali [4] Indian Roads Congress. IRC:86-2018 Geometric Design Standards for Urban Roads and Streets.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Nikhil B, Zainul Ameera K P, Mohammed Riswan V P, Praveena O, Hamdana Fathima M. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.