Abstract
Frontage roads parallel to freeways provide access to development adjacent to the freeway while maintaining the primary mobility function of the main lanes. Weaving occurs on frontage roads as exiting vehicles attempt to reach access points on the right side of the roadway and other frontage road vehicles attempt to enter the freeway or turn left at downstream intersections. Unsignalized access on the frontage road in close proximity to exit ramp terminals can amplify the amount of weaving that occurs and lead to operational and safety problems on the frontage road. This research evaluates the operation of frontage roads with unsignalized marginal access located at varying distances from exit ramp terminals. To provide a means for evaluating frontage road operations, an analytical model was developed to predict the density of the weaving section on the frontage road as a function Of frontage road volume, exit ramp volume, total driveway volume,, frontage road configuration, and exit ramp to access spacing. The model was developed from the results of a computer simulation that was calibrated using field data from several frontage road sites in Texas. Validation with additional field data showed that the models developed in this research can be used to predict frontage road operations under the conditions in which the models were validated. The final step of the research was to identify possible level of service boundaries that could be used to identify the quality of service provided on a particular section of frontage road.
Jacobson, Marc Stuart (1997). Effects of weaving on frontage road operations. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1997 -THESIS -J332.