The Redesigning Road Network in the Era of Decreasing Population by Traffic Simulation
Abstract
In light of an aging society in which the number of expressway users declines while infrastructure maintenance costs remain high, we propose a new method for evaluating whether expressway routes should be closed when their cost-benefit ratios become unfavorable owing to reduced usage. Moreover, we conducted a case study in which this method was applied to analyze the Kawasaki route (Kanagawa No. 6, Kawasaki route, a metropolitan expressway in Japan). The analysis results projected the cost-benefit ratio of this route to fall below 1 by 2025 owing to the reduced number of users. However, closing the Kawasaki route would lead to significant congestion on its alternative route, National Route 409. Restoring the congestion rate of National Route 409 to its previous level requires its expansion to 10 lanes, making the closure of the Kawasaki route impractical.
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