Assessing the Feasibility of a Roundabout at the Araniko Highway Intersection in Samajkalyan Chok, Panchkhal

Abstract

This study assesses the feasibility of implementing a roundabout at Samajkalyan Chok, a high-traffic T-junction on the Araniko Highway in Panchkhal, Nepal. Using PTV VISSIM, traffic flow simulations were conducted for existing and proposed roundabout conditions. Peak-hour traffic data were collected from five different days, including weekends and holidays, to capture heterogeneous flow patterns. Key performance metrics—travel time, queue length, vehicle delay, and level of service (LOS) were analyzed. Results indicate that the roundabout substantially reduced delays and queue lengths on municipal access legs, improving LOS and overall intersection efficiency. However, it introduced higher delays for traffic along the highway, signaling the need for supplementary design improvements. The findings offer valuable insights for urban traffic management in growing municipalities.