A comparative study on the functionality of signalized and non-signalized roads. a case study of Makerere Hill Road and Sir Apollo Kagwa road, Kampala City.

Abstract

Traffic congestion is one of the daily traffic problems road-users faces. It has disrupted business activities, reduced levels of productivity, and increased costs of living for the people. It has also led to an increase in the pollution of the environment. Therefore, this research was carried out so as to assess and compare the functionality of the signalized Makerere Hill road and the nonsignalized Sir Apollo Kagwa road in relation to traffic management and control. Various methods of data collection like observation, interviews, sampling, photography and documentation were used. These methods helped in assessing the many identified aspects that occur during traffic congestion on both the signalized Makerere Hill road and the non-signalized Sir Apollo Kagwa road. The findings show that, the signalized Makerere Hill road is where most motorists do not always follow the traffic signals due to the delays encountered while moving on this road. This is an indicator that not all road-users will use the signalized Makerere Hill road appropriately especially when they are using them for their access. For the case of the non-signalized Sir Apollo Kagwa road, vehicles and motorcyclists often choose to use the side-line of the road in order to create another lane. This lane is used to reduce on the traffic congestion that takes places on the road. This research also identifies various aspects that differentiate the functionality of the signalized Makerere Hill road and the non-signalized Sir Apollo Kagwa road. It also elaborates on how a signalized road serves road users during traffic congestion and why they choose the identified methods of reducing congestion during peak hours. Therefore, this research also suggests recommendations that are to help in improving on managing traffic congestion along signalized and non-signalized roads. For the case of the signalized Makerere Hill road various recommendation have been stated as well as Sir Apollo Kagwa road.