The Feasibility Analysis Of Upgrading Kaiyuan Level Crossing To Interchange In Weifang North Loop

Located in the heart of Shandong Peninsular between inland and coastal areas, Weifang city is the middle part of the East-West Economic axial belt of the province and functions as the center of the peninsular city agglomeration, and is playing an important role in the development of Blue Economic Zone of Shandong Peninsular, Hi-tech Industry Zone of Jiaodong Peninsular and Eco-economic region of the Yellow River Delta.As two main communication lines, provincial highways Yanggan(S222) and Weigao(S323) connect the northern Binhai District and the Weifang Port, thereby form a level crossing of a50-meter diameter island ring at Kaiyuan Street in the North Loop of the city, which is one of the critical nodes for both long-distance transit and city traffic of various vehicles, bringing about serious congestion and frequent accidents with the rapid increase of traffic volume. This leaves us an urgent upgrading task on the main lines and the civic road system to respond to current traffic pressure and future traffic growth.This thesis explores the necessities of reconstructing the level crossing into a interchange through relevant feasibility analysis in theory. Comparison and demonstration have been made about the reforming scheme to evaluate both social and economic efficiency. Analyses show that changing the level crossing into a whole cloverleaf hub interchange is necessary and if done at a right timing, notable economic and social benefits can be achieved and with strong anti-risk capacity.Interchanges are not commonly used in medium and small-sized cities to resolve congestion of city passageways and few theoretic achievements and practical experience are found, and no such case is done in Weifang by far. This feasibility research on upgrading Kaiyuan interchange is meant to be a reference for similar studies and follow-up research is expected to further enrich and testify the research conclusion for the purpose of improving scientificalness of decision-making and promotes the optimum combination of social and economic benefits.