Analysis of Traffic Flow Obstruction Due to Volume of Private Vehicles at Major Intersections in Port Harcourt

Traffic issues including delays and congestion, particularly at intersections, are because of the massive rise in private vehicles along Port Harcourt roadways. Any highway traffic crossroad presents a complex negotiation. This occurs when vehicles traveling in several directions try to use the same space simultaneously. The surge in the use of private cars has made traffic congestion one of the most unbearable issues in cities, affecting both the economy and city life. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of private cars on traffic flow at critical intersections in Port Harcourt. In addition to conducting a thorough traffic survey at the junctions to identify the number of private vehicles, a well-designed questionnaire with a sample size of roughly 100 people was used to determine the significance of the effect through statistical analysis. Direct field surveys were used to gather information about the volume of traffic. Results showed that the percentage of private cars at the selected intersections was around 43%. With an average Z-statistical value of 2.66 at a 95% confidence level, the current growth in private cars significantly contributes to traffic congestion. Thus, encouraging a functional public transportation system might be a possible mitigation approach to reducing the burden of traffic congestion at road intersections within Port Harcourt city.