Causes of traffic congestion on the section of the E20 state highway, located in the parish capital of Alluriquín, canton of Santo Domingo

Abstract

The research aimed to analyze the causes of traffic congestion on the E20 state highway in the parish seat of Alluriquín, a rural parish belonging to the Santo Domingo canton. As a major national highway connecting the coast to the highlands, this area experiences a high degree of traffic congestion, especially due to the high volume of heavy vehicles and the informal commerce that is traditional to the parish. The research employed direct observation through traffic counts and a survey based on the opinions of local residents. Additionally, engineering methodologies were applied to analyze traffic flow. According to the collected and analyzed data, the average daily traffic volume was identified as 24,698 vehicles, with light vehicles, cargo trucks, and interprovincial buses being the most prevalent. During rush hour, the road becomes extremely congested, reaching a speed of only 10.76 km/h. This generates long traffic jams and causes, in addition to congestion, noise pollution from excessive honking and vehicle starts. Based on this problem, it is recommended that street vendors be relocated and prohibited from the road, with a designated area for their sales where vehicles can stop making purchases. Constant traffic control and regulation by the competent authority is also recommended.