Evaluation of the Proposed Ring Road as a Strategic Solution for the Enhancement of Urban Mobility and Traffic Flow in Hilla City
Received: 4 July 2025 | Revised: 22 August 2025 | Accepted: 2 September 2025 | Online: 8 December 2025
Corresponding author: Lee Vien Leong
Abstract
This study proposes the construction of a 87 km ring road surrounding Hilla city in Iraq, as a strategic solution to mitigate urban traffic congestion and improve regional mobility. By integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cost-benefit economic analysis, this study shows how diverting external traffic from the urban core can optimize network performance. Field data, including traffic counts, radar speed profiles, and origin-destination surveys, were used to assess the current conditions and project traffic demand up to 2035. The results indicate a projected improvement in Level of Service (LOS) from F to B/C, an increase in internal network speed from 20–25 km/h to 35–40 km/h, and a 40% reduction in average vehicle delay. Economically, the project yields a Net Present Value (NPV) of 98.6 million USD, a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.537, and a payback period of 5.87 years. The Effectiveness Index (EI) of 0.48 further consolidates the technical and economic viability. This research provides a replicable framework for strategic infrastructure planning in secondary cities across Iraq and comparable urban settings in developing nations.
Keywords:
ring road, urban traffic congestion, economic feasibility, Level of Service (LOS)Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Hussein Hashim Al-Yasee, Lee Vien Leong, Hamid A. Al-Jameel
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