How much does closing one lane of a three-lane freeway reduce roadway capacity?

When considering the impact of closing one lane on a three-lane freeway, it is important to understand how traffic flow and roadway capacity are quantified. Each lane on a freeway generally facilitates a similar volume of traffic under optimal conditions.

By closing one out of three lanes, you effectively reduce the number of available lanes for vehicles to travel. The capacity reduction can be calculated by taking the number of closed lanes (one) and dividing it by the total number of lanes (three). This calculation yields a reduction of approximately 33%, since one lane is one-third of the total three lanes.

This understanding of capacity reduction is critical in traffic incident management as it helps in assessing the potential effects of lane closures on overall traffic flow, congestion, and safety. Properly managing these scenarios ensures that traffic incidents are handled efficiently to minimize delays and improve safety for both road users and responders.