EFFECTS OF ROAD EXPANSION ON TRAVEL TIME AND ACCIDENTS RATE ON SOME SELECTED CORRIDORS IN ABUJA METROPOLIS.

AUTHOURSHERE

In this study, effort was made to analyze the impact of road expansion in some selected corridors in Abuja metropolis; Shehu Musa Yar’adua Expressway (Airport road), Murtala Mohammed Expressway (Kubwa Road) and Abuja-Keffi Expressway (Nyanya-A.Y.A). The scope of the study covered a period of eight years. Data on annual basis from 2006-2013 are employed for the study; this includes data before, during and after rehabilitation of the roads and field survey was also carried out. The analytical tools employed in this study were descriptive statistic, averages, graphs and percentages. It was discovered after the roads expansion in Abuja Metropolis there was a reduction in the total average travel time from 138.3 minutes in 2010 to 63.3 minutes in 2013 in the three selected corridors. However, the total accidents rate in 2007 of the routes was 5.9 percent; these significantly increased to 20 percent in 2013. This is due to increase in the speed of vehicles and people not using the pedestrian bridges made available. The study concludes that the road expansion in Abuja Metropolis has drastically reduced the travel time, but on the other hand, has increased the rate of accidents on the roads in the study area. It was recommended that government should embark on road expansion in the whole economy and also develop other mode of transportation in the country because it will help in bringing rapid economic growth and development in the economy and curb down travel time if this is well planned.

Key words: Accident rate, Nigeria, Road expansion and Travel time.