Spatial Analysis of Road Network Characteristics Along Urban Corridors: A Case Study of Addis Ababa and Sheger, Ethiopia

Abstract

In this study, the spatial differences in road network characteristics between Addis Ababa and Sheger City are analyzed, and their effects on mass transit service performance and metropolitan mobility along important inter-urban and peri-urban corridors are evaluated. Road width, length, hierarchy, connection, and traffic flow were the main topics of a quantitative spatial analytic technique that was implemented utilizing Geographic Information Systems. Significant differences in the availability of infrastructure are revealed by the road-level assessment. Addis Ababa's status as the regional mobility core is confirmed by its broader roadways, better connections, and noticeably higher traffic volumes. On the other hand, even though Sheger City makes up a sizable portion of the total road length, it exhibits uniformly tiny roads, a simplified road hierarchy, and restricted network capacity. Increased congestion and deteriorating network efficiency are indicated by high traffic volumes on the routes that connect the cities. The results demonstrate that these disparities are fundamental, pointing to fragmented transportation planning, quick city growth, and irregular road investment. Thus, efficient traffic allocation and mass transport performance are challenged by Addis Ababa's overuse of the current infrastructure and Sheger City's lack of it. In order to encourage sustainable and equitable urban mobility throughout the Addis Ababa-Sheger metropolitan cities, the study suggests bolstering integrated cities transport planning, giving priority to targeted road optimization and hierarchy differentiation in both Sheger Cities, increasing the capacity of Addis Ababa's current road system, and putting coordinated congestion management and mass transit enhancement strategies into practice.