SIMETRA project to improve traffic conditions on Blue Bridges was implemented in Kaluga

2025: Optimization of traffic conditions on Blue Bridges

In Kaluga, the SIMETRA project was implemented to improve traffic conditions on the Blue Bridges. The company announced this on February 10, 2025.

In Kaluga, traffic was opened along the Blue Bridges - from Glagolev Street to Tarutinskaya Street, as well as passages along Zernaya and Puteyskaya Streets. Previously, the facility was closed for large-scale reconstruction. SIMETRA experts analyzed the road and transport situation on the spot and, using modeling methods, selected the optimal option for organizing traffic taking into account infrastructure changes.

The SIMETRA group of companies, commissioned by the Kaluga City Administration, carried out calculations for the Blue Bridges transport hub, which, in addition to the bridge structure, includes three intersections of main streets located a short distance from each other. Experts analyzed the current transport situation at the facility, measured the intensity of traffic flows and proposed several options for changes aimed at improving traffic management - all of them were tested on an imitation transport micromodel.

According to calculations, the proposed measures make it possible to double the speed of transport and almost three times reduce the delay time of vehicles compared to the initial indicators.

A large block of work concerned the determination of the types of intersections (circular or adjustable), the setting of the existing traffic light control and the designed. SIMETRA specialists made a calculation of coordinated control of a group of traffic lights and developed adaptive control algorithms for sections of streets adjacent to the Blue Bridges. SIMETRA also prepared the concept of an automated traffic control system (ASUDD).

The townspeople were very much waiting for the opening of the Blue Bridges, this is a large and significant object in our city. We are grateful to SIMETRA specialists who have done a lot of preparatory work and made calculations based on transport planning and modeling technologies, with the help of which we were able to take into account many important details and choose the most optimal solution for the reconstruction of the facility. The movement of Kaluga residents around the city will now become much more comfortable. According to the preliminary survey, it can be stated that the average speed increased from 17 to 33 km/h, the average delay decreased from 167 to 54 seconds, and the level of service for movement F changed to C, "said Sergey Nilov, deputy head of the Central Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

It is nice to note that the city authorities found funds and built a bridge with four-lane traffic, while we, in agreement with the customer, offered to organize only two lanes. For the convenience of the townspeople, the final option is certainly better - now transport moves freely along the bridge, without congestion. The infrastructure of the Blue Bridges will still be developed - our project provides road detectors that should provide functionality for adaptive regulation and coordinated control of traffic lights. We are sure that in the future this will also work out, "said Christian Böttger, Global Sales Director of SIMETRA Group.

Sergei Nilov clarified that in accordance with the "Local Project for the Development of the Intellectual Transport System (ITS) of the Kaluga Agglomeration," the traffic lights of the Blue Bridges transport hub are planned to be connected to the IT and equipped with transport detectors in 2026.

2020: Implementation of PTV Vissim

On October 9, 2020, SIMETRA, a competence center in the field of traffic modeling and transport planning, announced that it had developed recommendations for optimizing traffic conditions on one of the most problematic sections of the Kaluga road network, in the Blue Bridges area.

According to the company, the project, implemented using transport modeling software, will optimize the transport situation in the area, reduce travel time and ensure non-stop traffic in the main directions. According to forecasts, as a result of the project, the average speed on the site may increase by 2 times (from 16.6 to 34.5 km/h), and the average delay of drivers on the site will be reduced by 3.5 times (from 167 to 48 seconds).

SIMETRA specialists performed field studies of traffic flows. Based on the analysis, a mathematical model of the movement of vehicles was developed. Experts have proposed three options for the reconstruction of the road network, as well as a program for coordinated adaptive control of traffic lights: the mode of operation of traffic lights will change depending on the time of day and the load of roads. This will allow organizing "green corridors" in order to pass as many vehicles as possible per unit of time.

The results of research by transport engineers will allow for October 2020 to develop a qualified technical assignment for the design and reconstruction of the road network for about 6 kilometers. Of course, roads will be involved not only in the area of ​ ​ the Blue Bridges themselves, but also adjacent to them: without the reconstruction of other intersections, there will be no result. told Dmitry Denisov, temporarily acting as the mayor of Kaluga

SIMETRA specialists proposed measures that will form the basis of the terms of reference for the development of design estimates for the expansion of city streets and the creation of additional lanes.

The work carried out will help change the situation in one of the problem areas of the city, where residents are in traffic jams almost every day. As part of the project, we also developed the concept of an automated traffic management system, which can later become the basis of the Kaluga intelligent transport system. noted Christian Böttger, Development Director of SIMETRA

The project was implemented using the PTV Vissim 2020 software package, designed for imitation modeling of road traffic, creating micro and mesomodels for the movement of personal and public transport in cities.