The impact of road infrastructure failures on traffic conditions and travel behaviour in urban areas – the case of the Lazienkowski Bridge in Warsaw

Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31155 Krakow, Poland

^* Corresponding author: aszarata@pk.edu.pl

Abstract

This article deals with the problems of failures of transport infrastructure sections and their consequences. The article presents the research problem of assessing the impact of the fire on Lazienkowski Bridge, in Warsaw, on the travel behaviour of city residents as well as traffic conditions in the city. Changes occurring directly after the bridge’s failure during the period up to several months after the event were analysed. In order to assess the consequences of the failure, data obtained from traffic measurements on selected bridge crossings and interview surveys carried out among city residents were used. The results of the surveys proved that the exclusion of the Lazienkowski Bridge from traffic resulted in a significant increase in traffic volumes on other bridges, especially neighbouring ones, and resulted in longer rush hours on the bridge crossings in question. 42% of the city‘s residents felt the negative consequences of the failure in the form of worse conditions of travel and 36% of the residents reported a longer travel time to work/school. The failure also caused changes in travel behaviour as regards the choice of means of transport, travel route or not travelling altogether. The consequences of the failure affected, to the greatest extent, the residents of areas most functionally connected with the bridge.