연속류도로 합류영향구간에서는 본선과 다른 교통특성을 가진 연결로교통류의 합류로 차로변경 및 가감속과 같은 차량간의 불규칙한 상호작용이 발생하여 교통류의 난류현상을 야기한다. 따라서, 난류현상은 운행상태를 고려하여 연속된 지점간의 불안정한 교통특성으로 판단하여야 한다. 본 연구에서는 합류영향구간에 차로-지점별 검지기를 설치하여 시공간적으로 연속된 교통자료를 구축하였으며, 지점간에 유의한 속도변화를 판단하는 기준으로 최소유의차(LSD) 통계값을 산정하여 난류현상을 분석하였다. 분석결과, 합류영향구간 난류현상은 운행상태에 따라 발생권역 및 심각도가 변화되는 것으로 나타났다. 이에 따라 난류현상에 의한 최대 합류영향권역은 교통량이 증가하는 혼잡전 운행상태에서 보여지며, 속도변화특성에 따라 상류 100m~하류 100m의 "감속구간"과 하류 100m~하류 400m의 "감속속도유지 및 가속구간"으로 구분할 수 있었다.

Congestion and traffic accidents occur on the merge and diverge sections in the interchange of the freeway. Studies have been conducted to reduce the traffic delay and accidents on the merge section in the freeway since 1960s. but a study was not conducted to estimate the speed variation on the merge section construct models estimated for the speed variation and suggest the appropriate measures. The purpose of this study was to identify the traffic flow characteristics on the merge section in the freeway construct the models estimated for the speed variation on the merge section in the freeway and finally establish the appropriate measure for reduction of traffic delay and accidents on the merge section in the freeway. The following results were obtained: I) Speed variations in the urban freeway appeared to be about 3.2mph, 6.5mph and 7.4mph based on the morning peak period, afternoon peak period and 24-hours period but those in the suburban freeway appeared to be about 8.0mph, 11.1mph and 10.1mph based on the same periods respectively. So different speed reduction signs need be installed to reduce delay and accidents on the merge section in the freeway based on the areas and periods as the freeway traffic management system(FTMS). ii) These models estimated for speed variation need to be studied with the changeable message sign(CMS) technique based on the real-time data so that the traffic flow could be maximized and the traffic delay and accidents be on the merge section in the freeway as more efficient freeway traffic management system(FTMS) in the near future.