Optimization Models for the Location of Motorway Interchanges: Concessionaires’ Perspective

Abstract

The location of motorway interchanges strongly affects the traffic motorways can capture and therefore the revenues for the concessionaires. This paper presents a set of optimization models aimed at assisting toll-motorway concessionaires when they set up the location of interchanges for a new motorway. The decisions are assumed to be made with the objective of maximizing profit. Road users select their itineraries according to the attractiveness of the routes, which is measured by travel costs (vehicle operating costs, accident costs, user time costs, and tolling costs). The choice is between the existing road network and a combination of existing road segments with new motorway segments. A deterministic model and two stochastic models are proposed. The latter models take into account the risks involved in motorway investment decisions. The usefulness of the models is illustrated for a real case study.