Based on the theoretical average daily traffic intensity, the current total amount of traffic has increased by 78.61% since 1990.
This increase in the volume of traffic will almost certainly lead to a deterioration in the level of traffic performance as the traffic handling load limit will be exceeded, particularly on certain days (approx. 20 days per year: every Saturday in the months of July and August, during the Christmas period and on the long weekends of Ascension Day, Corpus Christi and Whitsun) and when road works are carried out where there are currently two lanes, or when accidents occur.
On critical days, at peak times, more than 3,000 vehicles can be counted per hour with an average travel speed of 70-80 km/h, while during the course of a day, more than 40,000 vehicles can be counted.
The opening of a third lane by the temporary use of the emergency lane serves to efficiently manage emergency situations which may occur during such periods throughout the year as the third lane increases vehicle capacity (approx. 4,000-4,200 vehicles/hour) and reduces the likelihood of traffic jams.
In order to test this approach, a trial section (to be commissioned by the end of the year) is currently being constructed on the A22 between Trento Centro (km 129+600) and Rovereto Sud on the southbound carriageway (km 167+900).
This innovative project is based on modern remote control systems. Surveillance cameras, digital information boards, fibre optic cables and induction coils interact with the motorway police traffic management control centre and the A22 user service centre (24 hour operation), which control the flow of information. Speed restrictions (max. 80 km/h), various measures (to prevent the risk of accidents by closing a lane, for example, when a broken down vehicle is blocking the traffic), emergency access (from outside, two per elementary section of the route) and convenient crossings (which make it possible to change carriageway) should guarantee suitable opportunity to exit.