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In this paper, some new lane-changing rules for one-way two-lane traffic with one work zone are proposed. Considering their velocities difference between the vehicle in the current lane and some vehicle behind/ahead in the target lane, and its own velocity, driver will choose to change lanes if necessary. Unlike some previous studies, one-way two-lane with one work zone is divided into three sections: symmetrical zone, conversion zone and work zone. In the conversion zone, the maximum velocity of vehicles in merge lane depends on the number of unsuccessful lane-changing. Based on the refined Nagel–Schreckenberg model, all vehicles update their corresponding velocities and positions in own respective lanes, employing open boundary conditions. The computer results show that the system has two states: unsaturated state and saturated state. In the saturated state, these vehicles on these two lanes have the same occupancy, which change steadily without inflection point when approaching the conversion zone, especially for upstream of the work zone. As one of the results of vehicle self-organization, the system can reach the saturated state in a short period of time as the injection probability increases. This saturated state can also spread across the conversion zone to the symmetrical zone. In the unsaturated state, one also finds that the velocity distribution can be consistent with the actual traffic conditions for upstream of the work zone. We selected three road sections with work zone to carry out field test, and the flow of these three road sections is basically consistent with the flow of the saturated state for the present model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the upstream of the highway work zone, vehicles will change lanes automatically or forcibly, which has complexity and randomness. Most studies fail to consider the impact of actual mixed traffic characteristics on traffic flow. For example, the dependence of the lane-changing behaviors of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) on the length of the zone is ignored in upstream of work zone. In addition, it is assumed that vehicles in the merge lane of the work zone would “yield” or not consider an impact on vehicles in the through lane. This simplifies the complex dynamics of the interaction between the two streams of traffic, which leads to the results of the study and the actual situation inconsistency. Based on the Gipps model, the adaptive cruise control (ACC) and the collaborative adaptive cruise control (CACC) vehicle-following models, this paper proposes a continuous cellular automata model under Vehicle-Road Collaboration and studies the mixed traffic flow characteristics in the work zone. By setting a metering zone before the lane reduction sign, ACC/CACC can adjust headway by obtaining road information in advance. The simulation results indicate that ACC/CACC vehicles have better following response compared to human-driven vehicles. In other words, the platoon composed of ACC/CACC vehicles has stability and can improve the traffic capacity of the work zone. The results of the study also found that the insertion of vehicles from adjacent lane into the ACC/CACC vehicles platoon is detrimental, especially when the penetration rate (Pinter) is high. Furthermore, when the length of the metering zone (Lmeter) is set at 120–150m, it can significantly improve the road congestion in the work zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]