Road Furniture and Traffic Signs on the Al-Shamasiya – Al-Khalis Road

Abstract

With the increasing number of vehicles in Iraq in general, and particularly along the Al-Shamasiya–Al-Khalis Road, coupled with the need to expand fuel stations and provide maintenance and other services, it has become necessary to implement various planning and procedural measures along this route. Foremost among these is road furniture, which includes supplementary elements that enhance the road’s efficiency in terms of safety, traffic security, and comfort for users. Such elements play a major role in reducing traffic accidents, especially on intercity roads, making this topic worthy of research and elaboration within this study.

Road furniture components are generally divided into two main categories: natural and artificial. The latter is of particular importance and includes a variety of features such as pavement works and surfacing, fuel stations, maintenance stations, and traffic signs (including directional, mandatory, warning, and prohibitory signs). Despite the road’s strategic location between the governorates of Baghdad and Diyala and its role in linking and providing access to northern Iraq—particularly its connection to the governorates of Sulaymaniyah and Erbil—it suffers from a number of issues.

The study reached several conclusions, including that the road’s infrastructure is incomplete, lacking traffic signs, with lighting present only in part of the route, and without designated parking areas. This indicates a lack of attention to regular maintenance in all observed sections. Accordingly, the study recommends providing all necessary road furniture and services to preserve the road by equipping it with all the aforementioned elements, as it holds social importance and is public property.