COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF HIGHWAYS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: CASE STUDY MILOŠ VELIKI

Abstract

This study examines the distribution of traffic between the “Miloš Veliki” motorway and the alternative route, the “Ibar Highway,” following the introduction of toll charges. The main objective is to determine whether the introduction of tolls influenced drivers’ route choices, increased traffic volumes on the Ibar Highway, and consequently affected the level of harmful gas emissions due to more frequent braking and stopping. The analysis covers the period before and after the motorway was opened to traffic (2018–2024). The research is based on official statistics on traffic volumes, including the number of vehicles by vehicle type and road category (motorway or alternative route), as well as the total distance traveled on specific road sections in the Republic of Serbia. In addition, the COPERT methodology was applied to assign emission factors, enabling the estimation of harmful gas emissions by vehicle category (passenger cars, light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, and buses) and by road type. The study was conducted using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis in the SPSS statistical software package. The findings indicate a redistribution of traffic between the motorway and the alternative route after the introduction of tolls, with increased traffic load observed on the Ibar Highway. However, in relative terms, the growth rate of motorway usage was higher than that of the alternative route. The results also show that pollution levels are higher on the alternative route and confirm a statistically significant relationship between the number of vehicles and the estimated volume of harmful gas emissions on the observed road sections.