The Capital City is advancing the implementation of its First Ring Road project, a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing urban congestion and improving overall traffic efficiency. As part of this effort, advanced transport modeling has been conducted using PTV Visum to assess the impact of the First Ring Road in conjunction with the Tuul Expressway.
According to the project design, the First Ring Road will intersect with the Tuul Expressway at two locations. The alignment will pass through the Thermal Power Plant No. 4 (TPP-4) corridor, continue along the western boundary of the 1st Microdistrict (Unur residential area), and extend northward along the flood protection embankment toward ger districts.
The route will connect to the Bayankhoshuu subcenter via a multi-level interchange, proceed eastward to intersect Khuwsgalchdyn Avenue, and pass north of the Sambalkhundev Cemetery (planned as a park area) through a tunnel. It will further traverse the Khailaast and Doloon Buudal corridors, incorporating grade-separated interchanges, before bypassing the southern side of the Selbe subcenter, crossing the Selbe River, and connecting to Dari-Ekh Road via a bridge.
Using PTV Visum, a comprehensive transport model of Ulaanbaatar’s road network has been developed. The simulation integrates current traffic conditions, demographic data, and projected infrastructure developments to evaluate future traffic demand, congestion levels, and network performance.
Simulation results indicate that upon completion, the First Ring Road is expected to reduce traffic load in the central urban area by approximately 23 to 50 percent. Additionally, average vehicle speeds during peak hours are projected to increase by 23.3 percent.
The project will also enhance traffic capacity at key intersections, including:
- Zuun Dörvön Zam: +23%
- Baruun Dörvön Zam: +21%
- Bayangburd roundabout: +14%
- Ikh Mongol Street: +10%
The application of PTV Visum demonstrates Ulaanbaatar’s commitment to evidence-based planning and the adoption of international best practices in transport modeling. This approach ensures that major infrastructure investments deliver measurable improvements in mobility, reduce congestion, and support sustainable urban development.
Source: Ulaanbaatar.mn, media releases.