topic Network Dataset solver choosing a longer route in ArcGIS Network Analyst Questions

Network Dataset solver choosing a longer route

ThomasTupuivao — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 22:22:26 GMT

I have built a Network Dataset for Lower Hutt City (NZ) and am trialling out the routing. The solver has decided to jump on the motorway and head up north instead of south to a on-ramp that heads up the hill.

When I explore the network I can see intersection is connected?, so unsure why the solver chooses to head up north instead of south.

Any ideas?

Re: Network Dataset solver choosing a longer route

MelindaMorang — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:31:33 GMT

The likely culprits for this type of problem include:

The network is disconnected somewhere. It may not be at the intersection you expect, but it could be at some on-ramp or other intersection along the expected route.
Some roads along your expected route are incorrectly restricted to travel.
Your cost attributes are calculating the travel cost incorrectly. Either that highway has an unexpectedly low cost, or some other road along your expected route has an unexpectedly high cost.
You have some sort of turn restriction preventing travel from one road to another.

See this post for some tips on how to debug and diagnose the problem.

Re: Network Dataset solver choosing a longer route

MelindaMorang — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:58:44 GMT

For anyone looking at this issue in the future: The ArcGIS Pro documentation now includes a guide for troubleshooting unexpected network analysis results and problems with user-created network datasets: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/analysis/networks/troubleshoot-network-analysis-problems.htm.