3/27/2018

Elements of a
Typical Cross-section of Road

Transportation
p Engineering
g g-I

Road

• A way or path h over which

hi h cyclists,
li
vehicles and pedestrians can pass
lawfully.
• Roads are normally used for
transportation within a country.
country

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Advantages of Roads
• Nearest to the man, as for going to airport,
harbor or railway station
station.
• Can be used by all types of vehicles from
cycles to trailers.
• Can lead to any remote area and road
users have freedom of movement.
• Vehicle
V hi l movements t are nott ti
time b
bound,
d
roads are open to traffic for 24 hours.

Typical Road Cross-Section

ROW TW

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Typical Road Cross-Section

Cross-Section Elements
The cross section of a road includes some
g elements:
or all of the following
• Traveled way
• Roadway
• Median
• Shoulder
• Kerb
• T ffi Barriers
Traffic B i
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Drainage channels and side slopes

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Two Lane Rural Highway

Cross-Section

Urban Highway Cross-Section

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Selection of appropriate
cross-section elements
In selecting the appropriate cross-section
elements and dimensions,
dimensions designers need
to consider a number of factors:
• Volume and composition (percent trucks,
buses, and recreational vehicles) of the
vehicular traffic expected to use the facility
• The likelihood that cyclists and pedestrians
will use the route
• Climatic conditions

Selection of appropriate
cross-section elements
• The presence of natural or human made
obstructions adjacent
j to the roadway y ((e.g.,
g,
rock cliffs, large trees, wetlands, buildings,
power lines)
• Type and intensity of development along the
section of the highway facility that is being
designed
• Safety of the users
The most appropriate design is the one that
balances the mobility needs of the people
using the facility (motorists, pedestrians, or
cyclists) with the physical constraints of the
corridor within which the facility is located.

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Right of Way
• The right of way can be described generally
as the ppublicly
y owned area of land that
encompasses all the various cross-section
elements.
• The right of way is the land set aside for use
as a highway corridor.
• Rights of way are purchased prior to the
construction of a new road, and usually
enough h extra
t lland
d iis purchased.
h d
• Sometimes, rights of way are left vacant after
the initial roadway facility is constructed to
allow for future highway expansion.
X-section

Right of Way
Requirements of area for right of way
are as follows:
f ll
• For 2 lane road = 150 ft width of area
• For 4 lane road = 250 ft width of area
• For 8 lane road = 300 ft width of area

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Traveled Way or Carriage Way

• The portion of the roadway provided for

th movementt off vehicles,
the hi l exclusive
l i off
shoulders.
• Number of lanes on a traveled way are
decided on the basis of expected traffic
volumes and appropriate level of
service required for the facility.

X-section

Traveled Way or Carriage Way

• Lane width strongly influences traffic

safety
f t and
d comfort
f t
• Lane width ranges from 2.7-3.6 m
with 3.6 m lane predominant on high-
type highways
• Two-lane two-way highways with the
3.6 m lane provide safe clearance
between large commercial vehicles

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Dual Carriage Way

When traffic volumes are quite heavy,
carriageway
i may b be di
divided
id d iinto
t ttwo
parts by providing a median strip and
each portion of the carriage way is
reserved for traffic moving in opposite
direction.

Road Way
• The portion of a highway provided for
vehicular use
use.
• It includes both carriageway and
shoulders.

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Formation Width
• It is the sum of widths of carriage way,
shoulders
h ld and
d median
di stripst i if provided.
id d
• In case of embankments, it is measured
as the top width.
• In case of cutting, it is the bottom width
of the cutting from which side drains are
excluded.

Shoulders
• Shoulders are the strips provided on both
sides of the carriage way
way.

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Functions of shoulders
• accommodation of stopped vehicles
(disabled vehicles
vehicles, bus stops)
• emergency use
• lateral support for the pavement
• space for roadside facilities
• space for bicycles and pedestrians
• driving comfort (freedom from strain)
• improvement in sight distance
• improvement in capacity

Width of shoulders
• Low-type roads -- minimum 0.6 m,
recommended 1 1.8-2.4
824m
• Shoulder provided for bicycles -- minimum
1.2 m wide
• High-type roads -- minimum 3.0 m,
recommended 3.6 m
• Shoulders
Sh ld should
h ld be
b continuous.
ti
• Shoulders on bridges should have the
same width as on the approach sections.

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Median or Traffic Separators

• It is the physical or painted separation

provided
id d on di
divided
id d hi
highways
h b
between
t
two adjacent roadways.
• Medians can also be used to isolate
slow and fast moving traffic in the same
direction.
• Width of medians ranges from
1.2 to 24 m.

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Median

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Function of medians
• separate opposing traffic
• recovery area for
f out-of-control
t f t l
vehicles
• stopping area
• storage of right-turning and U-turning
vehicles
• minimize headlight glare
• provision for future lanes

Kerb
• It is the dividing line between carriageway
and footpath
footpath.

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Functions of Kerbs
• drainage control
• roadway edge delineation
• right-of-way reduction/restriction
• delineation of pedestrian walkways
• reduction in maintenance operation
• Assistance in roadside development

Types of Kerbs

• Class I Kerb: Height 7-9 cms

• Class II Kerb: Height 15-20 cms
• Barrier: 23-45 cms
• Submerged: provide lateral stability

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Foot Path or side Walk

• Foot paths are provided in Urban
roads
d
• These are raised strips constructed
along both the edges of roads.
• Their minimum recommended width
is 1
1.3
3mm.

Foot Path or side Walk

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Foot Path or side Walk

Bicycle and Parking lane

• Bicycle lane is a portion of the
roadway
d d i
designated
t d by
b striping,
ti i
signing, and/or pavement markings
for preferential or exclusive use by
bicycles and/or other non-motorized
vehicles.
• Parking lane is an additional lane
provided on Urban roads and streets
for on-street parking.

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Bicycle and Parking lane

Minimum Width Requirements

Bicycle and Parking lane

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Traffic Barriers
A longitudinal barrier, including bridge rail,
or an impact attenuator used to
• Redirect vehicles from hazards located
within an established Design Clear Zone
• To prevent median crossovers
• To prevent errant vehicles from going over
the side of a bridge
g structure
• To protect workers (occasionally)
• To protect pedestrians, or bicyclists from
vehicular traffic

Traffic Barriers

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Traffic Barriers

Drainage Channels and

Side slopes
• Drainage channels and side slopes are
provided along the length of road for storm
water drainage etc.

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Drainage Channels and

Side slopes
Drainage channels should:
• have adequate capacity for the design
runoff,
• minimize damage to the highway caused
by unusual storm water,
• minimize risk for motorists,
• be resistant to the high speed water flows
where expected,
• prevent sedimentation of the particles
carried by water.

Drainage Channels and

Side slopes
Side slopes should
• insure
i th
the stability
t bilit off th
the roadway
d
• provide opportunity for recovery of an out-
of-control vehicle

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