Elements of A Typical Cross-Section of Road: Transportation Engineering - I

Elements of a
Typical Cross-section of Road
Transportation Engineering - I
Road
• A way or path over which cyclists,

vehicles and pedestrians can pass
lawfully.
• Roads are normally used for
transportation within a country.
Advantages of Roads
• Nearest to the man, as for going to airport,
harbor or railway 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 movements are not time bound,
roads are open to traffic for 24 hours.
Typical Road Cross-Section
ROW TW
Typical Road Cross-Section
Cross-Section Elements
The cross section of a road includes some
or all of the following elements:
• Traveled way
• Roadway
• Median
• Shoulder
• Kerb
• Traffic Barriers
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Drainage channels and side slopes
Two Lane Rural Highway
Cross-Section
Urban Highway Cross-Section
Selection of appropriate
cross-section elements
In selecting the appropriate cross-section
elements and 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 to the roadway (e.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.
Right of Way
• The right of way can be described generally
as the publicly 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 extra land is purchased.
• 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:
• For 2 lane road = 150 ft width of area
Traveled Way or Carriage Way
• The portion of the roadway provided for
the movement of vehicles, exclusive of
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 and comfort
• 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
Dual Carriage Way
When traffic volumes are quite
heavy, carriageway may be divided
into two 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.
• It includes both carriageway and
shoulders.
Formation Width
• It is the sum of widths of carriage way,
shoulders and median strips if provided.
• 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.
Functions of shoulders
• accommodation of stopped vehicles
(disabled 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 1.8-2.4 m
• Shoulder provided for bicycles -- minimum
1.2 m wide
• High-type roads -- minimum 3.0 m,
recommended 3.6 m
• Shoulders should be continuous.
• Shoulders on bridges should have the
same width as on the approach sections.
Median or Traffic Separators
• It is the physical or painted separation
provided on divided highways between
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.
Median
Function of medians
• separate opposing traffic
• recovery area for out-of-control
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.
Functions of Kerbs
• drainage control
• roadway edge delineation
• right-of-way reduction
• 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
Foot Path or side Walk
• Foot paths are provided in Urban
roads
• These are raised strips constructed
along both the edges of roads.
• Their minimum recommended width
is 1.3 m.
Bicycle and Parking lane
• Bicycle lane is a portion of the
roadway designated by striping,
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.
Minimum Width Requirements
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 structure
• To protect workers (occasionally)
• To protect pedestrians, or bicyclists from
vehicular traffic
Traffic Barriers
Traffic Barriers
Drainage Channels and
Side slopes
• Drainage channels and side slopes are
provided along the length of road for storm
water drainage etc.
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.
Side slopes
Side slopes should
• insure the stability of the roadway
• provide opportunity for recovery of an out-
of-control vehicle

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Elements of a

Typical Cross-section of Road

• A way or path over which cyclists,

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