This document discusses various aspects of geometric design of highways including static characteristics like lane widths and vertical clearance, and kinematic characteristics like acceleration and dimensions of freeway ramps. It also covers sight distances including stopping sight distance, decision sight distance, and passing sight distance. Finally, it discusses functional classification of highways based on their role in providing mobility versus accessibility and classifications for rural and urban roads.

1. 1
Geometric design of highway
Transportation Engineering

2. 2
Static Characteristics
 Size:
 Design of lane widths, parking bays, etc…
 Vertical clearance
 Weight:
 Pavement design, bridge design, axle loads
 Maximum grade
 Radius of Curvature:
 Intersection design
 Interchange ramps

3. 3
Kinematic (Dynamic)
Characteristics
 Acceleration (Constant or variable):
 Passing maneuvers
 Gap acceptance
 Dimensions of freeway ramps and passing
lanes
 Motion elements (Distance and Velocity)

4. 4
Sight distance
Distance a driver can see ahead at any specific time
Must allow sufficient distance for a driver to
perceive/react and stop, swerve etc when necessary

5. 5
Stopping Sight Distance
where:
Db = braking distance
u = initial velocity when brakes are applied
f = coefficient of friction
G = grade (decimal)
t = time to perceive/react
a = vehicle acceleration
g = acceleration due to gravity (32.2 ft/sec2)
Distance to stop vehicle, includes P/R and braking distance
S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____
30({a/g} ± G)

6. 6
Stopping Sight Distance
where:
Db = braking distance
u = initial velocity when brakes are applied
f = coefficient of friction
G = grade (decimal)
t = time to perceive/react
With assumed acceleration, using friction
S = 1.47ut + _____u2_____
30(f ± G)

7. 7
SSD Example
SSD = 1.47ut + _____u2_____
30({a/g} ± G)
Stopping distance = 405 feet
405 feet = 1.47u(0.8 sec) + ________u2________
30({11.2/32.2} + 0.01)
405 feet = 1.17u + ________u2________
30(0.358)
405 feet = 1.17u + ________u2________
10.73
Solving for u, u = 59.9 mph

8. 8
Decision Sight Distance
When situation is unexpected or driver makes unusual
maneuvers or under difficult to perceive situations
Requires higher PIEV time
Depends on type of maneuver made and roadway
setting (urban vs. rural)

9. 9
Passing Sight Distance

10. 10
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d1 = distance traveled during P/R time to point where
vehicle just enters the left lane
d1 = 1.47t1(u – m + at1)
2
where
t1 = time for initial maneuver (sec)
u = average speed of passing vehicle (mph)
a = acceleration (mph/s)
m = difference between speeds of passing and passed
vehicle

11. 11
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d2 = distance traveled by vehicle while in left lane
d2 = 1.47ut2
where:
u = speed of passing vehicle (mph)
t2 = time spent passing in left lane (sec)

12. 12
Passing Sight Distance
Dpassing = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4
d3 = clearance distance varies from 110 to 300 feet
d4 = distance traveled by opposing vehicle during passing
maneuver
d4 usually taken as 2/3 d2

13. 13
Lateral displacement
a
l


14. 14
Lateral displacement
 Experiments showed that the narrower the pavement and the
closer the object to the pavement edge, the greater the
magnitude of lateral displacement.
 The relationship between the longitudinal distance l, the lateral
placement of a given object a, and the visual angle  is l= a cot 
 By differentiating both side of equation with respect to time and
22
2222
2
/)(csc/
csc
la
va
dt
d
alaandvdtdl
dt
d
a
dt
dl







V= vehicle’s speed
d/dt= rate of change of
the visual angle

15. 15
Functional classification of
highways
 Highways are classified either by
 The function they serve (functional classification)
 The entity responsible for their construction and
maintenance (jurisdictional classification)
 Two concepts are used when classifying
highway by their function
 Mobility: continuous travel
 Accessibility: direct access to abutting (next to or
adjacent) property
 Some roads serve one of these two function
while few can satisfy both

16. 16
Mobility
Accessibility
Function
classification

17. 17
Mobility versus accessibility

18. 18
Three Major Roadway Classes
and their functions:
 Arterial (high mobility, low access,
long trips, fast speeds)
 Collector (moderate, moderate,
moderate, moderate)
 Local (low, high, short, slow)

19. 19
Roadway Functional Classes
 Determined by characteristics:
 Function
 access density
 traffic demands
 trip length
 expected speed

20. 20

21. 21
Freeway versus expressway
 The distinction between freeways and
expressway is based on the accessibility
control
 Freeways have a full control of access [access or
exit are permitted only at controlled locations (exit
ramp)]
 Expressways have a partial access control. (access
or exit are maybe permitted directly from or
adjacent land or via a limited number of at grade
intersections)

22. 22
Rural road classification
Principal Arterials
 Function: Long disance Travel and
Connect urbanized areas
 Characteristics: Long trips, no stubs, high
speed, widely spaced, full/partial access
control
 Subclasses: Freeways, Other non-
Freeways with access control

23. 23
Minor Arterials
 Function: connect small urban areas
with major trip generators
 Characteristics: Moderate everything
(routes, speed, spacing, mostly
mobility)

24. 24
Rural Collectors
 Major Collectors: Connect small twon to large towns
not served by arterials, link entities with nearby
arterials, urban areas
 Minor Collectors: Serve remaining small towns, link
local traffic generators with rural areas
 Characteristics: Shorter, Moderate Speeds (in rural
areas), Intermediate spacing

25. 25
Rural Local Roads
 Function: Provide access to land on collector
network, serve short distance travel
 Characteristics: Short routes that terminate at
higher classes, relatively low speeds,
intermediate spacing

26. 26

27. 27
Urban Functional System
Principal Arterials
 Functions: carry most trips entering/leaving
urban area, serve intra-urban trips, carry
intra-urban and intercity bus routes, provide
continuity to rural arterials
 Characteristics: longest distance routes and
highest volume, high speed, spacing is less
than 1 km in CBD and greater than 8 km in
urban fringe, full/partial access control
 Subclasses: interstates, other freeways and
expressways, other principal arterials with
partial access control

28. 28

29. 29
Urban Minor Arterials
 Functions: interconnect with and augment
principle arterials, accommodate moderate
length trips, distribute traffic, carry local
buses, provide intra-community continuity,
connect to urban collectors
 Characteristics: moderate trip length high
volumes, moderate speeds, spacing 0.2
to1.0 km in CBD and 3 to 5 km in suburbs

30. 30
Urban Collectors
 Functions: Provide traffic circulation within
residential neighborhoods and
industrial/commercial areas, Collect traffic
from locals and channel to arterials, Carry
local buses, Provide some direct land access
 Characteristics: Shorter than minor arterials,
Moderate speeds, Spacing intermediate to
arterials, Penetrates residential
neighborhoods
 Subclasses: major and minor

31. 31
Urban Locals
 Functions: Provide direct access to land,
Connect properties to higher class
streets (i.e., collectors)
 Characteristics: Short in length, Dead
end – terminate at collections, Low
speeds, No bus routes

32. 32

33. 33

34. 34
Highway
Component
s
Cross-section

35. 35
Cross section components
 Highways are categorized into
 Divided highways
 Undivided highways
 The distinction is based on the viability of median (Divided
highways).
 The components of divided highways within the right of way are
 Carriageway or travelling lanes
 Median
 Shoulder
 Ditches
 Side-slopes
 Barrier
 Marking
 Cross section slope