Lec 21, Ch.16, pp.

671-688: Highway
design standards (Objectives)
Understand how highways are
functionally classified
Learn what factors are considered in a
typical highway design
Learn design standards for major parts
of highways
Learn the elements of highways (mostly
from reading)
What we cover in class today

Functional systems of urban roads and

rural roads
Factors influencing highway design
Design standards: (once after target
functional class is determined) Design
hourly volume, Design speeds,
Elements of cross section
Highway functional classification
Principal arterials
Mobility
Minor arterials
Major collectors

Minor collectors
Access
Local roads and streets
Functional system of urban roads
Small urban areas: Population 5,000 to 50,000
Large urban areas: Population 50,000 or more
Urban Serves the major I-15, State St., University
principal activity centers: Ave., University Parkway,
arterials Interstate, 900E, Center St.
expressways, other
principal arterials
Urban minor Interconnect with and Bulldog Ave (1230N),
arterials augment principal Freedom Blv., Geneva Rd.
arterials
Urban Collect traffic from local Canyon Rd., Timpview,
collector streets and convey it to 500N, 800N
streets the arterial system
Urban local All other streets Thats where your house
streets is.
 Provo example graphical presentation

Principal arterial
Collector

Minor arterial
 Functional system of rural roads
Principal Serves mostly interstate trips and I-15, I-70, I-80,
arterials a substantial amount of intrastate I-215, US89,
trips US40, US6,
US191, etc.
Minor Augments the principal arterials, SR73,10, 130,
arterials connects cities, large towns, other 257, 56, etc.
large traffic generators
Major Carry traffic to and from county SR21, 24, 95,
collectors seats and large cities not served 18, 12, etc.
by the arterial system
Minor Collects traffic from local roads SR174, 124, 96,
collectors and convey it to other facilities etc.
Local All roads within the rural area not All others
roads classified above
Rural roads example graphical presentation

Principal
arterial

Major
collector

Minor
arterial

Minor
collector
 Factors influencing highway design
(Think of the Legacy Parkway in terms of these factors)

Functional classification

Expected traffic Level of service

volume & targeted
traffic mix

Available funds
Design speed
Safety

Topography
Social and environmental
factors
 Guidelines for selection of design LOS
(AASHTO: A Policy on Geometric Design
of Highways and Streets, 2000)

Functional Area & Terrain Type

Class
Rural Rural Rural Urban &
level rolling Mtns Suberban
Freeway B B C C
Arterial B B C C
Collector C C D D
Local D D D D
 Design hourly volume
If we design a highway for the highest peak hour volume in the
year, the highway will be too expensive. Researchers found that the
30th highest hourly volume would be a comfortable compromise.

This is the so-called K value.

DHV = AADT*K*D where D is the
directional factor
Rural K=0.12-0.18, Urban K=0.08-0.10
Design vehicle
The design vehicle is that vehicle selected to represent all vehicles on
the highway. Weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics. Its
turning characteristics are very important for intersection and turning
roadway design.

See Chapter 3.
Cross section elements
Cross slopes

For quicker drainage.

High-type pavements: 1.5% to 2.0%

Intermediate-type pavements: 1.5% to 3%
 Barriers
Click this
picture for a
simulation

Without guardrail
(Top two pictures taken from the WPI website)
A typical roadside barrier
(with guardrail)
Barrier and
mountable
curbs

Conc. Median barrier

Roadside design
Forgiving highway concept
* Shock Absorbers at the gore area

By improved design of the

geometry of highway or by the use
of various equipment, highways
were made safer. These equipment
reduce the severity of impact or
allow the driver to steer back to the
traveling lane.

(Pictures extracted from WPIs web page,

Worcester Polytech Institute, MA)
Breakaway sign posts

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