Transportation Engineeirng

Prepared By: Engr Shujaat Abbas

Delivered To: BS Civil
LECTURE NO 2
CROSS SECTIONAL ELEMENTS OF
ROADS
 CROSS SECTION ELEMENTS
• Number of travel lanes to be provided
• Medians
• Width and location of shoulders
• Slopes
• Embankments and Ditches
Components of a flexible pavement
Cross section of a road: main road situated outside
towns and cities.
Platform: horizontal surface raised above the
surrounding ground.
Shoulder: space between the roadway and the ditch.
Median strip: separation between two roadway.
Carriageway: central part reserved for vehicle
traffic.
Ditch: channel that carries away water.
Subgrade: upper surface of prepared ground.
Base course: middle surface of a road.
Subbase: lower surface of a road.
 LANE WIDTHS
The width of the surfaced road and number
of lanes should be adequate to accommodate
the type and volume of anticipated traffic
and assumed design speed of vehicles. Roads
presently in use have traditionally been
separated into generalized categories that
include two-lanes, three-lanes, multilane
undivided, multilane divided, and limited
access highways.
 Two Lane Highways
•Two lane roads vary from low type roads,
which follow the natural ground surface, to
high speed primary highways with paved
surface and stabilized shoulders.
•As traffic density, vehicle speeds, and truck
widths have increased, two lane highways
have also increased in width from 4.8 m to
the current recommended value of 7.2 m with
3 m stabilized or paved shoulders on either
side along primary routs.
 Shoulders
•Closely related to the lane width is the width of
the shoulders. It is necessary to provide
shoulders for safe operation and to allow the
development of full traffic capacity. Well-
maintained, smooth, firm shoulders increase
the effective width of the traffic lane as much as
0.6 m (2 ft), as most vehicle operators drive
closer to the edge of the pavement in the
presence of adequate shoulders.
•A usable outside shoulder width of at least 3
m (10 ft) and preferably 3.6 m (12 ft) clear of
all obstructions is desirable for all heavily
traveled and high-speed highways. Inside
shoulders often are not as wide. In
mountainous areas, where the extra cost of
providing shoulders of this width may be
prohibitive, or on low­type highways, a
minimum width of 1.2 m (4 ft) may be
provided; a width of 1.8 to 2.4 m (6 to 8 ft) is
preferable.
 MEDIAN WIDTHS
• Medians of 4.2 m to 4.8 m have been used and are
sufficient to provide most of the separate advantages
for opposing traffic while permitting the inclusion of
a median lane at crossroads for right turn
movements, however , medians 4.8 m to 18 m wide
and greater are now recommended when
surrounding conditions permit.
•The median should also be of sufficient width to
maintain vegetation and support low growing shurbs
that reduce the headlight glare of opposing traffic.
•Many agencies design the width of medians so that
additional travel lanes can be added in the future, if
required, within the limit of the median.
 RIGHT-OF-WAY
• The right-of-way width for a two-lane highway
on secondary roads with an annual average daily
traffic volume of 400 to 1000 vehicles, as
recommended by the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials, is 20
m (66 ft) minimum and 25 m (80 ft) desirable.
• On high-type two- lane highways in rural areas
a minimum width of 30 m (100 ft), with 37 m (120
ft) desirable, is recommended. A minimum width
of 45 m (150 ft) and a desirable width of 76 m
(250 ft) are recommended for divided highways.
•Sufficient right-of-way should be acquired
in order to avoid the expense of purchasing
developed property or the removal of other
physical encroachments from the highway
right-of-way. A wide section of right-of-way
must be given careful consideration for a
balanced design. The selection of a width
based on minimum or desirable dimensions
is typically established with respect to
facility type and surrounding conditions. A
typical design is illustrated in Figure 7-5.
 SIGHT DISTANCE
For operating a motor vehicle safely and
efficiently, it is of utmost importance that
drivers have the capability of seeing clearly
ahead. Therefore, sight distance of sufficient
length must be provided so that the drivers can
operate and control their vehicles safely.
Sight distance is the length of the highway
visible ahead to the driver of the vehicle.
 Aspects of Sight Distance
• The distances required by motor vehicles
to stop.
• The distances needed for decisions at
complex locations.
• The distances required for passing and
overtaking vehicles, applicable on two-
lane highways.