DESIGN OF INTERSECTIONS

RAJESH NEELAKANTAN

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 WHAT IS AN INTERSECTION?

 Location where two or more roads converge,

diverge, meet or cross
 Common area for traffic from different directions
want to occupy at the same time
 Focus of business and community activity and
conflicting traffic movements
 Most vulnerable spot on any highway and critical
to efficient function and safety

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 INTERSECTION AREA

PHYSICAL
AREA
FUNCTIONAL
AREA

FUNCTIONAL
AREA
Functional Area Components

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 TYPES OF INTERSECTION

 At Grade Intersection
 All the roads meet at same grade
AT GRADE Grade Separated Intersection
INTERSECTIONS


 Crossing roads are grade separated
to 1 level or 2
GRADE SEPARATED
 Interchange
 Grade separated Intersection with
INTERCHANGES exclusive, non-conflicting ramps

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 AT GRADE INTERSECTIONS – TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

 Un Controlled Intersection
 Between roads with relatively less traffic volume and
neither road has precedence over the other
 Priority Controlled Intersection
 Theoretically no delay on major road, vehicles on the
minor road controlled by "GIVE - WAY" or "STOP" sign
 Signalized Intersections
 Traffic movements are time separated using traffic
signals

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 AT GRADE INTERSECTIONS – GEOMETRY

 3 Legged

T Intersection Skewed T Intersection Y Intersection

 4 Legged

Right Angle Offset Oblique

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 AT GRADE INTERSECTIONS – GEOMETRY

 Multi Legged

 Round About

Single Lane Multi Lane

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 GRADE SEPARATED INTERSECTION

Flyover with Rotary Junction

Flyover with 4 Legged Junction

Vehicular Underpass

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 INTERCHANGES

Diamond Interchange Single Point Diamond Interchange Trumpet Interchange

Clover Leaf Interchange Partial Clover Leaf Interchange Stack Type Directional Interchange

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 INTERCHANGES

Directional Interchange

Rotary Interchange

3 Way Directional Interchange

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 FACTORS AFFECTING INTERSECTION DESIGN

Driving Design and

habits actual
capacities

Pedestrian Ability to Design hour

Transit
use and make turning
involvement
habits decisions movements

Human Traffic
Considerations
Factors
Size and
Conformance Vehicle operating
to natural Driver speeds
paths of expectancy
characteristics
movements of vehicles
Decision Types of
and movement
reaction
time
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 FACTORS AFFECTING INTERSECTION DESIGN

Vertical and
Horizontal
Alignment at
Need for the intersection Sight
Future Distance
Upgrading

Angle of the Economic

intersection Factors
Environmen
tal Features Road and
Environmental
considerations • Cost of Improvements
Conflict
Safety Area • Effects of Controlling or Limiting Right-of-Way
Features
on Abutting Residential or Commercial
Character
Traffic
and Use of Properties where Channelization Restricts or
Control
Speed- Abutting
Devices
Change Property Prohibits Vehicular Movements.
Lanes

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 BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES

 Primary considerations for design are Safety and Smooth and Efficient Flow of
Traffic
 Following principles are applied
1. Uniformity
3. Safety
and Simplicity

2. Minimise
Conflicts Points

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 UNIFORMITY AND SIMPLICITY

 The design must keep the capabilities and limitation of drivers, pedestrians and
vehicles using intersection
 Design should be based on a knowledge of what a driver will do rather than
what he should do
 All the intersection movements should be obvious to the drivers, even for the
stranger to the area
 Complex design which require complicated decision-making should be avoided.
 There should be no confusion and the path to be taken should be obvious
 Undesirable short cuts should be blocked.

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 UNIFORMITY AND SIMPLICITY

 On an average trip route, all the intersections should have uniform design
standards so that even newcomer to the area anticipates what to expect at an
intersection.
 Some of the major design elements in which uniformity is required are
Design Speed Intersection Curves Vehicle Turning Paths

Speed Change Lane

Super-Elevations Level Shoulder Width
Lengths

Type of Signs and

Channelization Types of Curves
Markings

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 MINIMISE CONFLICT POINTS

 Any location having merging, diverging or crossing maneuvers of two vehicles is

a potential conflict point
 Main Objective is to minimise the number and severity of potential conflicts
between cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and pedestrians and whenever possible,
these should be separated by
 Space separation:
 By Access Control Islands Through Channelizing
 Time separation:
 By traffic signals on Waiting Lanes

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 MINIMISE CONFLICT POINTS

 Convert Intersection to Round About

 Convert a 4-armed intersection
having 32 conflict points to a
roundabout having only 12
conflict points

 Signalization
 Converting 4 arm intersection to
two phase signal reduce conflict
points to 12

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 MINIMISE CONFLICT POINTS

 Channelization
 Channelization reduce the conflict
area, reduce speed and regulate
traffic movement
 Changing Priority of Crossing
 Introducing the GIVE WAY or STOP
signs for traffic entering the
junctions from minor road. Traffic
causing the conflict is hence
restrained

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 SAFETY

 Following Can Improve Safety

 Accident situations Fig -(c), (d) and (h) involving right
turning vehicles in high percentage of accidents can
be prevented by controlling traffic movements either
manually or by traffic signals.
 Deceleration lanes for left turning traffic from major
road would also ensure better safety for situations
at Fig (e)

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 SAFETY

 Following Can Improve Safety

 Acceleration lane on the major road for the left
turning traffic flow from the minor road could
prevent traffic situation, Fig.(f)
 Separate right turning lane on the major road
could minimize or prevent rear end collision Fig. (g)
 Channelizing islands at the minor road could be
useful in situation at Fig. (i)

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 BASIC DATA FOR DESIGN

 Design Traffic Volume

 Vehicle type wise number of vehicles
for each turning movement for peak
hours
 Pedestrian and bicycle counts for each
leg – Crossing and Along the
intersection area
 Traffic movement recording covering
day and night time

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 BASIC DATA FOR DESIGN

 Existing Layout and Land Limits

 Topographic survey data with existing layout and levels
 Data 300m on either side of cross road is required
 Hierarchy of Cross Roads

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 INTERSECTION DESIGN ELEMENTS
ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

TURNING ROAD WAYS

ISLANDS AND CHANNELIZATION

AUXILIARY LANES

PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Intersection elements should be located within the

visibility area of vehicle user
 Intersecting angles should be ideally be 90 deg,
acceptable between 60 deg to 120 deg. Cross road
shall be realigned to meet the criteria

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Approach gradients near junction area shall be flat and shall not exceed 3%.
If topography warrants more than 3%, minimum 10m length OR length of
design vehicle on both approaches shall have gradient maximum up to 3%

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Where Intersection is Formed on outside of superelevated curve, profile shall

be designed as below

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Sight Distance at Intersection

 Critical for “Un Controlled” and “Priority Controlled” Intersections
 Approach Sight Triangle – Applicable for Un Controlled Intersection

 a&b=Stopping Sight Distance @ Design Speed

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Approach Sight Triangle – Applicable for Yield Controlled Intersection

 a = Stopping Sight Distance @ Design Speed of Minor Road

 b = Length travelled @ Design Speed of Major Road During a) Time For
Minor Road Vehicle to Decelerate to 60% of Design Speed from Decision
Point + b) Travel Time for Minor Road Vehicle to Cover Remaining Distance
in “a” @ 60% Design Speed + c) T Time For Crossing Major Road

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 ALIGNMENT AND PROFILE

 Departure Sight Triangle – Applicable for STOP Controlled Intersection

 a = Distance of STOP LINE from Intersection Point

 b = Length travelled @ Design Speed of Major Road for 8 sec for Cars and
10 sec for Trucks for 2 Lane Major Road. For Multi Lane Roads Increase
Time by 0.5 sec and 0.7 sec for Car and Truck Respectively
 All Sight Triangles Have to be Free of any Obstruction

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Space Provided Vehicles For Left, Right and U Turn

 Radius and Width are the Design Parameters
 Design Vehicle
 All Turning Roadways Shall Accommodate Safe Turning of Design Vehicle
Vehicle Type Overall Width m Overall Length m Turning Radius m
Passenger Car – P 1.4 – 2.1 3 – 5.74 7.3
2 Axle Single Unit Truck – SU9 2.58 9.00 12.8
2 Axle Single Unit Truck – SU12 2.58 12.04 15.6
Semi Trailer and Single Unit Bus – WB12 2.58 15.00 12.2
Large Semi Trailer – WB15 2.58 16.70 13.71
Large Semi Truck Trailer – WB18 2.58 19.70 18.20

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Choice of Design Vehicle

Location of Intersection Design Vehicle
National Highways WB12
Passenger Car - P
Feeder Roads WB12
District Roads SU12 Single Unit Truck – SU9
Arterial Roads SU12
Sub Arterial Roads SU12
Collector Roads SU9
Local Roads & Residential Areas P
Single Unit Truck – SU12 Semi Trailer WB12

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Design Vehicle Swept Path

 The swept path is the dynamic envelope traversed WB12 Swept Path

by the outer extremities of the vehicle

 Intersection layouts must be checked to ensure it
can accommodate the swept path for the design
vehicle plus necessary clearances
 Vehicle swept paths can be checked by using a
turning path template or a computer program
(Auto Turn, Auto Desk Vehicle Tracking) WB15 Swept Path

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Type of Curves
 Simple Curve
 Simple Curve With Offset and Taper
 Three Centered Compound Curve

 Choice of Curves
 Simple Curve - Cars
 Three Centered Compound
Curve – For Larger Vehicles

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Lookup Table for Curve Design

 Lookup table for curve radius and
offset combinations are available for a)
Design Vehicle and Ange of Intersection

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 TURNING ROADWAYS

 Lane Requirement and Width of Turning Roadways

 Lane requirement depends on the peak hour traffic, considering capacity of
1200 PCU/hour for single lane
 Width of turning roadways = max width of swept path + 0.5m from kerb/
median/Islands, subjected to minimum of 4.5m

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 ISLANDS AND CHANNELIZATION

 Separation or regulation of conflicting traffic movements into definite paths of

travel by traffic islands or pavement marking to facilitate the orderly
movements
 Clearer indications are provided for the proper path in which movements are to
be made
 The amount of pavement for vehicles is reduced and thereby decreases the
potential for vehicles to wander and narrows the area of conflict between
vehicles
 Areas are provided for pedestrian refuge
 Space is provided for traffic control devices so that they can be more readily
perceived
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 ISLANDS AND CHANNELIZATION

 Directional Island to be min. 4.5 sqm Divisional Island

in Urban and 7 Sqm in Rural Areas
 Divisional Island shall be min. 1.2m Directional
wide and 6-8m long Directional Island
Island

 Island used as pedestrian refuge

shall have min. 1.8m width
 Isolated islands on high speed Directional Island
highways shall have min 30m length
 On curves, island shall extended
along curve for visibility
 Shall not encroach turning paths – Min. 0.5m from the outer turn envelope
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 AUXILIARY LANES

Deceleration Lane
Storage Lane

Acceleration Lane Deceleration Lane

 Greatly improve the intersection capacity

 Warranted to high volume OR high category road intersections

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 AUXILIARY LANES

 Width of auxiliary lane shall be same as standard lane

 Length of storage lane for unsignalized intersections shall accommodate
vehicles arriving in 2 minutes of the peak hour
 Length of storage lane for signalized intersections shall accommodate vehicles
arriving during signal waiting time for the traffic movement in peak hour
 Length of acceleration / deceleration lane shall be based on approach speed
and turning speed at intersection

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 AUXILIARY LANES

 General Layout of Auxiliary Lanes

T – Taper Length, Rate of 1 in 15 Recommended P – Length of Auxiliary Lane

 Length of Acceleration / Deceleration Lanes

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 SWEPT PATH ANALYSIS

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 PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT

 Critical in Urban / Semi Urban Areas

 Dedicated crossing for pedestrian shall be provided at all
legs of intersections
 Complete system of footpath connected to crossings is
mandatory
 Crossing has to be provided nearest to natural crossing
paths
 Minimum width of footpath shall be 1.8m and the Zebra
crossing shall have 3m width
 Approach speeds near pedestrian crossings to be
restricted to 30 Kmph or Less
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 PEDESTRIAN MANAGEMENT

 Kerb ramps shall be provide to make crossing

friendly for wheel chairs and physical impairments
 Tactile flooring shall be provided at footpaths for
use by visually challenged

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

 Inscribed Circle Diameter and Width of Circular Carriageway

 Radius of Entry and Exit Curve and Width

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION
 Lane Requirements
 Min Number of Entry Lanes = Number of Lanes of Approach Road
 Min Number of Circulating Lanes = Number of Entry Lanes
 Min Number of Weaving Lanes = Number of Circulating Lanes + 1
 Min Number of Exit Lanes = Number of Circulating Lanes
 Geometry and Size of Splitter Island

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

 Path Alignment Check

 Vehicles follow the path to follow largest possible radii to maximize speed
 Drivers typically maintain 0.5m from road centreline OR Median/Kerb Edge
 Swept path has to be checked for this path so as to ensure no obstructions like
kerbs, islands

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

 Speed Consistency Check for Safety

 R1 < R2
 R3 >=R1or R2
 R1 Speed – R4 Speed <20 Kmph
 R5 Speed <=Design Speed
 R5-R4 <=20 kmph

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

 Sight Distance

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 ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION

 Camber and Super Elevation

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 INTERCHANGES

 Warrants for Interchanges

 Total traffic on all Arms of an intersection exceeds 10000 PCU
 Expressways and Fully Access Controlled Roads
 Crossing of two higher category roads
 Topographical considerations
 Types of Interchanges
 System Interchange – Between two roads of highest category
 Service Interchange – Between a higher category road and lower category
road

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 INTERCHANGES

 Applicability of Type of Interchange

Intersection Type Interchange Options Approx Land Requirement
3 Legged Type 1. Trumpet Type 1. 44000 Sqm
2. 3 Leg Directional Type 2. 30000 Sqm
4 Legged Type 1. Diamond Type 1. 28000 Sqm
2. Rotary Type 2. 40000 Sqm
3. Partial Cloverleaf Type 3. 50000 Sqm
4. Full Cloverleaf Type 4. 73000 Sqm
5. Double Trumpet Type 5. 110000 Sqm
6. Directional Type 6. 30000 to 70000 Sqm

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 INTERCHANGES

 Type of Ramps
 Ramps are dedicated carriageways for each direction of traffic

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 INTERCHANGES

 Design Speed and Geometry for Ramps

 Horizontal alignment consist of circular curves with transitions for the design
speed
 Desirable vertical gradient shall be 2.5%, subjected to maximum of 4-6%

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 INTERCHANGES

 Design Speed and Geometry for Ramps

 Vertical curves shall be provided at all grade changes

 Carriageway width shall be based on traffic volume

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 INTERCHANGES

 Ramp Terminals

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 GORE AREA DESIGN

• Safe gore area of sufficient width and mandatorily graded for exit ramp terminals
• No physical objects in the gore area

Gore Width (w) : 6-9m for Exit Ramp

: 1.2 to 2.4m for Entry Ramp

w w

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 THANK YOU

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