INTERSECTIONS

VIALES
• BRYAN REYES MOGOLLÓN
• VERA DE LOS SANTOS, BRENDA
• ZAMUDIO CASTRO, CAROLINA
 INTRODUCTION
■ During the modern era, traffic increases, leading to the poor condition of the
roads, which introduces tolls, allowing for construction and
maintenance of these roads.
■ The intersection is the confluence of several roads, through which traffic moves.
various directions.
■ Busy intersections are regulated by a traffic light, but not
controladas. Los que controlan son los conductores.
■ The traffic light regulates the passage of vehicles on the different roads, but it cannot be
prevent drivers from making mistakes due to distraction, or from committing
offenses due to impatience or recklessness.
■ To regulate the right of way, one resorts to:

The authority
The traffic light
Vertical signal
Demarcations
 DEFINITION
■ The solution of a road intersection depends on a series of associated factors.
fundamentally to the site's topography, to the geometric characteristics of the
roads that intersect and the conditions of their vehicular flow.
■ An intersection is the area where two or more roads meet, in which
they produce traffic movements.
■ It is an important part; as it allows us to control security, the cost of
operation, efficiency, and circulation speed.
■ For the design of an intersection, the following must be considered:

Improve the circulation of motorized traffic, enable the crossing of two or

more roads or railways.
Reduce through regulation or self-regulation the points of
conflict.
Provide safety and comfort to the different modes of motorized and non-motorized circulation.
motorized.
 GENERAL OBJECTIVE
■ The fundamental objective of the design is to provide motorized and non-motorized vehicles.
motorized, the ease of mobility considering aspects such as:

Safety, both for the driver and for the pedestrian.

Comfort that assists the geometric design and the tread surface, based on
of transit volume guaranteeing the transfer time of the different forms of
circulation.
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

■ Propose alternative solutions for congested intersections.

■ Identify the issues within an intersection.

■ Analyze the parameters that are involved in each type of intersection.

 GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNING
A road intersection
■ The recommended general approach for addressing the geometric design of an intersection
presents a series of sequential activities:

Traffic study of the intersection and analysis of the existing situation.

Formulation of operational alternatives.

Selection of the most convenient alternative.

Final design of the adopted solution.

PRELIMINARY SIZING OF THE ALTERNATIVES

■ To formulate each of the solution alternatives, it is recommended to address the

following activities:

Study of traffic volumes, whose purpose is to estimate the volumes of

future transit.

The most suitable types of intersections are selected, which correspond to the
solution alternatives.

The preliminary dimensions of the different elements of the intersection are

determine using general capacity criteria by lane according to type
road, minimum crossover lengths, number of lanes required in
the crossover zones, lane balancing, the need or not for lanes of
change of speed and spacing between inputs and outputs.

Application of a methodology that allows to evaluate the alternatives and select

among them the most convenient.
CLASSIFICATION OF ROAD INTERSECTIONS

■ Among the types of intersections, the following are distinguished:

At-grade intersections

Grade-separated intersections
 At-grade intersections

DEFINITION
■ At-grade intersections are elements of discontinuity, as they represent situations
criticisms that require specific treatment, taking into account that the
convergence, divergence or crossing maneuvers are not common in most of the
routes.

■ Intersections must contain the best conditions for safety, visibility and
possible capacity.

■ They have a wide variety of solutions, with no general application solutions existing.
Therefore, this regulation includes some more common solutions.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

■ The advantage of a grade-level intersection:

Facilitate the design.

Requires low land occupancy.

Minimize construction and maintenance costs.

■ The disadvantages of a road intersection:

Traffic accidents due to the traffic convergence that exists in

the so-called points of conflict.

Use merging lanes for reasons stated above.

mentioned.
TYPES

Intersections of three branches: it is used for the crossing of secondary roads, where
there is a low volume of traffic.

Intersections of four branches: used for the crossing of roads of lesser importance
local roads, these intersections connect secondary roads with the main highways.
■ We can find a variety of types of intersection at the level:
 DESIGN CRITERIA
■ The best solution for a flat intersection is as simple and safe as possible, this
It means that each case must be treated carefully, resorting to all the
elements available such as widening, islands or islets, auxiliary lanes, among others;
with the criterion of avoiding difficult or dangerous maneuvers and unnecessary routes.

■ In such a process, it is necessary to keep in mind the general criteria.

GENERAL CRITERIA

TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS

DEMAND AND MODELING

CHOICE OF CONTROL TYPE

CROSSING VISIBILITY
VISIBILITY TRIANGLE

SIGNAGE OF GRADE INTERSECTIONS

UNCHANNELLED INTERSECTIONS

CHANNELIZED INTERSECTIONS

TRANSITION CURVES AT INTERSECTIONS

TURNING BRANCHES

SPEED CHANGE RAILS

Transit through the central separator

ISLANDS

ROUNDABOUTS OR CIRCULAR INTERSECTIONS

GENERAL CRITERIA
■ Preference of the most important movements.
In the design, the main and secondary route(s) must be specified in order to determine the preferences and limitations of
vehicular traffic.
■ Reduction of conflict areas
At-grade intersections should not project large paved areas, as they lead vehicles and pedestrians to
erratic movements and confusion.
■ Perpendicularity of intersections.
Right-angle intersections generally provide greater safety, as they allow for better visibility.
the drivers and contribute to the reduction of traffic accidents.
■ Separation of the movements.
The at-grade intersection will be equipped with one-way roads (acceleration or deceleration lanes) for the separation of
vehicle movement.
■ Channeling and turning points.
The channeling and the design of appropriate radius curves contribute to the regulation of transit speed at an intersection.
At the level. The channeling allows avoiding turns at inconvenient points, using marked islands on the pavement or with curbs.
which offer greater security.
■ Visibility
The speed of vehicles approaching the intersection must be limited based on visibility, even to the point of
total detention.
■ Traffic considerations ■ Demand and modeling

■ Trafficvolumesconvergingtoa ■ Demand is the most transitional variable.

intersection, its distribution and the significant in the design of an intersection,
projection of possible movements, since the resulting capacity of that
to determine the design capabilities the design must satisfy her. This implies the
of its elements. dimensioning in geometric terms and
structural units of its constituent units, the
■ The composition of flows by type of operation of traffic lights if such an element of
vehicle, its operating speeds and control exists in the sections where the
the peculiarities of their interactions road crosses urban areas, and its
while using the device coordination, if the intersection is part of
of an axis or a network thus regulated.
■ Its relationship with pedestrian and traffic
smaller vehicles, such as they are
traffic accident statistics.
Choice of control type
The design of the at-grade intersections will determine the type and characteristics of the elements of
signage and traffic control devices that will be provided, in order to facilitate
the vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The indicated design must take into account the following factors:
■ Traffic on the main road
■ Traffic on the secondary road incident
■ Arrival and departure times of vehicles on both lanes (critical interval)
■ Percentage of "vehicle waits" on the secondary road due to traffic effects.
Visibility Triangle
■ It is the obstacle-free zone that allows
the drivers that access
simultaneously at a grade-level intersection,
that allows the crossing maneuver with
security.

It has as a side on each

path, a length equal to the
stopping visibility distance.
The space-time relationship
speed, indicates the triangle of
visibility that is required free of
obstacles, and allows to establish
the modifications of the
approach speeds
Signage for grade-separated intersections
The design must ensure that every at-grade intersection is equipped with informational signs,
preventive, restrictive, and other devices, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the 'Manual of
Automotive Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways
The importance of a road, one of them will have to face a STOP sign or a YIELD sign.
STEP, whose election will be made taking into account the following considerations:
■ When there is a triangle of adequate visibility, the relationships between converging flows do not
an absolute priority is required, the sign YIELD will be used.
■ When the visibility triangle obtained does not meet the minimum requirements for
approach speed at the intersection, the relationship of traffic flows suggests granting
absolute priority to the greater of them, the sign PARE will be used.
■ When the traffic intensity on both roads is above acceptable levels for
regulation by fixed signs (Stop or Yield), a technical study must be conducted -
economic that establishes the most convenient solution. At road intersections by areas
urban areas, the use of traffic lights will be considered
Unchannelized intersections
When the available space for the intersection
reduced sea, intersections can be used without
channeling islands. The minimum radii that are
indican en dicha Tabla, están referidos al borde
inside the pavement in the curve and they are
designed for the following conditions of
operation:
■ Turningspeedupto15km/h
■ Registration on the curve without displacement to the
neighboring lanes both at the entrance and at the
exit.
■ Minimum distance from the inner wheels to the
edge of the pavement (0.30 m), along the
trajectory
Channelized intersections
The intersections with channelization islands are used for cases where the paved area in the
the intersection zone is very large, and therefore it creates confusion in vehicular traffic, due to
indefinition of the intended trajectories of the different turns and movements to be performed.
The basic elements for the layout of channelized turning lanes are:
■ The alignment at the lower edge of the pavement.
■ The width of the turning lane.
■ The minimum acceptable size for the conduit island.
The compatibility of these three design elements allows for the use of curves with larger radii.
that the minimum requirements according to the type of vehicle allow for more flexible solutions than those
corresponding to the unchannelized intersections. The channelization islands must have shapes
specific and minimum dimensions that must be respected for them to perform their function safely
vial.
CHANNELIZED INTERSECTIONS
FRAME
CHANNELIZED INTERSECTIONS

CASES: Among cases of channelized intersections we have;

Four cases A, B, C, D are shown; where:

■ Case A shows the case of a turning lane to the
right, from the secondary road, obtained
through the design of a triangular island.
■ The B case shows a splice in which the
speeds and the volume of turns justify
independent right turn lanes,
to and from the path that intercepts, with
radios greater than the minimums.
■ Case C indicates that the channeling on the path
intercepted, is through a dividing island.
■ The D case shows the use of two islands.
canalizers and a dividing island on the road
direct
 2. Two cases A and B are shown, of intersections at acute angles forming a
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orllatahtslenahchtw
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,
vehicles, altering the trajectories, so that the crossing occurs at an angle
approximately straight.
3. Three cases A, B, and C of enhanced design channelized intersections are shown.
complex, justified on roads with high volumes of traffic in all
senses.
4. Four cases A, B, C, D are shown;
■ Case A: intersections where lanes are planned
independent for right turns.

■ Case B: arrangement of triangular islands in all

the quadrants, with the purpose of separating the flows
de tránsito de paso.

■ Case C: separation by dividing islands.

■ Case D: creation of central separators in the

crossing zones.
5. Three cases of channelized intersections with significant turns are shown.
left in a quadrant.
6. A cross intersection is shown, with complete channelization featuring widening for
right and left turns, used when the intensity of the turns demands it.
7. Two cases of star channel intersections are shown, which generally
They must be avoided for road safety reasons.
TRANSITION CURVES AT INTERSECTIONS

When accessing an intersection branch from a road with a design speed of

at 30 km/h or more, there is a sudden increase in centrifugal force, so
It is advisable to intersperse the transition curves, which can preferably be clothoids or
larger radius circles.
AXES OF ROTATION

The width of the roadway and the shoulders in the turning lanes are regulated by the volume and composition.
of transit, and the radius of the circular curve associated with the turn.

The design fundamentally depends on the significance of the intersection and the availability of space.
In cases where traffic is not significant and the available space is limited, the design
It will consider minimum dimensions for traveling at speeds of 15 Km/h or lower.

a) LANE WIDTHS IN TURNING RAMPS

. In case A, light vehicles (LV) prevail, considering the eventual passage of

trucks or buses (VP).
. In case B, the presence of VP vehicles is higher by 5% and does not exceed 25% of
total traffic; articulated vehicles (AV) circulate in very low proportion.
. In case C, VP type vehicles with more than 25% of total traffic and the vehicles
Articulated vehicles (VA) circulate normally on the branch under consideration.
GEAR SHIFTING LINES

The speed change lanes are intended to allow vehicles to exit or enter.
one lane to another, with minimal disturbances; these lanes also enable turning maneuvers
in U on the same road.
TRANSIT THROUGH THE CENTRAL DIVIDER

On highways, intersections are designed to facilitate vehicular traffic that crosses the road or
make left turns, by the area of the central divider.
The cross slope in the separator area should not exceed 5%, and the width of the opening of the
central separator, must not be less than 12 m.

. Set two cases of intersections at level T and + for left turns and crossings.
. The design of the opening of a separator is displayed, showing the detail of a finishing touch in
projectile tip
. The detail of the opening of a separator is shown, for minimum turning radius with and without offsets.
crossing.
ISLANDS

The islands are areas resulting from the design of a level intersection and are basic elements.
for the management and resolution of conflicts.

Aiming to guide the movement of vehicles, serve as a refuge for pedestrians and
provide an area for the placement of signage in lighting; they may be outlined by
markings or raised strips and can also be elevated above the pavement, limited by curbs.

They are also called small squares.

 TYPES
. Dividing or separating islands:

They are tear-shaped and are mainly used near intersections, on undivided roads,
They also serve to separate lanes of equal or opposite traffic. They must have a minimum length of 30m and
preferably 100 m or more. It is often used on undivided highways to warn
drivers of the presence before them of a crossing, while regulating traffic through the intersection.
. Channeling, guiding or directional islands:
They are designed to control and direct traffic movements, especially turning movements, determining the
correct route that a driver must follow to carry out a specific maneuver within the
intersection.
. Refuge Islands:
They are used to provide a protection zone for pedestrians, and can be used to prevent
crossings too long and facilitate crossings by the branches at intersections.
Roundabouts

Also known as a roundabout or traffic circle, it is distinguished by the vehicle flows that access it.
through its branches, circulate via a ring road, in which traffic circulates around an island
central.
 GRADE-LEVEL INTERSECTIONS

DEFINITION
■ They are those intersections that, due to their functional application, provide a solution to the crossings.
between two or more routes, through the implementation of steps at different levels,
constructed at an elevated or depressed position relative to the track on the natural ground.

■ The steps at different levels improve road capacity and safety, as well as fluidity.
vehicular.

■ This type of intersection is generally used at crossings between highways and roads.
main. The use of this infrastructure is subject to the physical space, basements
service levels or insufficient road capacity.
 TYPES
• Three-way exchanges: Type Trumpet 'T'
Y-directionals

• Exchanges of four branches under the condition of

Parade: Diamond Type - classic, Diamond Type -
Partial club suit game (2 quadrants)

• Exchanges of four branches of free circulation:

Controlled diamond type
EXCHANGE OF THREE

Intersections of three branches are T and Y type, seeing the

more common is the trumpet type.
• Trumpet-type intersection: it is a compound intervention.
de tres ramales, los giros a la derecha y a la izquierda se
resolved through direct branches
EXCHANGE OF FOUR OR MORE BRANCHES

Diamond type intersection: It is an intersection composed of four branches with stop conditions,
All left turns are resolved with intersections. It is recommended that the main road be designed
using the lower level of the intersection

Intersection of four branches: they are the type

Clover, Partial Clover, and Directionals.
Partial clover: It is an intersection of four
branches with stop condition, with turn
I continue to the left through a way of
link. The characteristic of the intersection of
partial clover is, that the greetings and entries to the
Right turns are made from and to the main road
respectively
Full clover:
They are intersections of four branches and triple circulation; left turns...
they are resolved through connection routes, and right turns through direct branches
RAMALES

■ The branches interconnect the tracks involved in the road intersection, being able to
adopt a variety of forms, basically categorizing into three categories based on
its forms: direct branches, semi-direct branches, and link branches.
 DESIGN CRITERIA
■ The design criteria follow the following general sequence:
GENERAL CRITERIA

For the geometric design of an overpass intersection, it is necessary to start from the results of the study of
corresponding traffic.

a) Capacity of the routes and emerging flows

b) Floor plan design
. Crossing section

The crossover section corresponds to the one where the different flows intersect.
vehicles that follow the same direction of circulation, which consists of the minimum number of lanes
what is required in the crossover section, and the minimum length of the indicated section
crossbreeding.
. Gear shift lanes

The speed change lanes must be located in the tangent sections and where the standards of
Longitudinal markings and visibility level are high, they should not be placed in the curved alignments of the road.
main.

. Link roads
. Profile design
The design in profile of an overpass must comply with the criteria, parameters, and other
provisions established in this Manual, for Geometric Design in Profile.
. Cross-section design
The design of the cross-section of an overpass must meet the criteria, parameters and
other provisions established in this Manual, for the Geometric Design of the Cross Section.
 CONCLUSIONS

■ To design an intersection according to safety criteria and

road efficiency, it is necessary to have the appropriate space that guarantees the application
of the various solutions proposed for that purpose; since a small space
restricts the possibilities that arise from the design.

■ It must be considered that when choosing the type of road intersection to be used,
ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers of different modes of
transport
ANNEXES