Road Cross Section and Its Importance

ROAD CROSS
SECTIONS
ROAD CROSS SECTION AND ITS having to move sideways or
IMPORTANCE towards the outer edge of a lane.
In highway engineering, a Road Cross  The lane width and the road
Section is a detailed representation of the surface condition have a
highway's vertical slice at a specific point. It substantial influence on safety and
shows the arrangement and dimensions of comfort of users on the roadway.
various components that make up the So, wide lanes are generally safer
roadway and its surrounding areas. This and more comfortable to drive.
cross section is crucial for understanding the  The table below shows the width of
construction and functional aspects of the the different carriageways.
highway.
Class of Road Width
Single Lane 3.75 m
Two Lanes, without 7.0 m
raised curbs
Two Lanes, with raised 7.5 m
curbs
Intermediate carriageway 5.5 m
Multi- Lane Pavement 3.5 m per lane

TABLE 1: WIDTH OF CARRIAGEWAY
2. Shoulder
Fig. 1: TYPICAL ROAD CROSS SECTION  This refers to the area adjacent to
the outer edge of the travel lanes
COMPONENTS OF ROAD CROSS on a road. It is typically a strip of
SECTIONS pavement or gravel that extends

along the sides of the road.
1. Carriageway or Traffic Lanes
 Shoulder of the road performs two
 The lanes of the road are
fundamental functions; it has a
fundamentally selected based on
structural function, so it provides
the vehicles using the roadway.
lateral support to the pavement,
Cars are about 1.9 m wide, and
and it has a traffic function. By a
trucks are on average about 2.5 m
traffic function we mean that
wide. So, the desirable width on
shoulders can be used as a
roads is about 3.5 meters.
recovery area for the vehicles if
 This width allows large vehicles to
they lose control, it could be used
pass or overtake without a vehicle
as location for emergency stopping,
pedestrians and bicycles also tend have plans for widening the road in
to use shoulders, and it also helps future.
provide clearance to any lateral  It can help improve the aesthetics
obstructions on the side of the of the road and they have also
road. been very useful for providing a
 Shoulders on highways and rural recovery area for vehicles if they do
roads are generally wider, ranging lose control and come out of the
from 2 to 3 meters or more, main traffic lanes.
depending on the road’s design,
4. Drainage
speed and traffic volume.
 It refers to the system and methods
used to manage and direct surface
and subsurface water away from
the roadway and its surrounding
areas.
3. Median  Effective drainage is essential for
maintaining the safety, longevity,
 The median is a central strip of
and structural integrity of roads by
land or a physical barrier that
preventing water-related issues
separates opposing lanes of traffic
such as flooding, erosion, and
on a divided roadway or highway. It
damage to the road surface and
is typically located between the
subgrade.
lanes or carriageways that carry

traffic in opposite directions.
5. Curb
 They separate opposing traffic, and
 A raised edge along the side of a
this can help reduce the risk of
road, typically made of concrete or
head on collisions, which is a major
stone, that separates the roadway
collision type on country highways.
from the sidewalk, parking areas,
 This can be used as shelter road
or other adjacent zones. The use of
furniture and traffic control devices
the barrier or mountable curb types
such as signage and it helps
needs to be considered in relation
minimize headlight glare from
to the performance of vehicles that
oncoming traffic.
leave the traveled way for some
 They can be used to allocate space
reason.
for future traffic lanes. So, if we
 The barrier curb types are suited
for the edge of the traveled way
where it is generally considered
that drivers should not mount the
curb or sidewalk. The barrier curb
types are used for areas where
operating speeds are generally less
than 60 kph and where parking of
vehicles is allowed.
 The mountable / drop curb types
provide less vaulting of the errant
vehicle on impact with the curb,
less likelihood of the driver losing
control and less damage to
occupants of the vehicles
compared to barrier curbs. The
drop curb/mountable type shall be
used for all traffic islands, medians
and the right side of the roadway
where operating speeds are
greater than 60 kph
6. Right of Way
 The right of way is the total land
acquired for the construction of the
highway. As well as the road
elements within the right-of-way,
we would also want to potentially
accommodate planting, drainage,
maintenance access, fencing, and
the code location of services such
as electric, gas, or telephone lines.
7.

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ROAD CROSS

Multi- Lane Pavement 3.5 m per lane

COMPONENTS OF ROAD CROSS on a road. It is typically a strip of

SECTIONS pavement or gravel that extends

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