Road Safety

Measures for
Four/Six Lane
National Highways
Sudeshna Mitra
Associate Professor
Civil Engineering Department
IIT Kharagpur
 National Highways in West
Bengal

Four Lane Highways Two lane highways being

under PWD
upgraded to four lane
highways:
3 NH 31C - NH 31D
- NH 34 - NH 41

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 Multilane Highways

Two Lane Highway Four Lane Highway

3 Six Lane Highway

Design related
issues for
four/six lane
highways
 Issues in Multilane Highways
▪ Balance between Access and Mobility
▪ Access Controlled??
▪ Inadequate crossing facilities
▪ Illegal access
▪ Improper facilities
▪ Untreated major at-grade intersections
▪ Improper roadside design

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 Accessibility vs Mobility

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 Where does mobility conflict
with accessibility?
▪ Access points- driveways, intersections,
median openings, activities located
along the highway
▪ Primarily locations that generate high
pedestrian and bicyclist traffic
▪ Bus bays
▪ Schools
▪ Nearby villages

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 Access points- Driveways;
Junctions

Haphazard median opening

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 Goals of Access Management
▪ Limit number of conflict points

▪ Separate the conflict points

▪ Seperate turning volumes and queues from

through traffic

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 Safety v. Access Points &
Median Type

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 Goals of Access Management
▪ Increased Capacity

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 Goals of Access Management
▪ Increased Capacity

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 ROAD SAFETY AUDIT: Different
Stages
▪ Feasibility Stage
▪ Preliminary/ Draft Design
Stage
▪ Detailed Design Stage
▪ During Construction
▪ Pre-opening Stage
▪ Existing Roads
The early we take RSA the
better the countermeasure. The
constraints increase as we
move from Feasibility Stage to
Existing Roads.

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ROAD SAFETY AUDIT:
Detailed Design
Stage
▪ Geometrics
▪ Intersection Details
▪ Safe Crossing Facility
▪ Signs and Markings
▪ Lightings (urban sections)
▪ Roadside Appurtenances
 Unauthorised Openings -
Safety Issues

Illegal opening

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 Unauthorised Openings -
Safety Issues

Illegal opening

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 Illegal Openings and
Crossings

Illegal opening and Crossings

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 Illegal Openings and
Crossings

Illegal opening and Crossings

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 Illegal Openings and
Crossings

Illegal opening and Crossings

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 Illegal Openings and
Crossings

Illegal pedestrian access Illegal vehicular access

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 Issues at untreated openings

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 Median Opening-Safety Issues

Median Opening on Curve (Opening at a hazardous location)

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 Median Opening-Safety Issues

Median Opening on Curve (Opening at a hazardous location)

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 Median Opening-Safety Issues

Wide median opening Improper storage lane

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 Issues at Major Junctions

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 Issues at Major Junctions
(contd.)

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 Barrier- Safety Issues

Discontinuous Barrier Barrier posing as Hazard

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 Barrier- Safety Issues

Improper treatment of crash barrier with Barriers placed before a kerb to protect the
parapet wall kerb (Wrong Practice)

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 Barrier-Safety Issues

No barrier / reflectors creating a hazard

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 Barrier-Safety Issues

Wrong Placement of Crash Barrier Improper/Missing Crash Barrier

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 Edge Treatment Issues

Lack of reflectors on edge Invisible barrier poses hazard

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 Minor Road Issues

Improper minor junction access to Expressway

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 Maintenance

Improper Maintenance

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 Lack of Facility - Issues

Lack of facilities (bus stops) forces dangerous behaviour from vulnerable road users

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 Misuse of Pedestrian
Facility - Issues

Trucks parked on shoulders exposing pedestrians to main road

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 Pedestrian Crossing issue at
untreated intersection

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 Pedestrian Crossing issue at
untreated intersection

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 Absence of cross pedestrian
facility near School

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Issues
During Construction
 Construction Zone-Issues

No diversion sign or barrier

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 Construction Zone-Issues

Insufficient diversion signs and barriers NJB spaced too far apart which may led to
safety hazard(Top)
Insufficient barriers preventing entry to
construction zone (Bottom)
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 Construction Zone-Issues

Haphazard Barriers Diversion without adequate barricade

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 Construction Zone-Issues

No Barrier around deep excavation NJB spaced too far apart which may led to
No delineation safety hazard

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 Construction Zone-Issues

Exposed Reinforcement near construction site Unprotected construction site/ deep excavation

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 Construction Zone-Issues

Working beyond work zones without delineator Conglomeration of signs creating confusion
cones

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 Construction Zone-Issues

Insufficient Barriers - Gaps accessible to Insufficient Barriers for segregating

construction site contraflow of traffic

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 Diversion related issues at
Six-Laning

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 reflectorized and absent at
high embankments (>3 m)

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 THANK YOU
Any questions?

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