Classification of Urban Roads

1. Expressways
2. Arterial Streets
3. Sub-Arterial Streets
4. Collector’s Streets
5. Local Streets
 Expressways
• For Speedy and heavy traffic
• Pedestrians not allowed
• Connect main markets, important places
• Complete separation of opposite moving traffic
by a divider or median
• Level crossings, sharp curves, steep gradients
avoided
• Telephone facility, Highway Police, Servicing
Stations, Refreshment Facility available at regular
intervals
 Arterial Streets
• For the heavy/important traffic inside the city
• Usually along the expressways serving as
principal network of traffic flow
• Join central business district with outside
residential areas
• Parking, loading, unloading prohibited
• Pedestrians are allowed to cross only at
intersections
 Sub-Arterial Streets
• Less traffic than arterial streets
• Pedestrians are allowed to cross only at
intersections
• Spacing varies from 0.5 km in central business
areas to 3 to 5 km in residential area.
• Parking, loading, unloading usually restricted
and controlled
 Collector’s Streets
• Meant for collecting the traffic from local
streets to arterial streets
• Full access allowed from properties alongside
• Situated in residential, commercial, industrial
areas
• Few parking restrictions except for peak hours
 Local Streets
• Open access from residents, business or other
properties
• Does not carry large volume of traffic
• Unrestricted parking and pedestrians allowed
Urban Road Patterns
Rectangular/Block Pattern
Radial (Star) and Block Pattern
Radial (Star) and Circular Pattern
Radial (Star) and Grid Pattern
Hexagonal Pattern
Minimum Travel Pattern
 Comparison between Roadways & Railways:
Sr. No. Point of Comparison Roadways Railways

Cars, bikes, trucks, lorries,

1 Type of traffic Goods & passenger trains
buses, etc.
2 Width of right of way More Less

3 Tractive resistance More Less

4 Special operational devices Not required Required

5 Rate of accidents More Less

6 Cost of Construction & maintenance Low High

7 Suitability to hilly areas Suitable Not suitable

8 Load carrying capacity Low High

9 Distance of travel Short Long

Steep gradients & sharp Only smooth gradients or

10 Gradients & curves
curves can be provided curves should be provided

Requirement of skilled labour for

11 Not required Required
construction & maintenance
 Roads becoming Popular…
• 1951- Rail: Road Passenger Transport
Proportion was 62:38
• 1981- Rail: Road Passenger Transport
Proportion became 20:80
• At a time, Railway needs 2000 tonnes for
economical transport
• At a time, Road transport can be a truck or
group of many. One truck carries just 10
tonnes.
 Roads becoming Popular…
• Timings in case of Railways are fixed where
they are flexible in case of road transport
• The monopoly of Government is not present
in Road transport
• Suitable for personal travel
• Cost of Construction- Roadways- Rs. 15-25
Lakhs/km, Railways- Rs. 30-60 Lakhs/km
• Cost of Maintenance- Roadways- Rs. 10,000 to
15,000 /km, Railways- Rs. 1-2 Lakhs/km.