DESIGN SPEEDS, HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT AND SUPER ELEVATION

HIGHWAY DESIGN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

(ELECTIVE-1)

AASHTO defines design speed as follows:

• Design speed is a selected speed used to determine the various geometric features of the roadway.  The
assumed design speed should be a logical one with respect to the topography, anticipated operating speed, the
TABLE 1
adjacent land use, and the functional classification of the highway.

Ranges for Design Speed

Type of Roadway Terrain Rural Urban
US (mi/h) Metric (km/h) US (mi/h) Metric (km/h)
Freeway Level 70 110 50 min 80 min
Rolling 70 110 50 min 80 min
Mountainous 50–60 80–100 50 min 80 min
Arterial Level 60–75 100–120 30–60 50–100
Rolling 50–60 80–100 30–60 50–100
Mountainous 40–50 60–80 30–60 50–100
Collector Level 40–60 60–100 30+ 50+
Rolling 30–50 50–80 30+ 50+
Mountainous 20–40 30–60 30+ 50+
Local Level 30–50 50–80 20–30 30–50
Rolling 20–40 30–60 20–30 30–50
Mountainous 20–30 30–50 20–30 30–50

(Source: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, AASHTO)

Evaluating Reduced Design Speed

• Research confirms that lower speeds are safer and lowering speed limits can decrease both crash frequency and
severity. However, speeds cannot be reduced simply by changing the posted speed limit. Geometric and cross-
sectional elements, in combination with the context, establish a driving environment where drivers choose

speeds that feel reasonable and comfortable.

• Research suggests that crash risk increases with increasing differentials in speed. Such differentials can be
between adjoining highway sections (change in 85th percentile speeds due to changes in roadway geometry) or
TABLE 2
between speeds of vehicles in the same traffic stream (such as trucks and passenger vehicles).

Relative Risk of Differential Speed Caused by Changes in Roadway Geometry.

Speed Differential (∆V) Safety Risk
∆V < 5 mi/hr Low
5 mi/hr < ∆V < 15 mi/hr Medium
∆V > 15 mi/hr High
HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT

• Horizontal alignment is one of the most important features of a highway design. Its proper design can result in
high performance regarding speed, safety, efficiency, and comfort. In addition, it may result in the saving of
economy and increase the highway capacity. The design of horizontal alignments requires the understanding of
design speed and horizontal curves. Horizontal alignment includes of a road comprise a series of straight lines
known as tangents with the provision of curves to change direction. It also includes the design of super
elevation, extra widening, set back distance, transition curve design, etc.

DEFINITION AND TYPES OF HORIZONTAL CURVES

TANGENTS

• Tangents may be defined as the straight lines obtained by joining two successive points of intersections of the
two straight traverse lines along the road route. Net length of tangents in between two curves is obtained by
deducing tangents to the curves at adjacent deviation points or intersection points.

HORIZONTAL CURVES

• Horizontal curves are provided in each and every point of intersection of two straight alignments of highways in
order to change the direction. The direction change should be gradual to ensure safety and comfort to the
passengers. The necessity of curve arises due to the following reasons:

HORIZONTAL CURVES

• Horizontal curves are provided in each and every point of intersection of two straight alignments of highways in
order to change the direction. The direction change should be gradual to ensure safety and comfort to the
passengers. The necessity of curve arises due to the following reasons:

• o Topography of the terrain

• o Restrictions imposed by property

• o Providing access to certain locality

• o Restrictions by some unavoidable reasons of land

• o Restrictions by certain religious, monumental or some other structures

• o Making use of existing right of way

• o Minimizing earthwork quantity

• o Preservation of existing amenities

• o Maintaining consistency with the topographical features of the terrain

TYPES OF CURVES

 The simplest type of highway curve is the circular curve. It is a curve used in highway having the
constant radius.

• Simple circular curves: It consists of a single arc connecting two straight lines.

• Reverse circular curves: It consists of two or more arcs of one or different circles turning in two opposite
directions that join at the common tangent point.
• Compound circular curves: It consists of series of simple circular curves of one or different radius that turns in
the same direction and meet at the common tangent point.

DESIGN OF HORIZONTAL CURVE

• The design of horizontal curves involves calculation of minimum permissible radius so that desired level of safety
can be obtained. During design, many things need to be considered to ensure comfort, safety, economy, etc.

SUPER ELEVATION

• Super elevation is the transverse slope provided to counteract the effect of centrifugal force and reduce the
tendency of vehicle to overturn and to skid laterally outwards by raising the pavement outer edge with respect
to inner edge.