2023/04/24

CTEV201 – Module 5
Junctions
Also Refer to GDG Ch6 & Ch7

Definitions

Junctions
There are two different types of junction between roads.
•Interchanges are junctions where roads pass
above or below one another, preventing a single
point of conflict by utilising grade separation and
slip roads or ramps

•Intersections do not use grade separation (they are at-grade) and roads join or
cross directly. Forms of these junction types include traffic circles, priority
junctions, and junctions controlled by traffic signals or signs,chanalisation, ramps
and speed change lanes

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Junction Layout
The design of junctions are integral for efficiency and
safety of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic - thus
a road network capacity is limited by the capacity
of its junctions which can cause delay.

Aspects of design more specific to intersections, that

have to be considered are:

1. the location of junction;

2. the type of junction layout;
3. the type of junction control; and
4. the detailed design of individual junction
components.

Geometric Design
Junctions
1. Location of junctions
Minimum distances between intersections are primarily concerned with the
interaction between these intersections.

E.g. One criterion for the spacing of intersections

should be that they are not so close that waiting
traffic at one intersection could generate a queue
extending beyond the next upstream intersection.

Very closely spaced intersections would also

result in a large percentage of space being
Dedicated to the road network

Else LAND SPACE ISSUES and CONFUSION

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Geometric Design
Junctions

1. Cont. Location with Alternative layouts choices

 Nature and volume of traffic

 Availability of land
 Relative importance of traffic volumes form
different directions
 Effect of pedestrians
 Safety of traffic
 Overall cost
 Possible need of future extensions

2. CHOICES INTERSECTIONS VS. INTERCHANGES

Variation of Junctions
(intersections & interchanges)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI
Tr127KZtQ&t=211s

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MAJOR ROAD JUNCTIONS

SPAGHETTI JUNCTION IN BIRMINGHAM UK

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Geometric Design
Junctions for Other Modes of Transport : Rail

Simple Intersections or
Not so Simple (Chapter 6 GDG)

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The form/ shape of At-grade intersections

UNCHANELIZED T FLARED T T WITH TURNING ROADWAYS

UNCHANELIZED Y Y WITH TURNING ROADWAYS

3 -LEG INTERSECTIONS

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FLARED CHANNELIZED

4-LEG INTERSECTIONS

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Rotary intersections
This is a special
form of
channelization.
Vehicles are all
forced into one
Direction and the
efficiency and
capacity of the
The circle is a
function of the
individual
weaving lengths.

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Traffic circles / Roundabout

1. Variations in Traffic Circles: Large roundabouts
as well as Mini and Midi Circles
2. Mini circle – typical smaller dia island
transversable by buses and trucks Radius –
works similar to a roundabout
3. Yield control and entries have clockwise
operation around a central island
4. Normally used for urban class & roads ( 60 km/h)
5. Most often designed particularly for each
circumstance – typic roadway max 8m if
implemented and outside kerb radii 9-11m
6. Circulation width min 5 to 5.5m

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Traffic circle / Roundabout

7. Painted splitter islands and circles painted

yellow if the island has asphalt surface –
Circles often also concrete paving blocks

8. Island height 100-125mm with a 2-3% slope

– island edge 5-6% slope

9. Operating speed of mini islands 20-30km/h

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Traffic circle / Roundabout

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More Reasons for use

of Roundabouts
Multi-leg intersection

Rotary intersection
They offer distinct advantages like:

• Little delay to traffic because there is no stopping,

• Fewer serious accidents because vehicles are forced to
move in the same direction, and
• They are especially suitable where 5 or more roads
merge.
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However, there is disadvantages like:

• Require big land area

• There is an upper limit to the volume of traffic
a given circle can handle
• If not properly designed or capacity increases

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As soon as circle capacity is exceeded,

circle tends to create chaos – similar to many
traffic junction areas.

Before deciding on the particular type of intersection, the

following needs to be done/available:

1. Current traffic count and

2. Know the future traffic flow
3. Data regarding turning movement of vehicles -
direction
4. Characteristics of vehicle
5. Possibilities of accidents
6. Sufficient visibility in both directions during decision
time.
7. Drivers to be limited to making one decision at a time

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Located in Halifax this intersection sees approximately 55,000 vehicles a day from
five different directions

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Geometric Design
Junctions: Intersections & Interchanges
1. Location and 2. Type

3. The junciton control

• Traffic signals – manual or controlled
• Traffic light
• Interchange control only for on-off ramps

4. Design and components

• Sufficient visibility in both directions (sight distance)
• Turning space
• Stopping distance
• Need for channelized designs to direct approaching traffic
into correct lanes
• Characteristics of Driver and vehicle
• Possibility of accidents
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Channelization
Why intersections are channelized?

It is the separation of traffic streams into definite travel

paths to control vehicle movements at intersections.

Large paved/surfaced intersection areas than

confuse the driver as to where and how he should
drive to move safely through the intersection.

Channelized designs are intended to direct

approaching drivers to the correct lanes.

Such intersections cause difficulty for pedestrians

to cross and frequently suitable space for erecting
traffic lights is not available.

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Channelization

How to channelize?

This can be achieved by either painted

islands and lanes or by constructing
kerbed or raised islands.

This results in increased capacity, improved

traffic-flow conditions and decreased
vehicular accidents.

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Types of Channelization
a. angle between traffic streams more favourable (Reduction
in accidents)

b. Drivers forced to merge at flat angles (Less

disruption/capacity on main road)

b. Bending traffic stream (Speed Control)

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Types of Channelization

d. Funneling vehicles into narrow opening (Speed

Control)
e. Restrict turning movements (Less undesired
movements)
f. Refuge for turning or crossing vehicles (Separate
points of conflict)

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Other forms of Chanalization within intersections

FLARED T T WITH TURNING ROADWAYS

Y WITH TURNING ROADWAYS

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FLARED CHANNELIZED

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SUMMARY for Intersections

An intersection is an important element of the road network. The
effectiveness of the intersection has a direct bearing on the safety,
speed and operating cost of the vehicles within the network.
The main objective with the design of intersections is to ensure the effective
operation of the road network, and to reduce the potential for conflict
between vehicles, or between vehicles and pedestrians. At the same time
the various vehicle movements in the intersections must be accommodated
effectively.

The number of conflict points increases exponentially with the number

of legs added to the intersection. Example A three-legged intersection generates
six vehicle-vehicle conflict points, whereas a four- legged intersection has 32 and a
five-legged intersection 60. (A roundabout has 8)

Accident history shows that this increased potential for collision at

intersections is, in fact, realised. In addition to the decrease in safety with
an increasing number of approaches to an intersection, there is also a
decline in operational efficiency, i.e. an increase in delay.

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Geometric Design
Interchanges (Chapter 7 GDG)

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Geometric Design
Interchanges

•Interchanges - system of interconnecting roadways where

roads which pass above or below one another by utilising grade
separation and slip roads or ramps with interchange of traffic.

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Interchanges

Classes of interchanges

Two functional classes of interchanges: access interchanges

and system interchanges. The latter are interchanges
between two freeways.

The functions of interchanges are:

1.To enable the easy transfer of vehicles from one artery to

the other, or between local streets and the freeway.
2.To provide grade separation between two or more traffic
arteries (Freeways)

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Interchanges

Interchange Layouts
Geometric design must be suited to particular situation.

The following factors should be considered additional to

normal Junction considerations which include intersections:

1. Topography
2. Nature and intensity of the traffic
3. Land area available
4. Economic viability
5. Design speeds to be maintained on ramps
6. Impact on environment.

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Typical Types of Interchanges

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Interchanges
Compared with at-grade intersections, they usually require large
initial capital layouts.

The following are however examples of situations where this extra

expenditure is normally justified and Interchanges are required.

1. On freeways - where undisturbed flow of traffic at high speed

is required.
2. To eliminate existing bottlenecks - where an at-grade
intersection is no longer capable of carrying the increased
traffic volume.
3. Safety considerations - some at-grade intersections are
accident prone due to, for example, it’s location regardless of
the traffic volume.
4. Railway/Service crossings.
5. Economic considerations - overcrowded at-grade
intersections may incur considerable economic losses in the
form of fuel costs, tyres, accident repairs, as well as road
user costs.

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Interchanges
SHAPES OF INTERCHANGES

The simplest, and generally least costly form of interchange is the

diamond. It is particularly useful to situations where a freeway
crosses a non-freeway.

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DIAMOND INTERCHANGES

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THREE–LEGGED INTERCHANGES

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Interchanges

SHAPES OF INTERCHANGES:

Probably the most common interchange where freeways intersect

arterials or other free-ways is the cloverleaf.

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Interchanges
• There are, however, several serious objections to
the cloverleaf interchange, among them the
following:
– They require large areas of land where high
design speeds are used.
– Vehicles deserving to make a right turn must
execute a 270 left turn, thus travelling a
substantially greater distance.
– A weaving-merging maneuvre is required
between vehicles leaving one off-ramp and
others approaching the next on-ramp.
– Where traffic volumes are large, the weaving
sections must be long.

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CLOVERLEAF

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Geometric Design
Interchanges
Collector/distributor roads
Collector/distributor roads are used in interchanges to facilitate
weaving and diverting movements.

Weaving movements by traffic using the interchange to move from

one freeway to the other takes place on the collector/distributor
roads.

The on- and off-ramp loops merge with the collector-distributor roads.

The necessary speed reduction and acceleration before entering or

after exiting from the loop, also take place on the collector/distributor
road.

In a system interchange it preferable to use collector/distributor roads

for both freeways.

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CLOVERLEAF

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PARTIAL CLOVERLEAF

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Diverging Diamond
Interchange

https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=24jMVZszPTY

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