Road and Stormwater Design Spec 240113

Road and Stormwater Design
Specification
13 January 2024 2024

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ROAD AND STORMWATER DESIGN
SPECIFICATION
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Contents
1. Things you need to know .....................................................................................1
1.1 About this document .......................................................................................1
1.2 Function of this specification ...........................................................................1
1.3 Design procedures and methods ....................................................................1
1.4 Required deliverables .....................................................................................1
1.5 Safe systems approach ..................................................................................1
1.6 Terms ..............................................................................................................2
2. Prevailing standard of design ..............................................................................3

2.1 Design standards ............................................................................................3
2.2 Precedence of documents ..............................................................................4
2.3 Departures from standards .............................................................................4
2.3.1 Design domain .....................................................................................................................4
2.3.2 Disclosure ............................................................................................................................5
2.3.3 Functional requirements of mitigation measures .................................................................5
2.4 Multiple minimums ..........................................................................................5
2.5 Qualifications and experience .........................................................................6
3. Defining design stages .........................................................................................7

3.1 Design stages .................................................................................................7
3.2 Design considerations .....................................................................................8
4. Street design considerations ...............................................................................9

4.1 Structure of the street .....................................................................................9
4.2 Site conditions.................................................................................................9
4.3 Safety in Design ..............................................................................................9
4.4 Designing for all abilities .................................................................................9
4.5 Maintenance ................................................................................................. 10
4.6 Crime prevention through environmental design........................................... 10
4.6.1 Crime prevention legislative requirements ........................................................................ 10
4.6.2 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design principles ............................................ 10
4.6.3 Surveillance....................................................................................................................... 10
4.6.4 Access control ................................................................................................................... 10
4.6.5 Territorial reinforcement .................................................................................................... 11
4.6.6 Space management .......................................................................................................... 11
5. Right of access to road by owners of adjoining land....................................... 12

5.1 Advice ........................................................................................................... 12
5.2 Access to types of roads ............................................................................... 12
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5.3 Plans registered after 1919 ........................................................................... 13
5.4 Plans registered before 1920 ........................................................................ 13
5.5 Frontage to roads provided in Crown subdivisions ....................................... 14
5.6 Roads shown in Henry Ferdinand Halloran estate plans .............................. 14
6. Design for roadways ........................................................................................... 15

6.1 Road type...................................................................................................... 15
6.2 Design speed ................................................................................................ 15
6.3 Design vehicle............................................................................................... 15
6.4 Crossfall ........................................................................................................ 19
6.5 Maximum grades .......................................................................................... 19
6.6 Minimum horizontal curve length and deflection angle ................................. 19
6.7 Transition curves and shift offset .................................................................. 20
6.8 Lane widening ............................................................................................... 20
6.9 Minimum curve radius ................................................................................... 22
6.10 Superelevation .............................................................................................. 22
6.11 Length of superelevation development ......................................................... 23
6.12 Compound curves ......................................................................................... 25
6.13 K value of vertical curves .............................................................................. 25
6.14 Minimum size crest vertical curve ................................................................. 25
6.15 Sight distance reaction time .......................................................................... 26
6.16 Car stopping sight distance ........................................................................... 26
6.17 Truck stopping sight distance........................................................................ 27
6.18 Sight distance on horizontal curves .............................................................. 28
6.19 Safe intersection and approach sight distance.............................................. 28
6.20 Crossing sight distance for pedestrians ........................................................ 31
6.21 Combination of vertical alignment elements and crossfall ............................ 31
6.22 Vertical clearances........................................................................................ 31
6.22.1 Design vertical clearances ................................................................................................ 31
6.22.2 Clearances over roads ...................................................................................................... 32
6.22.3 Permissible vertical clearances for public use .................................................................. 32
6.22.4 Signposting clearances on bridges ................................................................................... 32
6.22.5 Span clearance for overbridges ........................................................................................ 33
6.22.6 Clearances to utilities ........................................................................................................ 33
6.23 Pedestrian refuges ........................................................................................ 33
6.24 Limits of work and transitions to existing ....................................................... 33
6.25 Design for fire danger ................................................................................... 33
7. Application of turning path templates ............................................................... 35
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7.1 Design vehicle and turning path template references ................................... 35
7.2 Precedence ................................................................................................... 35
7.3 Multi lane right turns...................................................................................... 35
7.4 Single lane right turns ................................................................................... 37
7.5 Left turns ....................................................................................................... 37
7.6 Left turn lines ................................................................................................ 38
7.7 Clearance to kerbs ........................................................................................ 38
7.8 Overhang ...................................................................................................... 38
7.9 Opposing turn clearances ............................................................................. 39
7.10 Multi-lane turn clearances ............................................................................. 39
7.11 Starting point of turn path .............................................................................. 39
7.12 Turning path drawings .................................................................................. 39
7.13 Smooth turning path...................................................................................... 40
8. Design for channelised intersections ................................................................ 41

8.1 Channelised intersection key performance indicators ................................... 41
8.2 Traffic control devices at channelised intersections ...................................... 41
8.2.1 Traffic signals .................................................................................................................... 41
8.2.2 Stop signs and give way signs .......................................................................................... 41
8.2.3 Road rules only ................................................................................................................. 42
8.3 Alignment of intersection approaches ........................................................... 42
8.4 Kerb returns .................................................................................................. 42
8.5 Traffic islands and medians .......................................................................... 43
8.6 Median island widths ..................................................................................... 43
8.7 Layout of simple median island ..................................................................... 44
8.8 Layout of slip lane island ............................................................................... 44
8.9 Slip lane island area...................................................................................... 45
8.10 Intersection layout and dimensions for traffic signals .................................... 45
8.11 Type of kerb .................................................................................................. 45
8.12 Safety barrier set-back from kerb .................................................................. 45
8.13 Recommended clearance edge line to lip ..................................................... 45
8.14 Width between kerbs .................................................................................... 46
8.15 Kerb and channel relationship to traffic lane ................................................. 46
8.16 Approach geometry to right turn bay ............................................................. 46
8.17 Length of right turn bay ................................................................................. 46
8.18 Cyclist lanes .................................................................................................. 46
8.19 Transport for NSW approval ......................................................................... 46
8.20 Seagull intersections ..................................................................................... 46
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8.21 Truck and double deck bus stability at intersections ..................................... 47
8.22 Cul-de-sac head grading ............................................................................... 47
9. Design for traffic signals .................................................................................... 48

9.1 Design for traffic signals key performance indicators .................................... 48
9.2 Traffic signal warrant ..................................................................................... 48
9.3 Traffic signal design review ........................................................................... 48
9.4 TCS Design In-Principle-Agreement ............................................................. 51
9.5 Pedestrian crossings at traffic signals ........................................................... 53
9.6 Delineation at traffic signals .......................................................................... 53
9.7 Slip lanes at signalised intersections ............................................................ 53
9.8 Mid-block pedestrian traffic signal requirements ........................................... 53
10. Design for roundabout intersections................................................................. 54

10.1 Roundabout intersection key performance indicators ................................... 54
10.2 Safety at roundabouts ................................................................................... 54
10.3 Safety considerations of roundabouts ........................................................... 54
10.4 Large roundabouts with high-speed entry ..................................................... 55
10.5 Design tool .................................................................................................... 56
10.6 Design flexibility ............................................................................................ 56
10.7 Roundabout design procedure ...................................................................... 57
10.8 Maximum design speed ................................................................................ 58
10.9 Sight distance ............................................................................................... 58
10.10 Central island radius ..................................................................................... 58
10.11 Circulating roadway ...................................................................................... 58
10.12 Maximum entry path radii .............................................................................. 59
10.13 Alignment of entry and exit............................................................................ 60
10.14 Design vehicle and swept paths.................................................................... 60
10.15 Central island encroachment area ................................................................ 62
10.16 Control lines .................................................................................................. 63
10.17 Splitter islands............................................................................................... 64
10.18 Grading a roundabout ................................................................................... 64
10.19 Crossfall ........................................................................................................ 64
10.20 Pedestrian and cyclist crossings at roundabouts .......................................... 64
10.20.1 Pedestrian and cyclist rules at roundabouts ..................................................................... 64
10.20.2 Pedestrian crossings at roundabouts ............................................................................... 64
10.20.3 Cyclists on roundabouts .................................................................................................... 65
10.20.4 Roundabouts with pedestrian signals ............................................................................... 65
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10.21 Contours ....................................................................................................... 66
10.22 No vegetated landscaping of central island .................................................. 66
11. Design for buses ................................................................................................. 67

11.1 Key performance indicators for bus infrastructure design ............................. 67
11.2 Bus stops ...................................................................................................... 67
11.2.1 Bus stop drawings. ............................................................................................................ 67
11.2.2 Bus stop arrangement ....................................................................................................... 68
11.3 Bus stop location........................................................................................... 68
11.4 Bus lanes ...................................................................................................... 69
11.4.1 Purpose of bus lanes ........................................................................................................ 69
11.4.2 Bus lane delineation .......................................................................................................... 69
12. Design for pedestrians and cycleways.............................................................. 70

12.1 Pedestrian and cycleway key performance indicators .................................. 70
12.2 Pedestrian safety .......................................................................................... 70
12.3 Pedestrian crossings ..................................................................................... 70
12.3.1 Zebra crossing .................................................................................................................. 70
12.3.2 Wombat crossing .............................................................................................................. 71
12.3.3 Children crossing .............................................................................................................. 71
12.3.4 Pelican crossing ................................................................................................................ 71
12.3.5 Puffin ................................................................................................................................. 71
12.3.6 Toucan .............................................................................................................................. 71
12.3.7 Chicken crossing ............................................................................................................... 71
12.4 Pedestrian refuge.......................................................................................... 71
12.5 Approval of crossings.................................................................................... 72
12.6 Access for mobility impairment ..................................................................... 72
12.7 Pathway design............................................................................................. 72
12.7.1 Narrow strips of landscaping............................................................................................. 72
12.7.2 Obstructions ...................................................................................................................... 73
12.7.3 Level differences with no access ...................................................................................... 73
12.8 Kerb ramps ................................................................................................... 74
12.8.1 Kerb ramp considerations ................................................................................................. 74
12.8.2 Kerb ramp design for pedestrians ..................................................................................... 74
12.8.3 Kerb extensions ................................................................................................................ 75
12.9 Driveway crossovers ..................................................................................... 75
12.10 Continuous footpaths .................................................................................... 76
12.11 Paving materials ........................................................................................... 76
12.12 Cycleway design ........................................................................................... 76
13. Design for stormwater and waterways .............................................................. 78

13.1 Stormwater and waterway design key performance indicators ..................... 78
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13.2 Flood frequency terminology ......................................................................... 78
13.3 Stormwater and waterway analysis methodology ......................................... 79
13.4 Waterway analysis process........................................................................... 79
13.5 Review of previous investigations ................................................................. 79
13.6 Site visit......................................................................................................... 80
13.7 Survey ........................................................................................................... 80
13.8 Stormwater drainage system design standards ............................................ 80
13.9 Bridge and large culvert design standards .................................................... 80
13.10 Hydrology analysis ........................................................................................ 80
13.11 Hydraulic analysis ......................................................................................... 80
13.12 Reporting hydrology and hydraulic analysis .................................................. 81
13.13 Flood immunity.............................................................................................. 81
13.14 Roughness .................................................................................................... 82
13.15 Flood flow safety ........................................................................................... 82
13.16 Design parameters for culverts ..................................................................... 83
13.17 Design parameters for flood evacuation routes............................................. 83
13.18 Freeboard ..................................................................................................... 84
13.19 Design parameters for minor system pipeline design ................................... 85
13.20 Pipe layout requirements .............................................................................. 86
13.20.1 Minimum pipe size ............................................................................................................ 86
13.20.2 Pipe class .......................................................................................................................... 86
13.20.3 Pit location at pedestrian crossings .................................................................................. 86
13.20.4 Minimum pipe grade ......................................................................................................... 86
13.20.5 Subsurface drainage ......................................................................................................... 86
13.21 Hydraulic design parameters ........................................................................ 86
13.22 Lawful point of discharge .............................................................................. 89
13.23 Sediment control ........................................................................................... 89
13.24 Assessment of blockage ............................................................................... 89
13.24.1 Assessing the impact of blockage..................................................................................... 90
13.24.2 Blockage Assessment Form ............................................................................................. 91
13.24.3 Methodology for assessment of blockage at bridges and large culverts .......................... 91
13.24.4 Methodology for assessment of blockage at smaller culverts .......................................... 91
13.24.5 Culvert debris deflector walls ............................................................................................ 91
13.24.6 Blockage of piped drainage systems ................................................................................ 92
13.25 Pits on kerb returns ....................................................................................... 93
13.26 Proximity of pits to vehicle and pedestrian crossings .................................... 93
13.26.1 Locations stormwater pits not permitted ........................................................................... 93
13.26.2 Modification to existing pits at not permitted locations...................................................... 93
13.27 Drainage structure schedule on drawings ..................................................... 93
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13.28 Pavement contours ....................................................................................... 94
13.29 Drainage easements ..................................................................................... 94
14. Design for pavements ......................................................................................... 95

14.1 Pavement design concepts ........................................................................... 95
15. Design for landscaping ....................................................................................... 97

15.1 Landscaping design key performance indicators .......................................... 97
15.2 Function of street planting ............................................................................. 97
15.3 Plant selection............................................................................................... 97
15.3.1 Street tree selection issues ............................................................................................... 97
15.3.2 Street planting selection criteria ........................................................................................ 98
15.4 Street trees in the carriageway ................................................................... 101
15.5 Soils and soil volume .................................................................................. 102
15.6 Soil volume calculations .............................................................................. 102
15.7 Tree root barriers ........................................................................................ 102
15.8 Paved tree pits ............................................................................................ 103
15.9 Assessment of hazard ................................................................................ 103
15.10 Roundabout central island landscaping ...................................................... 103
15.11 Street furniture ............................................................................................ 103
15.11.1 Design guidance for street furniture ................................................................................ 103
15.11.2 Design requirements for street furniture ......................................................................... 104
16. Design for traffic calming ................................................................................. 105

16.1 Self-explaining roads .................................................................................. 105
16.2 Type of traffic calming devices not permitted .............................................. 105
17. Design for signposting and delineation .......................................................... 107

17.1 Signposting and delineation key performance indicators ............................ 107
17.2 Roadside facilities key performance indicators ........................................... 107
17.3 Signposting requirements ........................................................................... 107
17.4 Approval by local Traffic Committee ........................................................... 108
18. Design for errant vehicles ................................................................................ 109

18.1 Design for errant vehicles performance indicators ...................................... 109
18.2 Warrant for treating hazards ....................................................................... 109
18.3 Safety barrier design ................................................................................... 109
18.4 Safety barrier selection ............................................................................... 109
18.5 Safety barrier location on urban corners ..................................................... 110
19. Design for ancillary facilities ............................................................................ 111
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19.1 Noise wall and screen design key performance indicators ......................... 111
19.2 Structural and retaining wall design ............................................................ 111
19.3 Road Safety Audit Report ........................................................................... 111
20. Design for property adjustments ..................................................................... 112

20.1 Property adjustment key performance indicators ........................................ 112
20.2 Types of property adjustment...................................................................... 112
20.3 Property adjustment survey requirements .................................................. 112
20.4 Photographs................................................................................................ 112
20.5 Property Adjustment Record and Requirement Schedule ........................... 112
20.6 Property adjustment design requirements .................................................. 113
20.7 Driveway design requirements .................................................................... 113
20.8 Property adjustment drawing requirements ................................................ 114
20.9 Property adjustment notes .......................................................................... 115
20.10 Signature box .............................................................................................. 119
20.11 Acquisition plan ........................................................................................... 119
20.11.1 Acquisition plan requirements ......................................................................................... 119
20.11.2 Issue of draft acquisition plans........................................................................................ 120
20.11.3 Issue of final acquisition plans ........................................................................................ 120
21. Design for public utilities.................................................................................. 121

21.1 When utility design is required .................................................................... 121
21.2 Utility adjustment design and approval ....................................................... 121
22. Estimate ............................................................................................................. 122

22.1 Estimate key performance indicators .......................................................... 122
22.2 Estimate deliverables .................................................................................. 122
22.3 Estimate types ............................................................................................ 122
22.4 Estimating methods .................................................................................... 123
22.5 Estimating stages and accuracy ................................................................. 123
22.6 Quantities requirements .............................................................................. 124
22.7 Project base estimate requirements............................................................ 124
22.8 Probability estimates requirements ............................................................. 124
22.9 Contingency ................................................................................................ 125
22.10 Accepted for Construction consolidated estimate ....................................... 125
23. Documentation .................................................................................................. 126

23.1 Acronyms .................................................................................................... 126
23.2 Design drawings ......................................................................................... 126
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23.3 Design Report ............................................................................................. 126
23.3.1 Design Report function ................................................................................................... 126
23.3.2 Design Report content .................................................................................................... 126
24. Review and finalisation of design .................................................................... 140

24.1 Finalisation inclusions ................................................................................. 140
24.2 Handover documents .................................................................................. 140
24.3 Design model and drawings ........................................................................ 140
24.4 Creation of federated design model ............................................................ 140
24.5 Design model verification ............................................................................ 140
24.6 Conflict analysis and clash detection .......................................................... 141
25. Design form and aesthetics.............................................................................. 143

25.1 Key performance indicators ........................................................................ 143
25.2 Design for aesthetics .................................................................................. 143
25.3 Urban design principles .............................................................................. 144
25.4 Aesthetic considerations ............................................................................. 144
25.4.1 Scale ............................................................................................................................... 144
25.4.2 Proportion........................................................................................................................ 144
25.4.3 Colour .............................................................................................................................. 145
25.4.4 Texture ............................................................................................................................ 145
25.4.5 Contrast ........................................................................................................................... 145
26. Safety in Design ................................................................................................ 146

26.1 Legislative reference documents ................................................................ 146
26.2 Compliance with codes, standards and regulations .................................... 146
26.3 Duties of designers ..................................................................................... 146
26.4 Management of risks................................................................................... 146
26.5 What is ‘reasonably practicable’.................................................................. 147
26.6 Duties not transferable, no contracting out ................................................. 147
26.7 Principal’s obligations ................................................................................. 147
26.8 Consultant organisation obligations ............................................................ 148
26.9 Design Manager’s obligations ..................................................................... 148
26.10 Safety Report .............................................................................................. 148
26.11 Not legal advice .......................................................................................... 149
27. Quality assurance ............................................................................................. 150

27.1 Key performance indicators ........................................................................ 150
27.2 Non-transference of responsibility for quality .............................................. 150
27.3 Non-conformance of deliverables ............................................................... 150
27.3.1 Definition of non-conformance ........................................................................................ 150
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27.3.2 The significance of a non-conformance .......................................................................... 150
27.3.3 Identification of non-conformances ................................................................................. 150
27.3.4 Non-conformance severity .............................................................................................. 151
27.3.5 Response to non-conformance ....................................................................................... 151
27.4 Audit ............................................................................................................ 151
28. Project management information .................................................................... 152

28.1 Work Health and Safety .............................................................................. 152
28.1.1 Work Health and Safety documents ............................................................................... 152
28.1.2 Confined spaces ............................................................................................................. 152
28.1.3 Clothing ........................................................................................................................... 152
28.2 Working on roads ........................................................................................ 152
28.3 Authority requirements and approvals ........................................................ 152
28.4 Payment of authority fees and charges....................................................... 152
28.5 Road opening approvals ............................................................................. 153
28.6 Council fees not waived .............................................................................. 153
28.7 Sub-contractors........................................................................................... 153
28.8 Meaningful email titles ................................................................................ 153
28.9 Protection of trees ....................................................................................... 153
28.10 References.................................................................................................. 154
28.10.1 Reference documents ..................................................................................................... 154
28.10.2 Access to reference documents...................................................................................... 154
28.11 Project process control ............................................................................... 154
28.12 Supplied information ................................................................................... 154
29. Glossary of terms and definitions ................................................................... 155
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Tables
Table 1 Functional requirements of mitigation measures ........................................................... 5
Table 2 Design stages ............................................................................................................... 7
Table 3 Design speed.............................................................................................................. 15
Table 4 Design vehicles .......................................................................................................... 16
Table 5 Maximum grades ........................................................................................................ 19
Table 6 Lane widening for design vehicles .............................................................................. 21
Table 7 Minimum curve radius ................................................................................................. 22
Table 8 Length of superelevation development ....................................................................... 23
Table 9 Minimum K value for vertical curves............................................................................ 25
Table 10 Stopping sight distance for cars .................................................................................. 26
Table 11 Grade adjustment for car stopping sight distance ....................................................... 27
Table 12 Stopping sight distance for trucks ............................................................................... 27
Table 13 Grade adjustment for truck stopping sight distance..................................................... 28
Table 14 Safe intersection and approach sight distance for cars ............................................... 29
Table 15 Grade adjustment for intersection and approach sight distance for cars ..................... 29
Table 16 Safe intersection and approach sight distance for trucks ............................................ 30
Table 17 Grade adjustment for truck approach sight distance ................................................... 30
Table 18 Minimum vertical clearances for bridges ..................................................................... 32
Table 19 Slip lane island area ................................................................................................... 45
Table 20 Traffic Signal design review documentation requirements .......................................... 48
Table 21 Roundabout central island radius................................................................................ 58
Table 22 Circulating roadway width ........................................................................................... 59
Table 23 Splitter island area ...................................................................................................... 64
Table 24 Stormwater and waterway flood immunity ................................................................... 81
Table 25 Culvert design parameters .......................................................................................... 83
Table 26 Flood evacuation route culvert design parameters ...................................................... 83
Table 27 Freeboard ................................................................................................................... 84
Table 28 Piped drainage design parameters ............................................................................. 85
Table 29 Hydraulic design parameters ...................................................................................... 86
Table 30 Pit blockage ................................................................................................................ 92
Table 31 Easement widths ........................................................................................................ 94
Table 32 Generic pavement designs for estimating only............................................................ 95
Table 33 Street trees ................................................................................................................. 99
Table 34 Soil volume guide ..................................................................................................... 102
Table 35 Estimate types .......................................................................................................... 122
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1. Things you need to know
1.1 About this document
This Road and Stormwater Design Specification includes requirements for strategic,
concept and detailed road and stormwater design. It includes the requirements for design
on flood evacuation routes.
The function of the roadway and road reserve widths are pre-determined by the
prevailing Development Control Plan so are outside the scope of this specification.
The Scope-of-Work will define road function and road reserve space allocation.
1.2 Function of this specification

The function of this Road and Stormwater Design Specification is to:
a) Summarise wordy design standards into key considerations.
b) Provide an “index” to design standards by specifying the location of design
parameters that are to be used.
c) Specify design parameters that are to be applied where design standards give a
range of values.
d) Specify design parameters that are to be applied when design standards give
conflicting values.
e) Specify design parameters that take precedence over parameters in design
standards (for example when a national standard does not conform to the law in
New South Wales).
1.3 Design procedures and methods

This specification is not a text book explaining road design procedures and methods. For
text book details refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design series.
1.4 Required deliverables

Deliverables are listed in the Table of Deliverables. The requirements for deliverables
are described in the Scope-of-Work and the specifications.
The deliverables in this specification only apply if required by the Request-for-Quote,
Table-of-Deliverables or contract documents.
Non-conformance with specified deliverable requirements will have a response as
detailed in Section 26.
1.5 Safe systems approach

Traffic crash likelihood and severity and intersection safety performance is influenced by
approach speed, impact angle and opportunity for conflict. This specification aims to
meet the safe system objective of “safe roads and roadsides” by managing these
parameters to avoid crashes. In the event of a crash, the aim is to ensure impact forces
do not exceed human tolerances.
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1.6 Terms
You, your means the consultant or contractor engaged to do the work.
We, our, us means the Principal of the contract engaging the consultant or contractor.
Consultant is a person or company that provides expert technical advice, services,
designs and documents.
Contractor is a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or
labour to perform a service or do a job.
The requirements for a consultant apply to a contractor. The requirements for a
contractor apply to a consultant.
Must is a mandatory requirement.
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2. Prevailing standard of design
2.1 Design standards
Design standards for road and stormwater design are compliance with the following
documents:
a) Austroads Guide to Road Design. The Guide to Road Design comprises the
following parts.
Part 1: Objectives of Road Design
Part 2: Network Wide Design
Part 3: Geometric Design
Part 4: Intersections and Crossings - General
Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections
Part 4B: Roundabouts
Part 4C: Interchanges
Part 5: Drainage – General and Hydrology Considerations
Part 5A: Drainage – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and Subsurface
Part 5B: Drainage – Open Channels, Culverts and Floodways
Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers
Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling
Part 6B: Roadside Environment
Part 7: New and Emerging Trends
a) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Road Design.
d) Victoria Department of Transport Supplement to Austroads Guide to Road Design
(AGRD) Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling (2021).
e) Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6: Intersections, Interchanges and
Crossings.
f) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management.
g) VicRoads AGRD Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10.
h) Roads and Traffic Authority NSW bicycle guidelines.
i) Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design Manual.
j) Transport for NSW standard drawings.
k) Council standard drawings.
l) Council engineering guides.
m) AS 1428 Design for access and mobility.
n) The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department Disability Standards for
Access to Public Transport.
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o) Australian Human Rights Commission Guideline for Promoting Compliance of Bus
Stops with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.
p) State Transit Bus Infrastructure Guide.
q) Transport for NSW Guide to signposting.
r) Transport for NSW Traffic control at worksites Technical Manual.
s) NSW Speed Zoning Guidelines.
t) Transport for NSW Technical Information Accepted Road Safety Barrier Systems
and Devices.
u) Transport for NSW TS 05462:1.0 Delineation and Pavement Marking.
v) Blacktown City Council WSUD developer handbook: MUSIC modelling and design
guide.
w) Blacktown City Council Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Standard
Drawings.
2.2 Precedence of documents

If there is any conflict or inconsistency between the design standards, the order of
precedence must be:
1. The project specific Scope-of-Work.
2. This Road and Stormwater Design Specification.
3. Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Road Design.
4. Austroads Guide to Road Design.
5. Transport for NSW standard drawings and Council standard drawings.
6. Council engineering guides.
7. Other reference documents.
If the designer has concerns about a requirement the issue may be raised with us for a
determination. The determination must be confirmed in writing and recorded in the Issues
Log and the Design Report.
The Project Manager may direct conformance to a design standard other than the
precedence order shown.
2.3 Departures from standards

2.3.1 Design domain
Variations from design standards are explained as “Extended Design Domain” in
Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 3: Geometric Design, Appendix A.
The following must be considered in applying a variation from the prevailing standard of
design:
a) Design deliverables should comply with the design data and references of “Normal
Design Domain” (NDD) in the references in Section 2 unless very constrained
circumstances arise.
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b) Extended Design Domain should be used for only one design parameter. Multiple
minimum parameters in a location generally leads to an unsafe, or inappropriate
design.
c) Extended Design Domain parameters should not be used where safety issues
have been identified.
d) Departures from standards can only be used if approved in writing by us.
2.3.2 Disclosure
A departure from specifications, guides and design standards must be disclosed on the
Compliance form that accompanies a design review submission.
The Compliance form requires:
a) A description of the departure from standards.
b) The reason why a standard cannot be adopted.
c) The proposed variation from standards.
d) Mitigation measures that compensate for the variation from the standard.
We must approve any variations from listed specifications, guides and design standards
and prevailing industry standards that govern design before implementation.
Inclusion of a departure from standards without approval from us will be regarded as a
deliverable non-conformance.
Departures from standards may have implications for a designer’s responsibility for safe
design under the Work Health and Safety Act. Details are provided in Section 26.
2.3.3 Functional requirements of mitigation measures

The mitigation measures that compensate for a variation from a standard must meet the
functional requirements in Table 1.
Table 1 Functional requirements of mitigation measures
ID Criteria Description
1 Safe Risk is as low as reasonably practicable during the life cycle of
the infrastructure, including construction, use, maintenance,
and demolition.
2 Functional Meet the objectives of the infrastructure.

3 Durable Meet the durability expectations of the standard solution.
4 Aesthetic Enhance the built environment.
5 Low impact Not adversely impact the natural or built environment any more
than the standard solution.
2.4 Multiple minimums

The use of multiple minimum design standards does not provide safe systems for road
users and will not be accepted. For example, minimum reaction time for sight distance,
combined with minimum friction and minimum curve radius would not be a safe design.
5
2.5 Qualifications and experience
An appropriately skilled and experienced person for road and stormwater design is:
a) A designer meeting the occupation-specific capability requirements for the type of
infrastructure being designed, equivalent to National Competency Standard
RII60520 – Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design or above.
Note: It is not necessary to hold the cited qualification, it is only necessary to hold
equivalent competency.
An appropriately skilled and qualified person for structural design is:
a) A professional eligible for registration with NSW Fair Trading Professional engineer
registration - structural.
Note: It is not necessary be registered with NSW Fair Trading, it is only necessary to
be eligible.
6
3. Defining design stages
3.1 Design stages
Design stages are shown in Table 1.
Table 2 Design stages
1. Strategic design
Strategic designs define the main features of a proposal in a form sufficient to
produce a budget estimate for inclusion in a construction program.
2. Concept design
Concept designs contain a plan layout, longitudinal sections and typical cross
sections.
3. 20% design
A 20% design includes the following drawing set sheets:
a) GE General.
b) GA Geometric alignment, intersection layout, longitudinal sections, and typical
cross sections.
c) TP Turning paths.
d) UT Existing utilities.
5. 80% design
An 80% design adds the following drawing set sheets to a 20% design:
e) SW Stormwater and pavement contours.
f) SO Setout plans.
g) CS Cross sections.
6. 100% design
A 100% design adds the following drawing set sheets to an 80% design:
h) PV Pavement design.
i) BA Barriers.
j) SS Safety screens and noise walls.
k) RF Roadside furniture, signposting and delineation.
l) ST Structure details.
m) EA Earthworks.
n) GT Geotechnical.
o) SC Site clearing and spoil sites.
p) ER Erosion and sediment control.
q) MS Miscellaneous supplementary.
7. Accepted for Construction

r) CN Construction staging.
Finalised design drawings and model.
8. Construction support
Designers may be called upon to provide advice and support during construction.
7
3.2 Design considerations
Design considerations are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Design roadmap
8
4. Street design considerations
4.1 Structure of the street
Streets typically occupy about 80% of all public space in an urban area, with parks and
squares comprising less than 20% of shared spaces. Street design objectives must
balance multiple design elements, often with competing functions and priorities,
including:
a) Road function and road reserve width.
b) Allocation of road reserve space.
c) Vehicle transport:
• Travel lanes.
• Parking.
• Access to lots.
• Bus access.
d) Active transport.
• Walking.
• Cycling.
e) Environment.
• Water Sensitive Urban Design.
• Tree canopy.
• Landscaping.
• Facilities.
f) Speed control devices.
4.2 Site conditions

Planning constraints, existing infrastructure and the physical characteristics of the site
will inform the design of street features. The influence of site conditions on the design
process is shown in Figure 1 on page 8.
4.3 Safety in Design

Safety in Design is a key design consideration and is required by legislation. Information
on Safety in Design is contained in Section 26.
4.4 Designing for all abilities

Streets need to be accessible for everyone. This means implementing the disability
standards listed in Section 11.1 and considering the comfort and ease with which more
vulnerable community members can access the built environment.
9
4.5 Maintenance
Fixed allocation of resources means maintenance organisations cannot support a rapid
and uncoordinated increase in high maintenance assets. Design must focus on low
maintenance facilities.
4.6 Crime prevention through environmental design

4.6.1 Crime prevention legislative requirements
Crime Prevention Legislative Guidelines, issued under Section 4.15 of the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 require consent authorities to ensure that
development provides safety and security to users and the community.
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime prevention strategy
that focuses on the planning, design and structure of cities and neighbourhoods. The
aim of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design is to reduce the likelihood of
criminal activity.
4.6.2 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design principles

There are four principles that need to be used in the assessment of Crime Prevention
through Environmental Design:
a) Surveillance.
b) Access control.
c) Territorial reinforcement.
d) Space management.
4.6.3 Surveillance
The attractiveness of crime targets can be reduced by providing opportunities for
effective surveillance, both natural and technical. Good surveillance means that people
can see what others are doing. People feel safe in public areas when they can easily see
and interact with others. Would be offenders are often deterred from committing crime in
areas with high levels of surveillance.
Design ‘deterrence’ can be achieved by:
a) Clear sightlines between public and private places.
b) Effective lighting of public places.
c) Landscaping that makes places attractive, but does not provide offenders with a
place to hide or entrap victims.
4.6.4 Access control

Physical and symbolic barriers can be used to attract, channel or restrict the movement
of people. They minimise opportunities for crime and increase the effort required to
commit crime.
By making it clear where people are permitted to go or not go, it becomes difficult for
potential offenders to reach and victimise people and their property.
10
Effective access control can be achieved by creating:
a) Landscapes and physical locations that channel and group pedestrians into safe
areas.
b) Public spaces which attract, rather than discourage people from passing through
an area. Public seating should be avoided as it creates a gathering place for anti-
social behaviour.
c) Restricted access to internal areas or high-risk areas (like carparks or other rarely
visited areas). This is often achieved through the use of physical barriers.
4.6.5 Territorial reinforcement

People often feel comfortable in, and are more likely to visit, places which feel owned
and cared for. Well used places also reduce opportunities for crime and increase risk to
criminals.
Territorial reinforcement can be achieved through:
b) Design that encourages people to pass through a public space and to feel some
responsibility for its use and condition.
c) Design with clear transitions and boundaries between public and private space.
Care is needed to ensure that territorial reinforcement is not achieved by making public
spaces private spaces, through gates and enclosures.
4.6.6 Space management

Space management strategies include site cleanliness, rapid repair of vandalism and
graffiti, the replacement of burned-out lighting and the removal or refurbishment of
decayed physical elements.
The design process can assist space management by facilitating quick and easy
maintenance.
High maintenance facilities such as Water Sensitive Urban Design features and planted
areas need to be designed with a high priority on ease of maintenance.
11
5. Right of access to road by owners of adjoining
land
5.1 Advice
NSW Land Registry Services publishes advice on the frontage rights.
5.2 Access to types of roads

Public road: The owner of land adjoining a public road is entitled, as of right, to access
(whether on foot, in a vehicle or otherwise) across the boundary between the land and
the public road. See Section 6 (1) Roads Act 1993.
Main road: A public road or any other road that passes through public open space and
connects to another main road, a State highway, freeway, tollway or controlled access
road. See Section 46 Roads Act 1993. There is a right of public frontage unless the road
is a controlled access road.
State highway: A main road which is a principal avenue of road communication within
the State see Section 47 Roads Act 1993. There is a right of public frontage unless the
road is a controlled access road.
Freeway or Motorway: A main road designed to facilitate the free and unhindered
movement of motor traffic. Motorways are included in this classification. All freeways are
vested in fee simple in Transport for NSW. See Section 48 Roads Act 1993. There is no
right of public frontage.
Controlled access road: A road, usually a freeway or tollway, with access restricted
from adjoining roads and parcels over some or all of its boundaries. See Section.49
Roads Act 1993.
Secondary road: A public road which by carrying a substantial amount of through traffic,
relieves a neighbouring main road of traffic. See Section 50 Roads Act 1993. There is a
right of public frontage unless the road is a controlled access road.
Tourist road: A public road or any other road that passes through public open space to
specifically facilitate access to places visited mainly by tourists. See Section 51 Roads
Act 1993. There is a right of public frontage unless the road is a controlled access road.
Tollway: A road owned by Transport for NSW and designed to facilitate the free and
unhindered movement of traffic. A public road that is declared to be a tollway ceases to
be public road by virtue of the declaration. A tollway has no right of public frontage and
access from other roads is usually restricted. See Section 52 Roads Act 1993.
Transitway: A transitway is not a road or road related area within the meaning of Section
4 (1) of the Road Transport Act 2013. The regulations may prescribe the classes of traffic
that are permitted to enter or travel along, or are prohibited from entering or travelling
along, a transitway or any part of a transitway. See Section 52A Roads Act 1993. Public
frontage rights are not available.
State works: Any public road or structure (bridge, tunnel, road-ferry) which because of
its size, nature, location or importance the Minister considers should be the responsibility
of the State. See Section 53 Roads Act 1993. Pubic frontage rights may vary.
Crown roads: A public road under the care and control Crown Lands (for the Minister
Administering the Crown Lands Act 1989) which remains Crown land. Crown public
12
roads include Crown Portion boundary and reserved roads. These roads cannot be sold.
A Crown road can only be dealt with upon alienation from the Crown. Since the land
adjoining a Crown road is Crown land, public frontage is not relevant.
Quarter sessions roads: Quarter Sessions roads, usually 12 feet (3.655 metres) or 20
feet (6.095 metres) wide, were created by decisions of the Court of Quarter Sessions
under the provisions of Act 4 William IV No.11 1883. The Roads Act 1993 provides that
any road that was a Quarter Sessions road immediately before 1 July 1993 is now
dedicated as public road. When closed, these roads do not vest in the adjoining owner.
Public road frontage rights apply since 1993.
Roads Act 4 William IV No.11 roads: The Roads Act 4 William IV No.11 1833 was the
first statute to authorise the Government to make, alter and improve roads in the Colony,
through private freeholds. The Act stated that the road was to be surveyed or delineated
on a plan. When opened by proclamation these roads were known as "confirmed roads".
They were not established as public roads unless they were proclaimed to be open for
public use and if no compensation was paid, until the road was in fact used by the public.
Public road frontage rights apply to Roads Act 4 William IV No.11 1833 roads confirmed
as public roads.
Private road: A private road is restricted in use to a limited number of people (ie not to
all members of the public) or to a limited period of time. Roads depicted in private
subdivision plans dated before January 1920 are treated as private roads unless
subsequently vested in the council as public road. A private road not vested as public
road remains with the original landowner.
5.3 Plans registered after 1919

Where a deposited plan has been registered by NSW Land Registry Services and bears
a statement of intention to dedicate specified land as public road under the Roads Act
1993 Section 9 (1), an owner of the land adjoining the road has a right to have the road
shown as adjoining in any new deposited plan.
The Roads Act 1993 Section 6 (1) confirms that the owner of land adjoining a public road
is entitled, as a right, to access (whether on foot, in a vehicle or otherwise) across the
boundary between the land and the public road.
5.4 Plans registered before 1920

If a road is shown in a deposited plan registered before the commencement of the Local
Government Act 1919, the right to show frontage is a question of law, or of fact or of
both. This is usually ascertained by considering the creation of the road and possibly its
subsequent history.
A road left in a subdivision of land effected before 1 January 1907 or in a plan of
subdivision that was registered before 1 January 1920 may, by notice published in the
Government Gazette, be dedicated by the local council as public road. See Section 16
Roads Act 1993.
A subdivider may show frontage to a road whether or not it is public road.
Local councils may formally claim land provided for as lanes or pathways in plans
registered before 1 January 1920 by dedicating the land as public road.
13
5.5 Frontage to roads provided in Crown subdivisions
Where a deposited plan shows land with frontage to a road provided in a Crown
subdivision and the road has not been shown or referred to in the relevant first title and
has not been proclaimed and dedicated as a public road, NSW Land Registry Services
will regard the owner(s) abutting on such road(s) as being entitled to use them.
Where there is doubt regarding the definition of a boundary abutting a Crown public road,
consent should be obtained from Crown Lands Division.
5.6 Roads shown in Henry Ferdinand Halloran estate plans

Mr Henry Ferdinand Halloran (9 August 1869 – 22 October 1953) was a
major property owner and developer in New South Wales in the early part
of the twentieth century. He created very large deposited plans, each with
hundreds of lots and a large network of proposed roads, some of which
cover Rouse Hill.
As the plans were registered before the commencement of the Local Government Act in
1919 and few of the lots were ever transferred into private ownership, it is not clear
whether the roads were ever legally dedicated to the public or are still owned by Halloran
heirs or the Halloran Trust. Dedication may have occurred outside the control of the NSW
Land Registry Services, by expenditure of public money or use by the public. Potential
dedication would need to consider the Transport (Division of Function) Act 1923-1956,
the Main Roads Act 1924 to 1958 and the Public Works Act of 1912.
14
6. Design for roadways
6.1 Road type
Road type will be defined in the Scope-of-Work.
6.2 Design speed

Design speed values in Table 3 will apply unless otherwise specified in the Scope-of-
Work or instructions from us during the design.
Table 3 Design speed
Road type Posted speed Design speed

(km/h) (km/h)
Arterial 80 90
Sub-arterial 70 80
Collector 60 70
Local 50 60
Community title 30 30
6.3 Design vehicle

Design vehicle dimensions and turning paths are based on Austroads Design Vehicles
and Turning Path Templates Guide 1. However, there are a limited number of scenarios
in the guide. Design vehicles are shown in Table 4 on page 16. Austroads values are
shown blue.
Heavy vehicle dimensions are in accordance with the New South Wales Heavy Vehicles
Chart. Prescriptive combinations are shown in Figure 3 on page 18. Prescriptive vehicles
(maximum length 19 metres) have unrestricted access to the NSW road system.
Restricted Access Vehicles and Performance Based Standards vehicles (such as B-
Doubles) can only travel on prescribed routes.
B-Double design vehicle dimensions to be used in design are as prescribed by the
Transport for NSW Combined Higher Mass Limits (HMS) and Restricted Access Vehicle
(RAV) Map. An example of the map is shown in Figure 2 on page 17.
Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide specifies a 25m Semi-
trailer as the check vehicle for some scenarios. However, a 25m Semi-trailer is not
permitted in the NSW Heavy Vehicles Chart. The maximum permitted semi-trailer length
in NSW is 20m. If a 20m Semi-trailer turning template is not available, use the 25m B-
double as a check vehicle.
1The Ausroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide is also the basis for the Austroads Guide to Road
Design Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General Section 5.2.
15
Table 4 Design vehicles
From To Design vehicle Check vehicle

19m or 23m or 25/26m B-double Same as design vehicle
as prescribed on the Transport
for NSW Combined Higher Mass
B-Double B-Double Limits (HMS) and Restricted
route route Access Vehicle (RAV) Map or as
defined in the Scope-of-Work (eg
for planned future B-double
routes) or as instructed.
Arterial 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
available use 25m B-double)
Sub-arterial 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
Collector - 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
residential
Arterial
Collector - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
industrial available use 25m B-double)
Local - 8.8m service vehicle 12.5m single unit truck/bus
residential
Local - 12.5m single unit truck/bus 19m semi-trailer
industrial
Sub- residential
arterial Collector - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
residential
Local - 12.5m single unit truck/bus 19m semi-trailer
industrial
Arterial 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
Sub-arterial 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
residential
Collector - Collector - 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
residential industrial
Local - 8.8m service vehicle 14.5m single unit bus
residential
Local - 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
industrial
Collector - available use 25m B-double)
industrial Collector - 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
residential
Collector - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
16
From To Design vehicle Check vehicle
residential
Local - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
Arterial 8.8m service vehicle 12.5m single unit truck/bus
Sub-arterial 8.8m service vehicle 12.5m single unit truck/bus
Collector - 8.8m service vehicle 14.5m single unit bus
residential
Local - Collector - 8.8m service vehicle 12.5m single unit truck/bus
residential industrial
residential
industrial
Arterial 12.5m single unit truck/bus 19m semi-trailer
Sub-arterial 12.5m single unit truck/bus 19m semi-trailer
residential
Local - Collector - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
industrial industrial available use 25m B-double)
residential
Local - 19m semi-trailer 20m semi-trailer (if template is not
Bus depot Any class of 14.5m single unit bus 19m semi-trailer
road 19.0m articulated bus 19m B-double
Shopping Any class of 19m semi-trailer 20m Semi-trailer
centre road
Figure 2 B-Double route map
17
Figure 3 NSW Heavy Vehicle Prescriptive Combinations
18
6.4 Crossfall
Design parameter Standard
Normal crossfall 3%
Adverse crossfall Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
Section 7.8
Median crossfall Design parameters for median slopes are shown in Austroads Guide
to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design Section 4.73, Table
4.16.
Urban medians between kerbs shall be designed with a 3.0%
crossfall (1:33).
Footway crossfall Footway and footpath crossfall shall be 2.5% as specified in the
Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 6A: Paths for Walking
and Cycling Section 5.1.2.
6.5 Maximum grades

Maximum grade Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
Section 8.5.3, Table 8.3
Table 5 Maximum grades
Design speed Maximum grades (%)

(km/h)
Flat terrain Rolling terrain Steep terrain
60km/h 6-8 7-9 9-10
80km/h 4-6 5-7 7-9
100km/h 3-5 4-6 6-8
Cul-de-sac 2-6 - -
turning circle
6.6 Minimum horizontal curve length and deflection angle

Minimum horizontal Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
curve length and Section 7.6.2 NOT ACCEPTED
deflection angles
Deflection angles without curves will not be accepted. Kinks in a horizontal alignment are
noticeable and cannot be tracked by vehicles. The discontinuity is emphasised by vertical
alignment.
A long flat curve should be used to hide the appearance of a kink.
19
6.7 Transition curves and shift offset
Shift offset As per the Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3:
Geometric Design, Section 7.9, Formula A21
Vehicles follow a transition path as the wheels steer from a straight to a circular horizontal
curve. The transition path is known as a plan transition.
The plan transition shifts the centreline of the roadway curve to the inside of the
centreline, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4 Plan transition

The amount of lateral shift is calculated as:
Where:
p = Shift
Lp = Length of transition curve.
R = Radius of the circular curve.
6.8 Lane widening

Lane widening Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
Section 7.9 and Table 7.13 using the design vehicles in this
specification.
Lane widening must be applied on curves where it is necessary to ensure vehicles must
conform to Road Rule 146 – Driving within a single marked lane or line of traffic that
20
requires that a driver on a multi-lane road must drive so the driver’s vehicle is completely
in a marked lane, unless the driver is undertaking a range of listed manoeuvres.
Lane widths must be sufficient to ensure there is no overhang of vehicles into adjoining
lanes.
Lane widening must be applied to small radius curves if necessary to ensure long
vehicles can transit the curve with the vehicle wholly within the traffic lane in conformance
with Road Rule 146.
Lane widening is applied by tapering the widening over the length of the roadway used
for superelevation runoff. In the case of a transitioned curve, the superelevation runoff
corresponds with the plan transition. In the case of an un-transitioned curve, it is usually
applied equidistant about the tangent point of the horizontal curve.
Table 6 Lane widening for design vehicles
Curve Lane widening per lane (m)

radius
(m) 12.5m single 14.5m single 19m semi- 25m B-double
unit truck/bus unit bus trailer
40 Use template Use template Use template Use template
50 1.00 Use template Use template Use template
60 0.80 1.00 Use template Use template
70 0.70 0.90 1.00 Use template
80 0.60 0.80 0.90 1.10
90 0.50 0.70 0.80 1.00

100 0.40 0.60 0.70 0.90
120 0.30 0.50 0.60 0.70
140 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60

160 0.20 0.40 0.40 0.60
180 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50
200 0.20 0.30 0.30 0.40

250 0.20 0.20 0.30 0.40
300 0.10 0.20 0.20 0.30
350 0.10 0.20 0.20 0.30

400 0.10 0.20 0.20 0.20
450 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.20
500 0.00 0.10 0.10 0.20

600 0.00 0.10 0.10 0.10
700 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10
800 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10

≥ 900 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
21
6.9 Minimum curve radius
Minimum curve radius Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
Section 7.6.1, Table 7.6
Table 7 Minimum curve radius
5% super- 6% super- 7% super- 10% super-

elevation elevation elevation elevation
Limited application Limited application Not permitted
Design
Desirable
Desirable
Desirable
Minimum
Minimum
Minimum
speed
friction
friction
friction
friction
friction
friction
(km/h)
40 36 31 35 31 34 30
50 56 49 55 48 53 47
60 98 75 94 73 91 71
70 161 107 154 104 148 102
80 240 163 229 157 219 153
90 354 255 336 245 319 236

100 437 358 414 342
Superelevation greater than 5% is not generally accepted.

The use of minimum friction to determine minimum curve radius requires disclosure on
a Compliance form and approval from us before use. Approval of minimum friction curves
will require very good justification and mitigation measures.
6.10 Superelevation
Superelevation % Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design

Section 7.7.3 and 7.7.4, Figure 7.9
The desirable maximum value of superelevation is 5%. Higher values will require
disclosure on a Compliance form an approval from us before use.
The minimum value of superelevation should not be less than normal crossfall, generally
3%.
Superelevation values are shown in Figure 5 on page 23.
22
Figure 5 Superelevation
6.11 Length of superelevation development

Length of Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design

superelevation Section 7.7.6 and 7.7.9 and Figure 7.10 and Figure 7.11
development
Long, flat lengths of superelevation development should not be used. Experience on the
Princess Motorway at Waterfall showed that long superelevation transitions lead to
aquaplaning crashes.
Table 8 Length of superelevation development
Design Length of superelevation Length of superelevation

Speed transition development transition development
(km/h) -3% to 3% -3% to 5%
Number 1 2 3 1 2 3
of lanes
40 23 32 37 31 43 49
50 28 37 42 37 49 56
60 35 42 48 47 56 65
70 38 47 55 51 62 73
80 53 53 63 71 71 84
90 60 60 66 80 80 88
100 67 67 70 89 89 93
23
Superelevation transition development is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6 Superelevation transition
Figure 7 Superelevation development profile

The horizontal positioning of superelevation transitions is shown in Figure 7. Normal
practice is to place 70% of the length of superelevation development between the SSD
and TC.
24
6.12 Compound curves
Compound curves and broken back curves must be avoided. The minimum length
measured between tangent spiral points on adjacent reverse horizontal curves must be
equal to or greater than the design speed expressed as metres.
6.13 K value of vertical curves

Vertical curves are parabolic in shape and are expressed as a K value. The K value is
the vertical is the length of vertical curve (m) required for a 1% change of grade.
𝐿𝐿
𝐾𝐾 =
𝐴𝐴
𝐿𝐿 = 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾
Where:
K = Length of vertical curve in metres for 1% change in grade.
L = Length of vertical curve.
A = Algebraic difference in grades.
Algebraic difference means the difference between two grades. For example:
𝐴𝐴 = 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔1 − 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔2 eg A = +2% – (-3%)

= +5%
6.14 Minimum size crest vertical curve

Minimum size crest Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design
vertical curve Table 8.7
The minimum K value for vertical curves is shown in Table 9. The corresponding
minimum length of vertical curve can be calculated using the formula in Section 6.13.
Table 9 Minimum K value for vertical curves
Reaction time Design speed Minimum K value Desirable K value

(secs) (km/h) for vertical curve for vertical curve
1.5 40 2.1 2.6
1.5 50 4.0 5.2
1.5 60 7.0 9.3
1.5 70 11.3 15.3
1.5 80 17.3 23.9
1.5 90 25.5 35.3

2.0 100 44.5 60.8
25
6.15 Sight distance reaction time
Reaction time Transport for NSW TS 02642.3 Supplement to Austroads Guide to

Road Design Part 3, Table 5.2
Reaction times for calculating sight distance are:

a) 2.0 Seconds for Design Speed ≥ 100 km/h.
b) 1.5 Seconds speed for Design Speed ≤ 90 km/h.
These short reaction times assume drivers are always on alert, paying attention, not
impaired, not tired, not distracted, not older, not inexperienced. Obviously, this is not
always the case so providing minimum sight distances does not necessarily meet a
designer’s obligations for safe design under the Work Health and Safety Act. Provide
generous sight distances wherever practicable.
Stopping sight distances for 2.5 Seconds reaction time are provided in the design
standard and can be used as a safety check.
6.16 Car stopping sight distance

Car stopping sight Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design,
distance Section 5.3, 5.3.1 and Table 5.5
Stopping sight distance is the distance drivers need to react to an object they have seen
on the road, put on the brakes in a hurry and stop without skidding. Car stopping sight
distance is calculated with a 1.10m driver eye height and a 0.20m high stationary object
on the road ahead.
Table 10 Stopping sight distance for cars
Reaction Design Speed Absolute minimum Desirable minimum

time (km/h) stopping sight distance stopping sight distance
(sec) for cars (m) for cars (m)
1.5 40 30 34
1.5 50 42 48
1.5 60 56 64
1.5 70 71 83
1.5 80 88 103
1.5 90 107 126
2.0 100 141 165
The stopping sight distance for cars in Table 10 must be adjusted for grade by the values
in Table 11 on page 27.
The stopping sight distances in Table 10 are for cars on sealed roads. For other
situations refer to the first principles calculations in the design standard.
26
Table 11 Grade adjustment for car stopping sight distance
Design Distance to add (m) Distance to subtract (m)

Speed
km/h -8% -6% -4% -2% 2% 4% 6% 8%
40 5 3 2 1 -1 -2 -2 -8
50 8 5 3 2 -1 -3 -4 -5
60 11 8 5 2 -2 -4 -6 -7
70 15 11 7 3 -3 -5 -8 -10
80 20 14 9 4 -4 -7 -10 -13
90 25 18 11 5 -5 -9 -13 -16
100 31 22 14 6 -6 -11 -16 -20
6.17 Truck stopping sight distance

Truck stopping sight Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design,
distance Section 5.3, 5.3.2 and Table 5.6
Truck stopping sight distance is calculated with a 2.40m driver eye height and a 0.20m
stationary object on the road ahead. In sags under bridges the sight line under the bridge
is assumed to be 5.30m high.
Table 12 Stopping sight distance for trucks
Reaction Design Speed Sight distance for trucks

time (km/h) (m)
(sec)
1.5 40 38
1.5 50 55
1.5 60 74
1.5 70 96
1.5 80 120
1.5 90 147
2.0 100 191
The stopping sight distance for trucks in Table 12 must be adjusted for grade by the
values in Table 13 on page 28.
The stopping sight distances in Table 12 are for trucks on sealed roads. For other
27
Table 13 Grade adjustment for truck stopping sight distance

Speed
(km/h) -8% -6% -4% -2% 2% 4% 6% 8%
40 8 6 3 2 0 -3 -4 -5
50 13 9 5 3 0 -4 -6 -7
60 19 13 8 4 0 -6 -8 -11
70 25 17 11 4 0 -8 -11 -14
80 33 23 14 6 0 -11 -15 -19
90 42 29 18 8 0 -13 -19 -24

100 52 35 22 10 0 -16 -23 -29
6.18 Sight distance on horizontal curves

Sight distance on Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 3: Geometric Design,
horizontal curves Section 5.4 and 5.5
In summary, ensure stopping sight distance is not obstructed by objects on the inside of
the curve.
6.19 Safe intersection and approach sight distance

Safe intersection sight Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4A: Unsignalised and
distance signalised intersections, Section 3.2.2, Table 3.2
Approach sight distance Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4A: Unsignalised and
for intersections signalised intersections, Section 3.2.1, Table 3.1
Safe intersection sight distance is the distance a driver on a through road and a driver
coming out of a side street, or a roundabout approach, need to see each other. That is
the unobstructed sight triangle needed to a side street.
Approach sight distance ensures drivers approaching an intersection can see important
pavement markings, such as the stop line. It is measured from a driver’s eye height,
1.10m to pavement level, 0.00m.
28
Table 14 Safe intersection and approach sight distance for cars
Reaction Design Safe Minimum K Approach Minimum K

time Speed intersection value to sight distance value to
(sec) (km/h) sight achieve safe for cars (m) achieve
distance for intersection approach
cars (m) sight distance sight distance
for cars for cars
1.5 40 67 4.9 34 5.3
1.5 50 90 8.6 48 10.5
1.5 60 114 14 64 18.8

1.5 70 141 22 83 31.1
1.5 80 170 31 103 48.5
1.5 90 201 43 126 72.3

2.0 100 248 66 165 87.3
Table 15 Grade adjustment for intersection and approach sight

distance for cars

Speed
(km/h) -8% -6% -4% -2% 2% 4% 6% 8%
40 1 2 3 5 -1 -2 -2 -3
50 2 3 5 8 -1 -3 -4 -5
60 2 5 8 11 -2 -4 -6 -7
70 3 7 11 15 -3 -5 -10 -10
80 4 9 14 20 -4 -7 -13 -13
90 5 11 18 25 -5 -9 -16 -16
100 6 14 22 31 -6 -11 -19 -19
The approach sight distance for cars in Table 14 must be adjusted for grade by the values
in Table 15.
The approach sight distances in Table 14 are for cars on sealed roads. For other
29
Table 16 Safe intersection and approach sight distance for trucks
Reaction Design Safe Minimum K Approach Minimum K

time Speed intersection value to sight distance value to
(sec) (km/h) sight achieve safe for trucks achieve
distance for intersection (m) approach
trucks (m) sight distance Same as stopping sight distance
for trucks sight distance for trucks
Not provided in Not provided in Not provided in
1.5 40 standard standard
38 standard
1.5 50 “ “ 55 “
1.5 60 “ “ 74 “
1.5 70 “ “ 96 “
1.5 80 “ “ 120 “
1.5 90 “ “ 147 “
2.0 100 “ “ 191 “
Table 17 Grade adjustment for truck approach sight distance

Speed
(km/h) -8% -6% -4% -2% 2% 4% 6% 8%
40 8 6 3 2 0 -3 -4 -5
50 13 9 5 3 0 -4 -6 -7
60 19 13 8 4 0 -6 -8 -11
70 25 17 11 4 0 -8 -11 -14
80 33 23 14 6 0 -11 -15 -19
90 42 29 18 8 0 -13 -19 -24
100 52 35 22 10 0 -16 -23 -29
The design standard does not provide tables for truck safe intersection sight distance,
instead referring the designer to calculating the distance from the equation provided in
the standard.
Approach sight distance for trucks is the same as stopping sight distance. The approach
sight distance for trucks in Table 16 must be adjusted for grade by the values in Table
17.
The approach sight distances in Table 16 are for trucks on sealed roads. For other
30
6.20 Crossing sight distance for pedestrians
Crossing sight distance Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4A: Unsignalised and
for pedestrian crossings signalised intersections, Section 3.2.3
Pedestrian crossing Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads Supplement

speed to Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections, Table 4A-1
Approach sight distance should be provided to pedestrian crossings to ensure drivers

can see the pavement markings.
Crossing sight distance relates to the pedestrian, not the driver. It is the sight distance a
pedestrian needs to judge a safe gap in the traffic and cross the roadway. Ideally traffic
should stop at a pedestrian crossing, but let’s be realistic.
𝑉𝑉
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑡𝑡𝑐𝑐
3.6
Where:
CSD = Crossing sight distance.
tc = Critical safe gap (sec).
= Crossing length / walking speed + 3 seconds for pedestrian start.
V = Vehicle approach speed.
An average walking speed of 1.2 metres / second is used for general pedestrian crossing
design and traffic signal crossing design. Walking speed may be reduced to 1.13 metres
/ second for older pedestrians on marked foot crossings.
6.21 Combination of vertical alignment elements and

crossfall
Where the combination of superelevation transition and longitudinal grade results in
areas of flat pavement, an analysis must be carried out to determine that the resultant
depth of water on the pavement does result in aquaplaning occurring.
Where the longitudinal gradient on a carriageway is less than 1% over a carriageway
length of greater than 500 metres and the cross fall/superelevation is 3%, consideration
must be given to increasing the cross fall/superelevation to 4% to assist with surface
drainage.
6.22 Vertical clearances

6.22.1 Design vertical clearances
The vertical clearance at each traffic lane shall be specified in metres rounded down to
one decimal place.
The controlling clearance for a traffic lane is the minimum clearance available on that
lane under the bridge. It is usually the lower of the clearances at the lane markings,
however there could be a lower clearance in the middle of the lane due to attachments
on the bridge.
31
6.22.2 Clearances over roads
The minimum vertical clearances in Table 18 on page 32 are derived from Austroads
Guide to Road Design Part 3: Geometric Design and Austroads Guide to Road Design
Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling.
For the existing bridges with a height clearance less than in Table 18, the existing
clearance (as measured on site) is to be maintained, unless otherwise specified in the
Scope-of-Work. This includes the provision of additional lanes under these bridges.
Existing bridges with a height clearance less that in Table 18 shall be provided with
protection beams. New bridges with an approved height clearance less that in Table 18
shall have the bridge superstructure designed for additional loads as per AS 5100.2
Table 10.3.
Table 18 Minimum vertical clearances for bridges
Location Minimum clearance (m) to underside of bridge
Road bridges over roads 5.4 (includes 0.1m resurfacing allowance)
6.5 preferred
Road bridges over high clearance routes
6.0 absolute minimum
• At least 0.2 m greater than adjacent bridges,

but no less than 5.4 m
Pedestrian bridges over roads
• 5.5 m where there are no adjacent bridges
• 6.0 m on designated high clearance routes
Bridges over pedestrian footpaths /

2.5
bicycle paths
Bridges over railway Confirm with infrastructure owner
6.22.3 Permissible vertical clearances for public use

A minimum safety margin of 0.1 metres shall be deducted from the controlling clearances
at each lane to derive the permissible clearances on the lane. These clearances shall be
used for signposting the clearances available under the bridge.
The clearance safety margin provides for tolerances in vehicle height, road surface
variations due to patching and deflections in the overbridge.
For most bridges a safety margin of 0.1 metres is adequate. However, if a combination
of unusual grades and road geometry exists at the site, the safety margin may be
increased if necessary if a higher than usual risk of impact exists.
6.22.4 Signposting clearances on bridges

Vertical clearances on bridges shall be signposted in accordance with AS 1742.2 Manual
of uniform traffic control devices, including:
a) Bridges with a measured minimum vertical clearance of less than 5.3 metres shall
be signposted for clearances.
b) Vertical clearances displayed on bridges shall be to one decimal place rounded
down to 0.1 metres less than the actual controlling clearance.
32
6.22.5 Span clearance for overbridges
A bridge spanning a major roadway shall provide full clearance and shoulder widths on
the road beneath. Allowance for the longitudinal drainage, services and maintenance
operations shall be considered and provided where necessary.
Allowance for future widening of the road beneath shall be included if this is planned or
likely in the next 40 years.
6.22.6 Clearances to utilities

Utility authorities must be consulted to determine horizontal and vertical clearances that
must be provided to underground and aerial utility infrastructure.
6.23 Pedestrian refuges

Pedestrian refuge Transport for NSW Technical Direction TDT 2011/01a Pedestrian
Refuges
6.24 Limits of work and transitions to existing

The limits of work are to tie back into the existing road network at the limit of work. The
limit of work needs to be where the proposed grade-line meets existing pavement.
Transitions to existing may either:
a) Be located outside the limit of permanent work.
b) Be located within the limit of permanent work, using linemarking to direct traffic
onto existing pavement.
6.25 Design for fire danger

Fire risk is a consideration in preparing a Review of Environmental Factors for a project.
Design for fire danger is described in the Rural Fire Service Planning for Bush Fire
Protection: A guide for councils, planner, fire authorities and developers. Key road design
recommendations for roads in bushfire prone areas are:
a) Roads shall provide sufficient width and other dimensions to ensure safe
unobstructed access and allow firefighting crews to operate equipment around the
vehicle. Road width is defined as the trafficable width from kerb to kerb or the inside
edge of the table drain.
b) Dead-end roads should be avoided. However, where they are present, they must
incorporate a minimum 12 metres outer radius turning circle to minimise the need
for vehicles to make multipoint turns and be clearly sign posted as a dead end.
c) An adequate supply of water is essential for firefighting purposes. In addition, gas
and electricity should be located so as not to contribute to the risk of fire or impede
the firefighting effort.
d) The type, location and ongoing maintenance of landscaping is a bushfire protection
measure.
33
e) Traffic management devices must not prohibit access by emergency services
vehicles.
f) The capacity of perimeter and non-perimeter road surfaces and any bridges and
causeways are sufficient to carry fully loaded firefighting vehicles (up to 23 tonnes).
Bridges and causeways are to clearly indicate load rating.
g) Hydrants are provided in accordance with the relevant clauses of AS 2419.1:2005
- Fire hydrant installations System design, installation and commissioning. Hydrant
services should be located outside the carriageway and parking bays to permit
traffic flow and access. Setup of standpipes within the carriageway may stop traffic
flow. Hydrant services shall be located on the side of the road away from the bush
fire threat where possible.
h) Access roads are designed to allow safe access and egress for firefighting vehicles
while residents are evacuating as well as providing a safe operational environment
for emergency service personnel during firefighting and emergency management
on the interface. Refer to the guidelines if specific guidance is required.
Where multipoint turning is proposed in a dead-end cul-de-sac, the NSW Rural Fire
Service will consider the options shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8 Turn heads in bushfire areas
34
7. Application of turning path templates
7.1 Design vehicle and turning path template references
Design vehicles and the application of turning path templates have been derived from:
a) Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Template Guide AP-G345-13.
b) Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4: Intersections and Crossings –
General Section 5.6.3.
c) AS 2890.2 Parking facilities Part 2: Off-street commercial vehicle facilities.
d) Transport for NSW (RTA) Guide to Traffic Generating Developments.
e) Transport for NSW Heavy vehicles chart.
f) New South Wales Road Rules 2014.
g) Transport for NSW Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook.
7.2 Precedence
Some of the provisions of Austroads guides conflict with NSW road rules. The
instructions on applying turning paths in this specification refer to New South Wales Road
Rules so instructions in this specification take precedence over the instructions in the
Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Template Guide AP-G345-13 and the
Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General
Section 5.6.3. For example, allowing the wheel path to encroach into another lanes or
islands is suggested by Austroads 2 but is not permitted in NSW.
7.3 Multi lane right turns

Road Rule 32(1)(a) allows vehicles to occupy any lane in a multi lane right turn, as shown
in Figure 9, but does not permit straddling the lane line.
Figure 9 Multi lane right turn
2 Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Template Guide AP-G345-13, p17.
35
The NSW Government advice to heavy vehicle drivers is to use the far-left lane of multi-
lane right turns. 3
Turning paths from multi lane right turn bays must make the turn from wholly within one
of the right turn lanes. Design and check vehicles longer than 7.5 metres in length turning
right from a multi-lane right turn should use the far-left lane as shown in Figure 10.
Straddling a lane line is not permitted.
Figure 10 Turning template application 4
3 Transport for NSW, 2022, Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook p57, Sydney.
4 Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General Appendix A.7, Figure A 4.
36
7.4 Single lane right turns
Road Rule 32(1) requires that “A driver turning right at an intersection from a multi-lane
road must approach and enter the intersection from within the right lane”, unless Road
Rule 32(2) applies.
Road Rule 32(2)(a) permits vehicles longer than 7.5 metres in length to “approach and
enter the intersection from the marked lane next to the right lane as well as, or instead
of, the right lane”. However, Road Rule 32(2)(d) only allows this if “it is not practicable
for the driver to turn right from within the right lane”.
The road rules do not provide for straddling a lane line for a right turn (as is explicitly
permitted for a left turn).
New design should not create a situation where it is not practical for a design vehicle to
turn right from the right lane, so the turning path for a single lane right turn must start
wholly within the right turn lane for both the design vehicle and check vehicle. Straddling
a lane line is not permitted.
7.5 Left turns

Road Rule 28(1) requires that vehicles less than 7.5 metres in length must “approach
and enter the intersection from within the left lane”, unless the vehicle is longer than 7.5
metres.
Road Rule 28(2) permits drivers of vehicles longer than 7.5 metres in length to “approach
and enter the intersection from the marked lane next to the left lane as well as, or instead
of, the left lane” as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11 Heavy vehicle left turn 5

The NSW Government advice to heavy vehicle drivers is to position the truck so any
vehicles behind cannot pass on the left 6.
5 https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2014-0758#sec.28 Accessed 22 March 2023.
6 Transport for NSW, 2022, Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook p56, Sydney.
37
A car is the only design vehicle less than 7.5 metres in length. A car design vehicle must
start a left turn from wholly within the left lane. Straddling a lane line is not permitted.
Preferably, design and check vehicles should make a left turn from wholly within a left
turn lane. However, if the heavy vehicle turn path needs to turn from the lane adjacent
to the left turn lane, at least one third of the width of the vehicle should be within the left
lane, to comply with government advice to prevent passing by following vehicles.
7.6 Left turn lines

Road Rule 29(1) requires drivers to follow a left turn line as shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12 Following a left turn line

However, Road Rule 29(2) exempts vehicles longer than 7.5 metres in length from
following the turn line.
Turn lines should be placed to mimic the tracked path of left turning design and check
vehicles wherever possible to avoid the need for trucks to depart from the turn line.
7.7 Clearance to kerbs

The extremity of vehicles (not wheel tracks) must be a minimum of 0.5 metres from kerbs,
pavement edge, safety barrier or centreline. 7
This clearance is known as an offset. The offset must be drawn around the turning path.
7.8 Overhang
In accordance with the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4: Intersections and
Crossings – General Section 6.6.1, vehicle swept path analysis must confirm the rear of
turning vehicles do not cross lane lines into adjoining lanes. The long overhang on the
rear of turning buses must not cross into adjoining lanes by even a small amount. 8
7 Austroads Guide to Road Design 2021 Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General Section 5.6.3.
8 Undocumented Transport for NSW requirement.
38
7.9 Opposing turn clearances
Opposing right turns shall meet the clearances prescribed in the Austroads Design
Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide and the Austroads Guide to Road Design
Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General Section 5.6.3 and Appendix A.7. Turn
clearances are shown in Figure 10 on page 36.
7.10 Multi-lane turn clearances

Where it is necessary to apply two separate turning templates in the same direction of
travel then a clearance of 1.0 m should be provided between the templates, as shown in
the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4: Intersections and Crossings – General
Section 5.6.3 and Appendix A.7. Turn clearances from Appendix A.7 are shown in Figure
10 on page 36.
7.11 Starting point of turn path

Other than slip lanes, turn paths should start the turn at the hold line of the intersection
and follow a single radius as shown in Figure 10 on page 36.
Turns that do not start the turn at the hold line, turns that require a driver to drive into the
intersection before making the turn or turns with wobbles that a driver would not follow,
are not permitted.
7.12 Turning path drawings

An example turning path drawing is shown in Figure 13.
39
Figure 13 Turning path drawing
7.13 Smooth turning path

Turning paths must be a smooth curve. “Wiggles” in the turning path to make it work are
not permitted because they will not be followed by drivers.
40
8. Design for channelised intersections
8.1 Channelised intersection key performance indicators
Key Performance Indicators for channelised intersection design are:
a) Austroads Guide to Road Design. The Guide to Road Design the following parts.
Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections
Part 4C: Interchanges
b) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Road Design.
c) Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6: Intersections, Interchanges and
Crossings.
d) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management.
e) Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design Manual.
f) Transport for NSW standard drawings.
g) Council standard drawings.
h) Council engineering guides.
8.2 Traffic control devices at channelised intersections

8.2.1 Traffic signals
Traffic signals are used where an unsignalised intersection has a poor crash record,
there are excessive delays for traffic using minor roads, or a roundabout is unsuitable.
Traffic signals provide for high pedestrian movement including people who have a vision,
mobility or hearing impairment.
A warrant assessment is required to obtain Transport for NSW Approval in Principle for
traffic signals.
Transport for NSW practice does not provide Traffic Signals where sign posted speed
limit is more than 80km/h. Refer to Traffic Signal Design, Section 2.2. 9
8.2.2 Stop signs and give way signs

Stop signs and give way signs are used at intersections other than those controlled by
roundabouts or traffic signals. The signs reinforce road rules or assign priority.
Stop signs must only be used when the warrant is met.
Advance warning signs may be necessary where there is a high approach speed or
where approach sight distance is limited.
9 Roads and Maritime Services Supplement Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6, page 5.
41
8.2.3 Road rules only
Road rules only intersections are applied in the absence of intersection traffic control
devices. It is common practice at T-intersections between local streets where traffic
control devices may not be provided.
Cross-roads generally have traffic control devices; however, they may not be provided
on very low-volume roads in remote areas where a major/minor road hierarchy does not
exist. However, it is preferable that all cross-roads be controlled at least by a stop or give
way sign.
In NSW most local intersections have signposted control.
8.3 Alignment of intersection approaches

Intersecting roads should be aligned at approximate right angles. Intersections with acute
angles need larger turning areas, limit visibility, and increase vehicle exposure time.
Intersection angles of up to 60 degrees provide most of the benefits of right-angle
intersections.
Although these alignment parameters are desirable, the existing road layout and the road
layout in planning documents may make achievement impossible. In this case designers
must design mis-aligned roadways to be safe for road users.
8.4 Kerb returns

The minimum radius of kerb returns shall be 8.0 metres unless otherwise specified in
Council design guides.
Kerb return radius must be tested with design and check vehicle turning paths to check
suitability. Design vehicles must not cross the road centreline into the path of oncoming
vehicles. Turning path templates used to check kerb returns must comply with the
positioning requirements of Section 7.
Check vehicles may cross the road centreline only if the crossing is absolutely necessary
(not just expedient) and the driver can comply with Road Rule 95 (3) (b) which provides
that a driver may drive to the right of the centre of the road if the driver can do so safely.
Safety traversing into oncoming traffic lanes will require very low traffic flows in the
opposing direction and low approach speeds. If these conditions do not exist, the kerb
return radius should be increased to avoid turning vehicles crossing the centre of the
road.
Figure 14 on page 43 shows an example of a centreline crossing that is not permitted
because it is possible to design out the centreline crossing by changing the kerb returns.
Vehicles must be able to commence a turn without crossing a centreline.
42
Figure 14 Centreline crossing not permitted
8.5 Traffic islands and medians

Traffic islands and medians should be designed and located with regard to the following:
a) The proper line of travel should be obvious and any changes in direction should be
gradual and smooth.
b) Approach sight distance, measured 1.10m to 0.00m (ie pavement level) for painted
medians and 1.10m to 0.10m for raised medians, must be provided on the minor road
and is desirable on the major road.
c) Small islands with low sighting should be avoided.
8.6 Median island widths

Median island widths Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections, Table 6.4, Table A 18
Transport for NSW Technical Direction TD 2011/01a Pedestrian
Refuges
Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections,
Table 6.4 for desirable widths, Table A 18 for Extended Design Domain widths used only
with safety mitigation measures
2.0m wide pedestrian refuge in accordance with Transport for NSW Technical Direction
TD 2011/01a Pedestrian Refuges.
43
8.7 Layout of simple median island
Layout of simple Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
median island Signalised Intersections, Figure 6.1 and 6.2
Figure 15 Simple median island
8.8 Layout of slip lane island

Layout of slip lane Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
island Signalised Intersections, Figure 6.3 and 6.4 and 6.5.
Figure 16 Slip lane island

44
8.9 Slip lane island area
The area of slip lane islands is shown in Table 19.
Table 19 Slip lane island area
Slip lane location Desirable slip Minimum slip

lane island lane island
area area
(sqm) (sqm)
Arterial road 40 10
Local road with pedestrian crossings 10 8
8.10 Intersection layout and dimensions for traffic signals

Intersection layout and Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design Appendix D Location and
dimensions for traffic Dimensions of Components
signals
8.11 Type of kerb

Type of kerb Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections, Table 6.2
8.12 Safety barrier set-back from kerb

Steel safety barrier 0 to 200mm behind kerb

set-back from kerb refer Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design,
Safety and Barriers, Section 6.8.4
Flexible safety barrier Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety
set-back from kerb and Barriers, Table 6.6
8.13 Recommended clearance edge line to lip

Recommended Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and

clearance edge line to Signalised Intersections, Figure 6.13
lip (Clearance point
CP)
45
8.14 Width between kerbs
Width between kerbs Determined by check vehicle swept path plus 0.5m clearance both
sides of swept path
Refer Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections, Section 6.4
8.15 Kerb and channel relationship to traffic lane

Kerb and channel Refer Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
relationship to traffic Signalised Intersections, Section 6.5
lane
Kerb and channel is not generally part of the traffic lane, however this requirement may
be rescinded by the Scope-of-Work cross section.
8.16 Approach geometry to right turn bay

Approach geometry to right turn bay is 50m or 60m radius reverse curves.
8.17 Length of right turn bay

The length of right turn bays is determined by traffic modelling. In the absence of
modelling adopt 120m if practicable.
8.18 Cyclist lanes

Cyclist lanes NSW Bicycle Guidelines
8.19 Transport for NSW approval

Transport for NSW will have the final say on whether the dimensions in this specification
will be approved for a traffic signal intersection.
8.20 Seagull intersections

Seagull intersections are not permitted.
The Roads and Maritime Services Wollongong office and a project for the Australian
Capital Territory collected data 10 showing seagull intersections have a crash history that
is higher than other types of intersections due to driver error.
10 F. Naznin, M Venter, D McTiernan, 2022, Safety Evaluation of Seagull Intersections in the ACT, Australian Road
Research Board.
46
8.21 Truck and double deck bus stability at intersections
When trucks and buses are turning from a superelevated curve into a down grade, the
stability factors in the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections, Appendix B must be considered.
It is preferable to increase the curve radius to decrease the superelevation for turning
high vehicles.
8.22 Cul-de-sac head grading

The grade of cul-de-sac head kerb shall provide a pavement crossfall of 3% as far as
practicable. The minimum pavement crossfall is 1.5%. The maximum pavement crossfall
is 8%.
Drainage of the low point in the head shall be provided via pipelines through easements
or within pathways. Provision shall be made for overland flow for events which exceed
pipeline capacity or to allow for blockages of the downstream line. The locations of
easements or pathways may not be flexible and regrading may be necessary to ensure
overland flow along a defined floodway.
47
9. Design for traffic signals
9.1 Design for traffic signals key performance indicators
Key performance indicators for traffic signal design are:
a) Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design manual.
b) Transport for NSW Technical Direction TDT 2002 12c Stopping and Parking
Restrictions at Intersections and Crossings.
c) Transport for NSW TS 05462_1.0 Delineation and Pavement Marking, Section 7.
9.2 Traffic signal warrant

A traffic study must be submitted to Transport for NSW to establish the warrant for the
traffic signals and gain approval to the signals. Traffic signals must meet the warrants in
Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design, Section 2 – Warrants.
9.3 Traffic signal design review

Traffic signals are to be reviewed by Transport for NSW at the following stages:
a) Feasibility / strategic.
b) Concept.
d) Detailed design (Accepted for Construction).
The package of documents to be submitted to Transport for NSW for a traffic signal
design review are listed in the TCS Design Review Requirements checklist that is to be
submitted with the documents. The checklist is reproduced in Table 20.
Table 20 Traffic Signal design review documentation requirements
Design stage Document required
Feasibility / Concept Detailed

strategic stage design
stage (Accepted for
Construction)
Optional Mandatory Mandatory Traffic signal (TCS) plan (PDF and CAD)
Optional Optional Mandatory In Principle Agreement
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Turning paths PDF
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Civil design drawing PDF
Optional Optional Mandatory Survey / utility drawing PDF
Optional Optional Mandatory Completed Traffic Signal Design Manual

Appendix A checklist
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Response to previous review comments
Optional Optional Optional Approved exemptions / departures, if

applicable
Optional Optional Optional Traffic modelling
Optional Optional Optional Design report
48
Traffic signal drawings must comply with the Traffic Signal Design Manual Appendix A
checklist reproduced below.
49
50
Figure 17 Traffic Signal Design Manual Appendix A checklist
9.4 TCS Design In-Principle-Agreement

When Transport for NSW has approved a concept traffic signal design, they will issue a
TCS Design “In Principle Agreement” form. An uncompleted version of the form is
reproduced in Figure 18 on page 52.
The signed TCS Design “In Principle Agreement” form must be submitted to Transport
for NSW at the detail design review stage.
51
Figure 18 TCS Design “Agreement in Principle”
52
9.5 Pedestrian crossings at traffic signals
Transport for NSW practice is to provide a signalised marked foot crossing on each leg
of a signalised intersection (including T-junctions) in a built-up area, except in certain
circumstances. Refer to Traffic Signal Design – Section 2 Warrants, Section 2.4.
9.6 Delineation at traffic signals

Delineation at traffic signals must meet the following requirements.
a) Stopping and parking restrictions must be in accordance with Transport for NSW
Technical Direction TDT 2002 12c Stopping and Parking Restrictions at
Intersections and Crossings.
b) Line marking must be in accordance with Transport for NSW TS 05462_1.0
Delineation and Pavement Marking, Section 7.
9.7 Slip lanes at signalised intersections

Slip lanes at signalised intersections must meet the following pedestrian safety
requirements:
a) Transport for NSW Traffic Signal Design, Section 2 – Warrants, Section 2.4.2
requires that a pedestrian crossing must be provided at all slip lanes at traffic signal
intersections.
b) If the slip lane is crossed by a shared path, then a signalised crossing with bicycle
and pedestrian lanterns must be provided with a three-aspect vehicular lantern. A
two-aspect vehicular lantern, (RED, YELLOW) can be provided if there are low
pedestrian and bicycle volumes and only on a single lane slip lane with
independent control. Two aspect lanterns require the approval of the Transport for
NSW Manager Network Operations.
9.8 Mid-block pedestrian traffic signal requirements

Mid-block pedestrian traffic signals must Comply with Australian Standard AS1742.10 –
2009 Manual of uniform traffic control devices Pedestrian control and protection, Section
8, Pedestrian Actuated Traffic Signals (Mid-Block), Figure 5 and 6 with the following
additions:
c) Transport for NSW No Stopping (R5-400) sign series.
d) Double barrier line (BB) is provided on each approach to the crossing, if the road
has a dividing line, for 10m to extend from the edge of the stop line with Bi-
directional RRPM’s at 5.0m spacing and no gaps in BB lines.
e) Crossing should not be less than 6m wide.
f) Signalised mid-block marked foot crossings must be located a minimum of 30 m
from any side street.
g) Signalised mid-block marked foot crossings must not be within 130 m of an
adjacent signalised intersection.
h) Stopping and parking restrictions must be in accordance with Transport for NSW
Technical Direction TDT 2002 12c Stopping and Parking Restrictions at
Intersections and Crossings.
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10. Design for roundabout intersections
10.1 Roundabout intersection key performance indicators
Key Performance Indicators for roundabout intersection design are compliance with the
following reference documents:
a) Austroads Guide to Road Design. The Guide to Road Design the following parts.
Part 4B: Roundabouts
b) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Road Design.
c) Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6: Intersections, Interchanges and
Crossings.
d) Transport for NSW supplements to the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management.
e) Transport for NSW standard drawings.
f) Council standard drawings.
g) Council engineering guides.
Other references are shown in footnotes.
10.2 Safety at roundabouts

The primary reason for the improved safety record for roundabouts is the relative speeds
of vehicles are considerably lower in a well-designed roundabout than for other types of
at-grade intersections.
Roundabouts improve safety by simplifying conflicts, reducing speeds and providing
clear indication of priority. Motorists are required to give way to pedestrians using
crossings, cyclists and vehicles already in the intersection.
Roundabouts are useful where there is a high proportion of right-turning traffic and
perform best when traffic flows are balanced.
Cyclists (especially when turning right) and pedestrians find it difficult to negotiate
multilane roundabouts.
10.3 Safety considerations of roundabouts

The Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6: Intersections, Interchanges and
Crossings, Table 2.6 provides an opinion on the suitability of roundabouts between roads
of different classes. The conclusions are not supported.
Controlling speeds through roundabouts by their design maximises roundabout safety
for all road users. Speed reduction should be a primary consideration in roundabout
design.
Safety at roundabouts is improved by:
a) Designing the entry geometry to restrict drivers to a safe speed on entry to the
roundabout.
54
b) Providing adequate sight distance to:
• Enable drivers to easily identify the intersection as a roundabout.
• See the required path through the layout.
• See the movements of other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians travelling within
and on the approaches to the roundabout.
• Observe an acceptable gap in the circulating traffic to enter in a safe manner.
• Ensure visibility of the central island, particularly at night.
• Ensure visibility of splitter islands
c) Ensuring sight lines are not blocked by landscaping or signage or island

treatments.
d) Providing pedestrian refuges in splitter islands.
e) Keeping utility poles out of the likely trajectory path of errant vehicles at exits from
the roundabout.
f) Using semi-mountable kerbs.
g) Frangible signs and posts.
h) Skid resistant linemarking.
i) Minimising the use of encroachment area pavement for motorcyclist safety.
These issues should be considered in a Road Safety Audit of a roundabout design.
10.4 Large roundabouts with high-speed entry

Experience with the superseded design standards in the 1984 roundabout in Figure 19,
and large roundabouts on Parkes Way in Canberra, shows a large diameter circulating
roadway with entry radii greater than 55 metres, enables high speeds and encourages
acceptance of small gaps. This negates the low-speed control that is critical to the safety
performance of roundabouts.
Figure 19 Large roundabout

55
10.5 Design tool
The computer program ARNDT (A Roundabout Numerical Design Tool) can be used for
analysis of the safety performance of roundabouts. The results of the analysis enable
road designers to identify potentially hazardous geometry of proposed or existing
roundabouts. The program is freeware and can be downloaded from the website
www.tmr.qld.gov.au.
Use of the roundabout program ARNDT will enable checking of roundabout safety
parameters.
10.6 Design flexibility

It is possible that a site considered initially appropriate for a roundabout may become
inappropriate in the longer term, requiring extensive modification to the intersection.
Designers should consider the potential to build flexibility into the design to
accommodate possible future changes, particularly when changes to land use are likely
to substantially alter traffic patterns.
It is preferable to design the future layout for an intersection then overlay the initial
construction so pavement, kerbs and drainage can be re-purposed when the intersection
is upgraded (such as conversion from a roundabout to traffic signals). An example of a
roundabout designed for conversion to traffic signals is shown in Figure 20.
Figure 20 Interim roundabout on ultimate traffic signal intersection

Installation of traffic flow metering traffic signals on a roundabout is a way of extending
the life of the roundabout when flows have become unbalanced. Signals on a roundabout
should not be used on initial construction, but may be planned for the anticipated future
short term peak traffic flows, to avoid conversion to a signalised intersection when day-
time flows do not justify signals.
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10.7 Roundabout design procedure
The design procedure for roundabouts is described in the Austroads Guide to Road
Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Section 2.3.
A design procedure to create Roundabout Horizontal Geometry in 12D Using Elements
is shown in Appendix A. The procedure relates the design elements to each other so
changes can be made globally, without changing each individual element in the
roundabout.
The procedure steps are:
Step 1 – Create roundabout and circulating roadway.
Step 2 – Create island line marking.
Step 3 - Create entry and exit circles.
Step 4 – Create kerb returns.
Step 5 – Create splitter islands.
Step 6 – Deflection check.
Step 7 – Create swept path turn lines.
Step 8 – Swept path analysis.
Step 9 – Create a chain to automatically run every element from Steps 1 to 8.
A change of roundabout position affects line marking strings, kerb returns and median
islands, deflection, turn lines swept paths. The chain can reconfigure all the elements
with a press on one button, instead of editing each element one by one.
Figure 21 Chained roundabout elements

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10.8 Maximum design speed
In NSW roundabouts are not recommended where the posted speed limit is greater than
80km/h. In areas posted greater than 80km/h consideration should be given to lowering
the posted speed to 80km/h through the intersection. 11
10.9 Sight distance

Roundabouts must be designed to provide the same Approach Sight Distance as other
intersections (refer to Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A: Unsignalised and
Signalised Intersections), however, drivers at the hold lines of roundabouts are provided
with Minimum Gap Sight Distance rather than the Safe Intersection Sight Distance.
Refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Section 3 for further
information.
The Design Report must contain details of the sight distance provided.
10.10 Central island radius

Central island radius must conform to the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B:
Roundabouts, Table 4.1, which is reproduced in Table 21. The desirable central island
radii generally provide sufficient size splitter islands for storage of pedestrians combined
with desirable entry curvature. The minimum central island radii generally do not.
The radius of the central island will need to be increased if prescribed entry radii cannot
be achieved because the radius of the entry is critical to slowing speeds for the safe
operation of the roundabout.
Table 21 Roundabout central island radius
Design speed Single lane roundabout Two lane roundabout central

km/h central island radius (m) island radius (m)
Minimum Desirable Minimum Desirable
≤ 40 5 (car) 7 (truck) 10 8 12
50 8 11 8 12
60 10 12 14 16
70 12 18 18 20
80 14 22 20 24
10.11 Circulating roadway

Circulating roadway Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Table 4.3
width single lane as defined in Table 6
Circulating roadway Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Table 4.4
width two lanes as defined in Table 6
11 Roads and Maritime Services Supplement to Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts.
58
The circulating roadway width may need to be increased to accommodate the swept path
of design vehicles.
Table 22 Circulating roadway width
Design vehicle
Central 12.5m single 14.5m single 19m semi- 25m B-double
island unit truck/bus unit bus trailer
radius
Single lane circulating roadway
5 Use template Use template 9.2 Use template
8 6.7 Use template 8.4 9.4


Two lane circulating roadway

8 9.7 Use template Use template Use template
12 9.0 Use template 10.6 11.5
14 8.8 Use template 10.2 11.1
16 8.6 Use template 10.0 10.8
18 8.4 Use template 9.7 10.5
20 8.2 Use template 9.5 10.2
10.12 Maximum entry path radii

The approach and entry treatment, is the most important geometric parameter of a
roundabouts because it controls the speed of entering traffic and consequently the safety
performance of the roundabout.
The maximum entry path radius for a single lane or two-lane roundabout is ≤ 55 metres
for all approach speeds in conformance with the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part
4B: Roundabouts, Table 4.2. If the prescribed values cannot be achieved, the central
island radius will need to be increased. 12
Two lane entry cutting across lanes is not permitted.
12 Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Section 4.4.3.
59
10.13 Alignment of entry and exit
Entry and exit paths must be tangential to the edge of the central island or a point in the
circulating roadway 13. Entry geometry must not aim traffic at the central island.
Design must not encourage drivers to cut across lanes to negotiate the entry.
Figure 22 Roundabout entry geometry

14
10.14 Design vehicle and swept paths

The design vehicles for swept paths are shown in Table 4 on page 16.
Design vehicles must be fully contained within the entry and exit lanes and circulating
roadway lanes of the roundabout, as shown in Figure 23 on page 61.
13 Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Figure 4.3.
14 The radial roundabout design shown in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Figure 4.18 and
accompanying text do not apply.
60
Figure 23 Design vehicles contained within roundabout lanes
Check vehicles must also be contained within lanes, but may be permitted to encroach
on a central island apron as shown in Figure 24.
Figure 24 Check vehicle encroaches on central island apron

61
10.15 Central island encroachment area
Central island encroachment areas may be necessary to accommodate the turning path
of Check Vehicles and buses on local road bus routes.
Road rule 115 (1)(a) requires that a driver driving in a roundabout must drive to the left
of the central traffic island in the roundabout. However, Road rule 115 (3) allows large
vehicles to drive over a roundabout if:
(a) the driver’s vehicle is too large to drive in the roundabout without driving over the
central traffic island, and
(b) the central traffic island is designed to allow a vehicle of that kind to be driven over
it, and
(c) the driver can safely drive over the central traffic island.
The design of central island encroachment areas is shown in the Austroads Guide to
Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Figure 4.11, reproduced in Figure 26 on page 63.
A pavement engineer must confirm the suitability of the Austroads pavement design for
the site conditions and vehicle loadings or design a different encroachment area cross
section.
Figure 25 Local road roundabout encroachment for buses
62
Figure 26 Encroachment area pavement
10.16 Control lines

Control lines must go through the centre of the central island. An example is shown in
Figure 27.
Figure 27 Roundabout control lines at centre of central island

63
10.17 Splitter islands
The area of splitter islands is shown in Table 23.
Table 23 Splitter island area
Roundabout location Desirable Minimum

splitter island splitter island
area area
(sqm) (sqm)
Arterial road roundabout 40 10
Local road roundabout with pedestrian crossings 10 8
Local road roundabout without pedestrian crossings 8 5
10.18 Grading a roundabout

The starting point for grading a roundabout is to design it as a “pancake” draped over
the intersecting road grade lines, not a “cone” placed on top of the grade lines. Note the
grade lines must go through the centre of the central island.
A roundabout must not be designed with a “fold” in the circulating roadway across a
grade line. 15
10.19 Crossfall
The grading of a roundabout should limit circulating roadway crossfall to a maximum of
3%.
10.20 Pedestrian and cyclist crossings at roundabouts

10.20.1 Pedestrian and cyclist rules at roundabouts
Unless there is a pedestrian crossing, there are no road rules requiring drivers to give
way to pedestrians when using a roundabout. Road rule 119 requires cyclists to give way
to any vehicle leaving a roundabout. The application of road rules makes pedestrians
and cyclists vulnerable when using roundabouts.
10.20.2 Pedestrian crossings at roundabouts

Pedestrian crossings at roundabouts must be located to provide adequate sight distance,
and have enough space on the splitter island to provide refuge to enable pedestrians to
cross the road in two stages. Kerb ramps should be located two car lengths from the
hold line to minimise obstruction to pedestrians from cars waiting at the hold line.
Pedestrian crossing points must have a slot through the splitter island so pedestrians do
not have to step onto the island.
15 The circulating roadway design with a fold line shown in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts,
Figure 4.14 and accompanying text do not apply.
64
Splitter islands should be a minimum of 2.4 metres wide where a pedestrian crossing
slot passes through the splitter island. In constrained situations on narrow local roads a
2.0-metre-wide pedestrian slot can be provided. 16
Pedestrian crossing slots may not be able to be provided on narrow local road
roundabout splitter islands. Pedestrians should be able to safety cross a narrow local
road in one stage, passing the end of the splitter island. However, if the design offsets
the crossing point away from the pedestrian desire line, desirable (not minimum) sight
distance between the pedestrian crossing point and approaching traffic must be
provided.
10.20.3 Cyclists on roundabouts

Narrow exit lanes should not be used as they will become a “squeeze point” for cyclists
waiting to give way to vehicles leaving the roundabout.
10.20.4 Roundabouts with pedestrian signals

Signalised pedestrian crossings should not be used on roundabouts. Experience has
shown drivers do not expect to stop when exiting a roundabout and when they do stop it
causes queuing on the circulating roadway that obstructs the roundabout. If there are
sufficient pedestrians to warrant signals, a traffic signal intersection should be provided.
Figure 28 Roundabout with pedestrian signals
16 2.0m wide pedestrian refuge in accordance with Transport for NSW Technical Direction TD 2011/01a Pedestrian
Refuges.
65
10.21 Contours
All roundabout designs and drawings must include legible contours at 0.1m (100mm)
intervals to enable check of the pavement profile and drainage.
10.22 No vegetated landscaping of central island

Vegetated landscaping of a roundabout central island is not permitted because it does
not comply with Safety-in-Design requirements described in Section 26.
Central island vegetated landscaping places maintenance personnel at risk because
they cannot park near the roundabout and they have to cross the circulating roadway on
foot while carrying equipment.
Traffic control is not an appropriate solution to providing central island vegetated
landscaping because it places personnel at risk while installing the traffic control and
clearance to requirements would require full or partial closure of the circulating roadway
while personnel are on the central island. 17
The Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Section 7 notes the road
safety and maintenance problems associated with landscaping on the central island.
Design standards that advocate vegetated landscaping of the central island, including
Austroads, do not meet Safety-in-Design requirements so are void.
17 When performing static or dynamic work, the minimum allowable clearance of 1.5 m must be maintained between
workers on foot, plant and traffic in accordance with the Transport for NSW Technical Manual TS 05492 Traffic control at
work sites Version 6.1, Section 4.3.4.
66
11. Design for buses
11.1 Key performance indicators for bus infrastructure
design
Key performance indicators for bus infrastructure design are:
a) Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.
b) Guideline for Promoting Compliance of Bus Stops with the Disability Standards for
Accessible Public Transport 2002, published by the Australian Human Rights
Commission.
c) State Transit Bus Infrastructure Guide.
d) Austroads Road Design Guide.
11.2 Bus stops

11.2.1 Bus stop drawings.
Provide a detailed, dimensioned layout of bus stops in the drawings, if there are bus
stops in the project area. The bus stop drawing must comply with the Guideline for
Promoting Compliance of Bus Stops with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public
Transport 2002.
Figure 29 Minimal compliant bus stop
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11.2.2 Bus stop arrangement
Indented bus bays created delays to buses because a bus has a standing start to enter
congested traffic lanes travelling at speed. In-lane bus stops are the preferred
arrangement because this allows buses to stop in the traffic lane, which reduces bus
delays compared by allowing buses to stop and re-enter traffic flow easily.
Where a parking lane is provided, kerb extensions can be used to bring the footpath into
the parking lane to meet the traffic lane, if drainage consideration are met.
Figure 30 In-lane bus stops

In-lane stops also make it much easier for the bus to park parallel to the stop for Disability
Standards for Accessible Public Transport compliant boarding, and provides a wider bus
passenger waiting area clear of the footpath, which allows additional space for stop
amenity.
Kerbside stops need to be marked clearly to ensure cars do not park in them, or park too
close, making entry to or exit from the stop difficult.
11.3 Bus stop location

The following factors influence the location of bus stops:
a) Bus stops are desirably located on the departure side of intersections and
pedestrian crossings.
b) Buses stopped on the approach to intersections and pedestrian crossings may
adversely reduce sight distance.
c) Locating bus stops on the departure side of pedestrian crossings will remove the
risk of pedestrians suddenly appearing on a crossing because they have been
hidden by the stationary bus.
d) Bus stops on the departure side of intersections need to be far enough away from
the intersection to ensure traffic stopped behind the bus does not queue into the
intersection.
e) A bus stop may have to cater for bus routes that travel straight through an
intersection as well as routes that turn at the intersection. In this case the location
of the stop will be dictated by the need to cater for several routes.
f) The location of a bus stop may be dictated by a major generator of bus passengers,
such as a shopping centre or school.
Where a bus stop is in close to a pedestrian crossing, fencing may be required to
discourage people for crossing the road away from the prescribed crossing point.
Bus stops should have connectivity to footpath networks.
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11.4 Bus lanes
11.4.1 Purpose of bus lanes
Dedicated bus lanes within the street helps public transport networks provide reliable,
convenient, and frequent service to passengers without delays from mixed traffic.
11.4.2 Bus lane delineation

Mark bus lanes by signs and pavement markings and red coloured pavement. Coloured
pavement reinforces lane designation and improves motorist compliance with the lane
restriction.
69
12. Design for pedestrians and cycleways
12.1 Pedestrian and cycleway key performance indicators
Key performance indicators for pathway and cycleway design are:
a) Roads and Traffic Authority NSW bicycle guidelines.
b) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Pedestrian and Cyclist Paths.
c) Victoria Department of Transport Supplement to Austroads Guide to Road Design
(AGRD) Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling (2021).
12.2 Pedestrian safety

Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to serious injury. Design for streets must strive to
ensure that conflicts are avoided and that design speeds through conflict zones are
commensurate with potential impact speeds that are survivable.
Behavioural speed is the speed that drivers adopt in response to the physical
environment of the streetscape.
10 km/h behavioural speed
Local Streets that include Shared Zones must ensure users mix at very low speeds.
Street features and geometry aim to keep speeds low and safe for pedestrians and
cyclists in shared travel zones.
Local Streets typically have pedestrian activity in the street. 30 km/h is a safe speed for
cyclists to ride in mixed traffic and presents low risks to people walking along and
crossing the street.
Lower order streets with a high degree of activity in all modes and high demand for
pedestrian crossings, such as Local Collectors, should aim to limit speeds to 40 km/h.
This balances the social and transit related needs of all street users.
60-70 km/h behavioural speed
Speeds of 60 km/h or higher are for roads where transit is the priority. These speeds are
potentially hazardous on urban streets with a variety of users. Extreme care must be
used to protect vulnerable users while maintaining the walking or cycling network.
12.3 Pedestrian crossings

12.3.1 Zebra crossing
The comparison between the striped crossing and the zebra is recorded as being made
by Jim Callaghan, who was a Member of the British Parliament in the late 1940’s who
observed crossing marking trials.
Non-standard three-dimensional crossings must not be used as
they encourage unsafe behaviour taking “selfies”.
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12.3.2 Wombat crossing
A wombat crossing is a zebra crossing on a wide elevated platform.
12.3.3 Children crossing

Children’s crossings are part-time crossings marked by red‑orange
flags. If the Childrens crossing is not be associated with a zebra or
wombat crossing then the slow down and stop rules only apply if the
flags are displayed.
12.3.4 Pelican crossing

A pelican crossing is a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights. Most pelican crossings have
the same lights and pedestrian signals as normal traffic lights. Some pelican crossings
have a different colour sequence for the traffic lights. After the red light, a yellow (amber)
light flashes for vehicles and a red pedestrian signal flashes for pedestrians. Pelican
crossings reduce vehicle delays by allowing traffic to move once the crossing is clear of
pedestrians.
The name is derived from Pedestrian Light Controlled crossing.
12.3.5 Puffin
A puffin crossing is the same as a pelican crossing except that it has infra-red devices to
detect the presence of pedestrians and keep the traffic light red for traffic until there are
no more pedestrians crossing the road. The ability to vary the crossing time enables
efficient cycle times.
The name is derived from Pedestrian User Friendly Intelligent crossing.
12.3.6 Toucan
A toucan crossing is the same as a pelican crossing except that in
addition to red and green person symbols there are also red and
green bicycle symbols that allow cyclists to cross without
dismounting.
The name is derived from the fact that ‘two can’ cross at the same
time.
12.3.7 Chicken crossing

No such thing.
12.4 Pedestrian refuge

Refuge islands should be designed to comply with Australian Standard AS1742.10
Manual of uniform traffic control devices: Pedestrian control and protection, Section 9,
Figure 7 – Pedestrian Refuge, with the additional practice noted in:
a) Transport for NSW Supplement to the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management
Part 6 – Intersections, Interchanges and Crossings.
b) Transport for NSW Technical Direction TDT 2011/01 Pedestrian Refuges.
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12.5 Approval of crossings
All pedestrian crossings must be approved by the Local Traffic Committee. Pedestrian
crossings that involve traffic signals must also be approved by Transport for NSW.
12.6 Access for mobility impairment

1.2m is accepted as a suitable width for two people to walk side by side, or one
wheelchair to move freely.
The Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling, Figure 3.4
provide pedestrian path width requirements for people with mobility impairment. This is
useful to consider in the context of parents with prams, parents walking alongside
children on scooters or bikes, and other pedestrians using mobility aids.
12.7 Pathway design

12.7.1 Narrow strips of landscaping
Avoid narrow strips of turf or landscaping next to a kerb. Maintenance puts people at risk
when mowing near moving traffic. A paved solution is preferable as shown in Figure 31.
Figure 31 Landscaping narrow strips
72
12.7.2 Obstructions
Avoid pathway obstructions.
Figure 32 Pathway obstruction
12.7.3 Level differences with no access

Where there are level differences with no access across the boundary, a retaining wall
near the kerb, as shown in Figure 33, will avoid disruptive property adjustments.
Figure 33 Level difference with no access
73
12.8 Kerb ramps
12.8.1 Kerb ramp considerations
Kerb ramps are an important element in providing universal access through urban
environments.
They provide access between the level of the footpath and carriageway for pedestrians,
particularly those using wheelchairs and other mobility aids, as well as people pushing
prams or carts.
Large corner radii make it difficult to provide compliant kerb ramps which allow for a
continuous pedestrian line of travel. Therefore, it is important to use the smallest practical
kerb return radius, to ensure that a safe and continuous path of travel can be provided.
The diagrams in Figure 34 illustrate that a smaller kerb return radius facilitates a
continuous path of travel for pedestrians, while a larger kerb return radius does not. This
is undesirable as it does not prioritise active forms of transport such as walking, and is
not the most intuitive path of travel, particularly for the visually impaired.
However, the adopted kerb return radii shall consider turning paths to ensure that check
vehicles do not potentially mount the kerb.
Match kerb ramp paving to adjoining footpath materials.
Orientate kerb ramps in the direction of travel.
Figure 34 Location of kerb ramps
12.8.2 Kerb ramp design for pedestrians

Kerb ramp design and positioning is to be in accordance with Transport for NSW
standard drawing R0300-11.
Standard drawing R0300-11 is shown in Appendix B.
74
12.8.3 Kerb extensions
Kerb extensions may enhance pedestrian safety by increasing pedestrian visibility,
shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles, and visually narrowing the
carriageway, as shown in Figure 35.
Figure 35 Kerb extensions

If kerb extensions are considered they must ensure:
a) Turning paths of vehicles to not result in vehicles crossing into opposing traffic.
b) Sight distance is not obstructed.
c) Stormwater is not ponded at the start of the kerb extension.
If these conditions cannot be met, a kerb extension must not be used.
12.9 Driveway crossovers

Continue the footpath paving and materials across the driveway to reinforce pedestrian
priority across driveway crossovers, as shown in Figure 36. The driveway material should
not cross the footpath.
Figure 36 Continue footpath material across driveways
75
12.10 Continuous footpaths
Unmarked continuous footpaths across an intersection, as shown in Figure 37, create
confusion about ‘right-of-way’ at the intersection. Confusion leads to potential for crashes
involving pedestrians, so continuous footpaths across an intersection are not permitted
unless they are formalised as a Wombat crossing.
Figure 37 Continuous footpath
12.11 Paving materials

Median, footpath and cycleway paving must comply with the colour and construction
requirements of Council’s Standard Drawings and any requirements of the prevailing
Development Control Plan.
12.12 Cycleway design

The provision of a cycleway or share path will be defined in the Scope-of-Work.
Cycleway design must consider the design guidance in the reference documents listed
in Section 12.1. A schematic showing design features that should not be done is shown
in Figure 38 including:
a) Raised priority cycleway crossings across roadways should not be done. The
priority is not supported by road rules.
b) Straight approaches that allow cyclists to ride fast in a conflict zone on a roadway
should not be done. Cyclists will be the loser in a crash with a vehicle.
c) Cycleway design should take into account sight line obstructions caused by
buildings and parked cars.
d) Landscaping should not create a sight line obstruction to a cycleway.
76
Figure 38 Cycleway design that should not be done
77
13. Design for stormwater and waterways
13.1 Stormwater and waterway design key performance
indicators
Key Performance Indicators for stormwater and waterway design are the following
reference documents:
a) Geoscience Australia Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation.
b) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and
Subsurface.
c) Operating manuals of computer models used for stormwater and waterway design.
13.2 Flood frequency terminology

Flood frequency terminology recommended by Australian Rainfall and Runoff is shown
as the blue shading in Figure 39. The equivalent terminology is also shown.
Figure 39 Flood frequency terminology
78
EY = Exceedances per year.
AEP = Annual Exceedance Probability, the probability of the event being equalled or
exceeded in any year as a percentage or 1 in x or 1:x.
ARI = Average Recurrence Interval expressed as 1 in x. 18
13.3 Stormwater and waterway analysis methodology

Stormwater and waterway analysis shall comply with the requirements of:
a) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and
Subsurface.
b) Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation.
Stormwater and waterway analysis shall be designed using a computer model.
Acceptable computer models are:
a) XP-RAFTS.
b) Drains.
c) HEC-HMS.
The Rational Method must not be used for stormwater and waterway design.
13.4 Waterway analysis process

Waterway analysis is critical for design of bridges that cross water courses. Analysis
shall be undertaken by a suitably prequalified and experienced practitioner.
Waterway analysis involves the following steps:
a) Review of previous investigations.
b) Site visit.
c) Survey.
d) Stormwater drainage system design.
e) Hydrology analysis, the calculation of flood discharges.
f) Hydraulic analysis, the calculation of flow patterns, pipeline performance,
inundation levels and flow velocities.
g) Reporting.
13.5 Review of previous investigations

Previous investigation reports will often contain valuable base data such as flood
observations and stormwater analysis that may be useful for the current project. While
these investigations have been prepared for other purposes, they may be useful for the
current project.
18Ball, J, Babister, M, et al., 2019, Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Book 1, Chapter 2, Figure 1.2.1, p9, Geoscience
Australia, Canberra.
79
13.6 Site visit
The site visit should meet the requirements of Section 28.
13.7 Survey
Survey shall comply with the Survey and Utility Location Specification and the Design
Format Specification.
13.8 Stormwater drainage system design standards

Stormwater drainage system design should comply with the principles and procedures
in the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A: Drainage – Road Surface, Networks,
Basins and Subsurface.
Design parameters in this specification shall apply to drainage system design. In the
event of any conflict between the parameters in this specification and the Austroads
guide, this specification shall have precedence.
13.9 Bridge and large culvert design standards

Design standards for bridges and bridge size culverts are detailed in the Bridge Design
Specification.
13.10 Hydrology analysis

Hydrology analysis uses the methodologies in Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide
to Flood Estimation, including:
a) Book 2: Rainfall Estimation.
b) Book 3: Peak Flow Estimation.
c) Book 4: Catchment Simulation.
d) Book 5: Flood Hydrograph Estimation.
In practice, computer programs listed in Section 13.3 are used to implement these
methods.
13.11 Hydraulic analysis

Hydraulic analysis should follow the procedures in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part
5A: Drainage – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and Subsurface, including:
a) Major / minor drainage concept.
b) Road surface drainage.
c) Aquaplaning.
d) Kerbed drainage.
e) Underground pipe networks.
f) Basins.
g) Subsurface drainage.
80
13.12 Reporting hydrology and hydraulic analysis
The hydrology and hydraulic background information, base data, assumptions, analysis
procedures, results and conclusions should be included in the Design Report.
13.13 Flood immunity

Flood immunity standards for stormwater and waterway drainage design are shown in
Table 24. As noted in Table 24, bridges may have a higher standard of design flood
immunity than the approach road in order to protect the structure from damage during a
flood.
Flood immunity for bridges is also known as the Serviceability Limit State.
Table 24 Stormwater and waterway flood immunity
Flood immunity parameter Value
Local road flood immunity, except bridges 1 in 10-year Annual Exceedance

Probability with 1 in 20 years for
transverse drainage in a sag unless
otherwise specified in the Scope-of-
Work or a Development Control Plan
or Subdivision Guide
Collector road flood immunity, except bridges 1 in 10-year Annual Exceedance
Probability with 1 in 20 years for
transverse drainage in a sag unless
otherwise specified in the Scope-of-
Work or a Development Control Plan
or Subdivision Guide
Sub-arterial road flood immunity, except bridges 1 in 20-year Annual Exceedance

Probability unless otherwise specified
in the Scope-of-Work or a
Development Control Plan or
Subdivision Guide
Arterial road flood immunity, except bridges 1 in 100-year Annual Exceedance

Probability unless otherwise specified
in the Scope-of-Work or a
Subdivision Guide
Flood evacuation route, including bridges 1 in 500-year Annual Exceedance

Probability flood must not result in flow
across the outbound traffic lanes of
the flood evacuation route.
Bridges on any class of road, except a flood 1 in 100-year Annual Exceedance

evacuation route Probability unless otherwise specified
in the Scope-of-Work or constrained
by the circumstances of the site and
approved
81
13.14 Roughness
A significant parameter used for analysis is Manning's 'n', a measure of channel
roughness. Guidelines for selection of Manning's n are included in Austroads Guide to
Road Design Part 5A – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and Subsurface. It is often
useful to consider a sensitivity analysis using Manning's n where there is uncertainty in
selection of an appropriate value.
13.15 Flood flow safety

The maximum vulnerability threshold for flood flows across areas accessed by people or
vehicles is the H1 classification in Figure 40 19.
Figure 40 Flood hazard vulnerability curves

Note: H = Hazard vulnerability classification.
19Smith, G, Cox, R, 2019, Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Book 6, Chapter 7, Figure 6.7.9 p260, Geoscience Australia,
Canberra.
82
13.16 Design parameters for culverts
The design parameters for bridges and bridge size culverts are detailed in the Bridge
Design Specification. Design parameters for culverts that are not on a flood evacuation
route are shown in Table 25. These parameters may be varied by the Scope-of-Work or
approval from us during the design.
Table 25 Culvert design parameters
Situation Design parameter
Blockage. Major system blockage on flood evacuation

routes must be derived from the method in
Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Chapter 6, Section
6. See Section 13.24.2 and Appendix A.
Maximum flood flow safety threshold. The H1 classification in Figure 40 on page 82.
Transverse drainage capacity. In accordance with the flood immunity criteria in

Table 24 on page 81.
Debris at a culvert. Debris deflector walls described in Section
13.24.5 on page 91 shall be installed on culverts
crossing a road. The barriers on the road crossing
the culvert shall be designed to prevent trapped
debris from being washed onto the road
carriageway.
Ultimate Limit State Ultimate failure limit state is the 1 in 2000-year
Annual Exceedance Probability flood
13.17 Design parameters for flood evacuation routes

The design parameters for bridges and bridge size culverts that are on a flood evacuation
route are shown in the Bridge Design Specification. The design parameters for culverts
on a flood evacuation route are shown in Table 26.
Table 26 Flood evacuation route culvert design parameters
Blockage. Major system blockage on flood evacuation

routes must be derived from the method in
Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Chapter 6, Section
6. See Section 13.24.2 and Appendix A.
Maximum flood flow safety threshold. Since 1 in 500-year Annual Exceedance

Probability flood flows should not cross a flood
evacuation route, the hazard vulnerability
threshold for a flood evacuation route will be the
lower bound of the H1 classification in Figure 40
on page 82.
Transverse drainage capacity across Transverse drainage across the flood evacuation
flood evacuation route. route shall be sufficient capacity to pass the 1 in
500-year Annual Exceedance Probability flood
flows with no floodwater across the road.
83
Desirable maximum flood immunity level The desirable maximum flood immunity level of a
(Serviceability Limit State) on a flood culvert on a flood evacuation route is the 1 in 500-
evacuation route. year Annual Exceedance Probability.
Absolute maximum afflux level at a Afflux at a culvert on a flood evacuation route

culvert on a flood evacuation route. shall not be higher than the kerb lip level of the
crossing roadway. The 1 in 100-year Annual
Exceedance Probability afflux at a culvert shall
not compromise the freeboard levels to
surrounding buildings as defined in Table 27 on
page 84.
Debris at a culvert crossing a flood Debris deflector walls described in Section
evacuation route. 13.24.5 on page 91 shall be installed on culverts
crossing a flood evacuation route. The barriers on
the road crossing the culvert shall be designed to
prevent trapped debris from being washed onto
the road carriageway.
Ultimate Limit State Ultimate failure limit state is the 1 in 2000-year
Annual Exceedance Probability flood
13.18 Freeboard
Freeboard design parameters are shown in Table 27. Culvert design will need to
consider the impact of afflux on the wider built environment to ensure the parameters
detailed in Table 27 are not exceeded.
Table 27 Freeboard
Situation Value
Residential habitable floor freeboard 0.5 metres unless otherwise specified in the
above channel Scope-of-Work or a Development Control Plan or
Subdivision Guide
above 1 in 100-year Annual Scope-of-Work or a Development Control Plan or
Exceedance Probability overland flow Subdivision Guide
above on-site detention Scope-of-Work or a Development Control Plan or
Subdivision Guide
Garage floor level freeboard 0.1 metres unless otherwise specified in the
Scope-of-Work or a Development Control Plan or
Subdivision Guide
Industrial floors At 1 in 100 Annual Exceedance Probability level

unless otherwise specified in the Scope-of-Work
or a Development Control Plan or Subdivision
Guide
Detention basin embankment above 0.5 metres unless otherwise specified in the
100-year storage level Scope-of-Work or a Development Control Plan or
Subdivision Guide
84
13.19 Design parameters for minor system pipeline design
Design parameters for the minor system pipeline design are shown in Table 28.
The values shown in Table 28 are to be applied if the value has not been specified in
other documents, in order of precedence:
1. Scope-of-Work.
2. Development Control Plans.
3. This Road and Stormwater Design Specification.
4. Council’s Subdivision Guide.
5. Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A – Road Surface, Networks, Basins and
Subsurface.
6. Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation.
Table 28 Piped drainage design parameters
Parameter Value
‘Drains’ model parameters
Soil type - normal 3.0
Paved (impervious) area depression storage 1.0mm

Supplementary area depression storage 1.0mm
Grassed (pervious) area depression storage 5.0mm
Antecedent moisture condition (AEP = 5 years) 2.5

Antecedent moisture condition (AEP = 10-20 3.0
years)
Antecedent moisture condition (AEP = 50-100 3.5
years)
Hydraulics
Downstream water surface For the design storm event, either:

• Hydraulic grade line level from
downstream calculations including
pit losses at the starting pit
• A level 0.15m below the invert of
the downstream pit when the
hydraulic grade line is unknown
• The top of the outlet pipe where
the outlet is an open channel
Water surface level in pits 0.15m below top of grate in kerb and
channel
Roadway flow width

General roadway flow width in a 1 in 10-year 2.5m
Annual Exceedance Probability design storm
Roadway flow width at bus stops, pedestrian 0.45m

ramps and kerb returns in a 1 in 10-year Annual
Exceedance Probability design storm
85
Parameter Value
Flow across carriageway at median breaks and 0.005m/s to reduce the risk of
superelevation changes in 1 in 1-year Annual aquaplaning
Exceedance Probability design storm
13.20 Pipe layout requirements

13.20.1 Minimum pipe size
Minimum pipe size is 375mm except for transverse drainage in a sag where the minimum
pipe size is 450mm, unless constrained by site conditions.
Minimum culvert size is 450mm width by 300mm height.
13.20.2 Pipe class

Pipes shall be minimum Class 4.
13.20.3 Pit location at pedestrian crossings

Pits must be located more than 1.0 metre from traffic signal pedestrian crossing line
marking to comply with Transport for NSW requirements.
Pits at unsignalized pedestrian crossings should preferably be located more than 1.0
metre from the pram ramp.
13.20.4 Minimum pipe grade

Minimum pipe grade is 0.5 percent for any pipe size in accordance with the Transport for
NSW Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A Supplement.
13.20.5 Subsurface drainage

Refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5A: Drainage: Road Surface,
Networks, Basins and Subsurface Section 8.
13.21 Hydraulic design parameters

Hydraulic design parameters are shown in Table 29.
Table 29 Hydraulic design parameters
Parameter Value
Design rainfall intensity
Rainfall intensity-frequency-duration Source from Bureau of Meteorology

2016 Design Rainfall Data System
Australian Rainfall and Runoff Data

River region From ARR Data Hub
ARF (Areal Reduction Factors) Parameters From ARR Data Hub
Storm losses From ARR Data Hub

Temporal Patterns From ARR Data Hub
Areal Temporal Patterns From ARR Data Hub
86
Parameter Value
BOM IFD Depths From ARR Data Hub
Median Preburst Depths and Ratios From ARR Data Hub
Other Preburst Depths and Ratios From ARR Data Hub

Catchment infiltration and antecedent condition (from Australian Representative
Basins Model (ARBM)) 20
Antecedent rainfall must be used with these parameters
CAPIMP Capacity of impervious area storage 1.5mm
ISC Interception storage capacity 1.0mm
DSC Depression storage capacity 1.0mm
USC Capacity – upper soil zone storage 15mm
LSC Capacity – lower soil zone storage 75mm
UH Maximum potential evapotranspiration 10mm/day

from upper soil zone
LH Maximum potential evapotranspiration 10mm/day
from lower soil zone
ER Proportion of evapotranspiration from 0.7

capacity upper soil zone storage
IDS Initial impervious area storage 0.0mm
IS Initial interception storage 0.0mm
DS Initial depression storage (pervious) 0.0mm
US Initial upper soil zone storage 10.0mm
LS Initial lower soil zone storage 34.7mm
GS Initial groundwater storage 0.1mm
GN-C Groundwater recession factor – 0.94mm

constant rate
GN-V Groundwater recession factor – 1.0mm

variable rate
SO Sorptivity of dry soil 15.85mm/min-0.5
Ko Hydraulic conductivity 1.223mm/min

LDF Lower soil drainage factor 0.05
KG Constant rate groundwater recession 0.94

factor
ECOR Rate of potential evaporation from ‘A’ 0.9

class pan
IAR Proportion of rainfall intercepted by 0.9
vegetation
20Lynch, S. 2004, Calibration of the UPRCT Hydrologic Model Notes, Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust,
Parramatta, unpublished.
87
Parameter Value
Percentage Impervious
Rural percentage impervious 5% or measured from aerial

photography unless otherwise
specified in the Scope-of-Work or a
Subdivision Guide
Residential – Medium density housing percentage 80% unless otherwise specified in the
impervious Scope-of-Work or a Development
Control Plan or Subdivision Guide
Residential – Detached housing percentage 80% unless otherwise specified in the
Residential – Tourist villages percentage 80% unless otherwise specified in the

Residential – Residential with environmental 30% unless otherwise specified in the

protection Scope-of-Work or a Development
Commercial (shops and offices) percentage 100% unless otherwise specified in
impervious the Scope-of-Work or a Development
Industrial (factories, warehouses) percentage 90% unless otherwise specified in the

Business park percentage impervious 70% unless otherwise specified in the
Scope-of-Work or a Development
Extractive industry (quarry) 80% unless otherwise specified in the
Special uses (schools) 50% unless otherwise specified in the

Active open space percentage impervious 50% unless otherwise specified in the
Passive open space (reserves) percentage 5% unless otherwise specified in the
National parks and reserves (bushland) 5% unless otherwise specified in the
Other percentage impervious Measured from aerial photography

Safety
People, vehicle and building stability The H1 classification in Section

13.24.5 on page 91.
88
Parameter Value
Flood affected land
Flood affected land standards See Development Control Plan
13.22 Lawful point of discharge

Roadway drainage systems must discharge onto adjoining property at a lawful point of
discharge. A lawful point of discharge must meet the following two criteria:
1. The location of the discharge must be under the lawful control of Council or other
statutory authority from whose permission to discharge has been received. This
will include drainage reserve, road reserve, or stormwater drainage easements.
2. The discharge must not cause an actionable nuisance (a nuisance which may lead
to a claim for damages arising out of the nuisance). If there is a reasonable risk of
damage to a third-party property, then consider, is the location of the discharge
under the lawful control of the local government or other statutory authority from
whom permission to discharge has been received? This will include a park,
watercourse, drainage or road reserve, stormwater registered drainage easement,
or land held by local government (including freehold land).
A natural watercourse may not be a lawful point of discharge unless the requirements of
the two tests are met.
13.23 Sediment control

Sedimentation problems within a multi-cell culvert can be managed by installing a
stepped invert so low flows pass through only one cell.
13.24 Assessment of blockage

Bridges, especially their abutments and foundations, can be more susceptible to
structural damage than culverts. Severe debris blockage can cause local variations in
flow velocity resulting in significant bed scour, undermining of abutment foundations and
exposure of bridge pier foundations.
Non-floating debris such as silts, sands, gravels and boulders can be deposited under
the bridge in locations where there is a change in bed gradient and sediment tends to
deposit. In some cases, the sedimentation may have a severe impact on the
performance of the bridge. This effect usually builds slowly and may reduce the waterway
area of the bridge over a long period of time.
Floating debris, especially vegetation is a more frequent occurrence and one that may
threaten the safety of the bridge during flood events. Usually, this process begins with a
large floating object such as a tree that has been displaced by bank slumping floats onto
the bridge and becomes wedged under the deck or between piers. This then acts to
collect other smaller pieces of debris and ultimately a large waterway area is lost. 21
21 Weeks. W. Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 11: Blockage of Hydraulic Structures Stage 1 Report,
Engineers Australia Water Engineering, November 2009, Section 2.4.5.
89
Figure 41 Blockage
13.24.1 Assessing the impact of blockage

Assessing the impacts of blockages requires consideration of the following issues on a
site-by-site basis:
a) Variations in the risk of blockage for different storm probabilities.
b) Hydraulic consequences of various degrees of blockage (ie changes in flood levels
and channel discharge due to inter-catchment flow exchange, and/or changes in
flood storage).
c) Potential impacts on the catchment, community assets, and public safety.
d) Environmental impacts such as interference to fish passage.
e) The consequences of blockages in excess of that assumed during the design
events.
f) The likelihood and consequences of structural damage resulting from blockages.
g) The potential path/s of bypass and overtopping flows (eg overland flows that may
pass through downstream properties before re-entering the waterway channel, and
flows that may exit the waterway and enter an adjacent roadway.
h) Potential for floor level flooding, especially flood level flooding that results from only
minor changes in the ‘design’ conditions of the waterway structure.
i) Potential adverse effects on both the ‘value’ and ‘use’ of adjacent land.
j) Potential, unrepairable property damage (eg damage to historical sites, or severe
erosion that threatens the structural integrity of public and private assets) 22.
22 Weeks. W. Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision Project 11: Blockage of Hydraulic Structures Stage 1 Report,
Engineers Australia Water Engineering, November 2009, Section 3.1.1.
90
13.24.2 Blockage Assessment Form
The methodology in Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Chapter 6, Section 6 shall be used
to determine the potential for blockage at bridges and culverts. The methodology is
codified in the Blockage Assessment Form in Appendix A.
The following definitions are required to use the Blockage Assessment Form:
L10 = The average length of the longest 10% of the debris reaching the site.
DP = Debris Potential, listed as High, Medium or Low.
BDES = Most likely inlet blockage percentage.
W= Inlet width in metres.
AEP = Annual Exceedance Probability as a percentage (see Figure 39 on page 78).
13.24.3 Methodology for assessment of blockage at bridges and large

culverts
Determining the potential for blockage at bridges and bridge size single cell culverts
(diagonal opening more than 6.0 metres) is detailed in the Bridge Design Specification
as using the Blockage Assessment Form in Appendix A with the following L10 values:
L10 = 1.5 metres for urban and rural areas.
L10 = 2.0 metres for dense forested areas.
13.24.4 Methodology for assessment of blockage at smaller culverts

Where the width of a culvert cell is close to the chosen value of L10 the calculations can
flip between low blockage or 100% blockage with a small change in cell size. This is not
representative of reality. To provide graded results for a cell size, calculate the potential
for blockage at smaller or multi-cell culverts twice using upper and lower bound values
for L10 on the Blockage Assessment Form, as follows 23:
Step 1. Calculate lower bound values using L10 = 1.2 metres.
Step 2. Calculate upper bound values using L10 = 1.5 metres for urban and rural areas
and 2.0 metres for dense forested areas.
Step 3 Using the inlet width for a culvert cell, interpolate between blockage factors
derived from the lower and upper bound values of L10.
13.24.5 Culvert debris deflector walls

Culverts shall be designed with debris deflector walls as shown in Figure 42 24 on page
92. The purpose of these walls is to allow the debris that normally collects around the
central leg to rise with the flood. Following the flood the bulk of the debris rests on the
deflector wall allowing easier removal.
23
Values consider the sensitivity analysis in the Transport for NSW Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation Road
Resilience Stormwater / Flood Modelling Specification 2022 which adopted recommendations from the Wollongong City
Council Review of Conduit Blockage Policy–Summary Report 2016.
24Smith, G, Cox, R, 2019, Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Book 6, Chapter 7, Figure 6.6.3 p242, Geoscience Australia,
Canberra.
91
Figure 42 Culvert debris deflector walls
13.24.6 Blockage of piped drainage systems

Design values for pit capacity and blockage shown in Table 30 are derived from
Australian Rainfall and Runoff and its research papers shown in the footnotes.
Table 30 Pit blockage
Type of structure Pit capacity Pit capacity

(blockage) in minor (blockage) in major
event (%) 25 event (%) 26
Sag pits
Sag pit with kerb and grate inlet 80% (20% blocked) 80% (20% blocked)
Sag pit with kerb inlet only 80% (20% blocked) 80% (20% blocked)
Sag pit with grate inlet only 50% (50% blocked) 50% (50% blocked)
On-grade pits
On-grade pit with kerb and grate inlet 90% (10% blocked) 90% (10% blocked)
On-grade pit with kerb inlet only 80% (20% blocked) 80% (20% blocked)
On-grade pit with grate inlet only 60% (40% blocked) 60% (40% blocked)
Field inlets 27
Flush mounted field inlet pit 20% (80% blocked) 0% (100% blocked)
Elevated field inlet pit 50% (50% blocked) 0% (100% blocked)
Dome screen 50% (50% blocked) 0% (100% blocked)

Headwall style inlet See Section 13.24.4 See Section 13.24.4
25Roso. S, Sterren. M, 2019, Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Book 9, Chapter 4, Table 9.5.1 p120, Geoscience Australia,
Canberra.
Coombes. P, Roso, S, Babister M, 2019, Australian Rainfall and Runoff, Book 9, Chapter 6, Table 9.6.9 p198,
26
Geoscience Australia, Canberra.
27 Weeks, W et al, 2013, Project 11: Blockage of Hydraulic Structures Stage 2 Report, Table 7.1 p7-23, Fortitude Valley.
92
13.25 Pits on kerb returns
Pits with a curved lintel on a kerb return require a special lintel design and are prone to
be crushed by trucks. For this reason, sags within a kerb return should be avoided.
If a sag is required on a kerb return a pit without a lintel shall be provided in the sag. A
pit with a lintel shall be placed on a straight section of kerb uphill of the sag to
compensate for the loss of capacity in the sag pit.
13.26 Proximity of pits to vehicle and pedestrian crossings

13.26.1 Locations stormwater pits not permitted
Stormwater inlet pits are not permitted at the following locations:
a) Within a kerb return except if absolutely unavoidable in which case the provisions
of Section 13.25 apply.
b) Within a signalised pedestrian crossing.
c) Within kerb ramps at non-signalised pedestrian crossings.
d) Within vehicle crossings.
13.26.2 Modification to existing pits at not permitted locations

Where there are existing kerb inlet pits at proposed vehicle or pedestrian crossing sites,
the existing pit should be removed and a new pit constructed out of the problem area, if
possible. However, if site constraints prevent removal, the pit shall be modified as
follows:
a) If the existing pit is in a driveway crossing and is to be retained, a grated cover
shall be provided.
b) If the existing pit is in a pedestrian crossing and is to be retained, a solid infill cover
shall be provided.
c) An additional kerb inlet pit or pits shall be provided upstream of the modified pit to
ensure equivalent inlet capacity is retained. At sag pits the additional pit should be
on the side receiving the majority of flows.
d) Where site constraints prevent installation of an additional pit on the upstream side,
it is permitted to install new kerb inlet pits on the downstream side.
If a new pit is to be constructed over the top of an existing pipeline, it is expressly
prohibited to construct the pit as a saddle on top of the pipe. Pipes are not designed to
carry point loads. A full new pit must be constructed.
13.27 Drainage structure schedule on drawings

The Design Format Specification contains full details of requirements for drainage
drawings including a drainage structure schedule showing:
a) Reference string chainage.
b) Set-out co-ordinates for structure centres.
c) Pit / structure identifiers.
d) Type of pit or structure.
93
e) Invert levels.
f) Surface levels.
g) Type of pipe.
h) Pipe size.
i) Strength class.
j) Length of pipe between pit centres.
13.28 Pavement contours

To facilitate checking of the design, pavement contours are to be provided on the SW
Stormwater pavement and contours drawing.
Pavement contours are to be clearly visible when printed at 0.1m (100mm) contour
intervals with major contours at 0.5m intervals in a heaver line with level shown.
13.29 Drainage easements

All drainage structures through private land that drain public land or drain adjoining
private land shall be located within drainage easements.
All drainage easements shall comply with the following:
a) Easement terms shall be in accordance with the standard terms for a Drainage
Easement under the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW).
b) Where the conduit drains public land, the easement shall be in favour of the local
government.
c) Where the conduit does not drain any public land, the easement shall be in favour
of the private land that drains through the conduit
d) In all cases, authority to modify or extinguish the easement shall be vested in the
local government.
e) Easement widths shall be in accordance with Table 31.
Table 31 Easement widths
Conduit diameter or width Width

375mm to less than 750mm 1.8m

1500m or greater with depth less than 3.0m Diameter / width plus 2.0m
1500mm or greater with depth more than 3.0m Diameter / width plus 4.0m
94
14. Design for pavements
14.1 Pavement design concepts
Site specific traffic modelling must be used to determine pavement design criteria for
detail design and Accepted-for-Construction designs. See the Geotechnical and
Pavement Design Specification for details.
Strategic and Concept road designs may use the generic pavement designs shown in in
Table 32 for the purposes of estimating only.
Table 32 Generic pavement designs for estimating only
Wearing Course
AC Intermediate
Total Thickness
Cemented Sub-
Pavement Type
and Base (mm)
Select material
Course (mm)
Base Course
zone (mm)
base (mm)
Sub-base
Option
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
Sub-arterial
CBR 3.5% Deep lift Asphaltic Concrete over select 50 190 - - - 300 540
Option 1 material
CBR 3.5% Flexible pavement with thin Asphaltic 50 - 170 - 440 - 660
Option 2 Concrete over granular bases
CBR 3.5% Thick Asphaltic Concrete over 50 150 - 200 - 300 700
Option 3 cemented sub-base
CBR 4.5% Deep lift Asphaltic Concrete over select 50 175 - - - 300 525
Option 1 material
CBR 4.5% Flexible pavement with thin Asphaltic 50 - 170 - 370 - 590
Option 2 Concrete over granular bases
CBR 4.5% Thick Asphaltic Concrete over 50 135 - 200 - 300 685
Option 3 cemented sub-base
Major collector (bus route and inter-precinct traffic)
Option 1 Flexible pavement over granular base 25 100 300 - - - 425
Minor collector
Option 1 Thick Asphaltic Concrete over granular 25 100 - - 200 - 375

base
Major local

base
Option 2 Flexible pavement with thin Asphaltic 40 - 150 - 150 - 340
Concrete over granular bases
Minor local
base
95
96
1
Option
Roundabouts
rolled concrete
Pavement Type
Deep lift Asphaltic Concrete on 5Mpa
Wearing Course
50
(mm)
AC Intermediate
175
and Base (mm)

-
Base Course
(mm)
Cemented Sub-
150
base (mm)
-
Sub-base
Course (mm)
-
Select material
zone (mm)
Total Thickness
375
(mm)
15. Design for landscaping
15.1 Landscaping design key performance indicators
Key performance indicators for landscape design are compliance with:
a) Development Control Plan requirements.
b) Roads and Traffic Authority Landscape Guideline.
c) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6B: Roadside Environment.
15.2 Function of street planting

In the 1950s Sydney was largely an urban desert devoid of street planting. Now street
planting is taken for granted. The then and now contrast is shown in the photos of the
same street in Figure 43.
Image: Dale Budd and Randall Wilson from “Bondi to the Opera House: The Trams that Linked Sydney”.
Figure 43 Street planting in Sydney 1950s and now

When properly selected, located, planted, and maintained street planting can improve
streetscape aesthetics and unify and coordinate streets and precincts. Street trees are
an effective way to mitigate urban heat island effect.
Planting a mixture of tree species in a street enables appropriate species to be selected
to suit the local microclimate, underlying soils and physical constraints.
15.3 Plant selection

15.3.1 Street tree selection issues
In selecting street trees there are many issues to be considered, including:
a) The placement of street trees must consider the risk threshold for treatment of
roadside hazards determined using the method described in Appendix B – Detailed
Risk Evaluation Procedure of the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6:
Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers. The VicRoads AGRD Part 6 Risk Score
Calculator V10 can be used to facilitate the calculation.
b) Ensure the tree is appropriate for the soil type.
97
c) Ensure the height and spread of the crown will not come within the exclusion zone
of overhead electrical cables.
d) Ensure street lighting will not be compromised when the tree reaches maturity.
e) Ensure the height of the tree chosen considers what it could fall on if the tree is
uprooted in high winds.
f) Ensure high branching types are selected where the crown will overhang the
carriageway.
g) Avoid spreading canopy trees which may impact double deck buses along bus
routes.
h) Ensure fallen nuts will not cause a slip hazard on footways and cycleways.
i) Ensure the type chosen can cope with the low water environment associated with
being surrounded by paved areas and road pavements and extended dry periods
and exposure to heat and wind.
j) Ensure root spread will not compromise drainage systems and road pavements.
k) Ensure the root ball will not tear up expensive utilities such as fibre optic cables if
the tree is uprooted in high winds.
l) Ensure the mature trunk width at ground level will not encroach on footpaths or lift
the kerb.
m) Ensure tree is appropriate to the available soil volumes, permeable surfaces and
passive irrigation.
n) Ensure the species chosen can cope with the available permeable surfaces
surrounding the base of the tree.
o) Ensure selected trees re commercially available in the desired numbers and size
for planting programs.
15.3.2 Street planting selection criteria

Plant selection shall be in accordance with the Development Control Plan that has
coverage of the site. In the absence of other specifications, the street tree selection
shown in Table 33 on page 99 shall apply.
Deciduous trees must not be specified, to avoid blockage of street drainage systems and
de-oxygenation of waterways.
Street planning selection needs to consider the following selection criteria.
a) Drought tolerance.
b) Heat tolerance.
c) Wind tolerance.
d) Longevity.
e) Pollution tolerance.
f) Pathogen and pest susceptibility and manageability.
g) Potential as allergen.
h) Shade cast.
98
i) Maintenance required.
j) Tree litter.
Table 33 Street trees
Scientific name Common name Preferred soils Common

height
Angophora floribunda Thin-Leaved Alluvial soil 30 m
Stringybark
Backhousia citriodora Lemon Myrtle Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 8m

Clay loam, Poor soil
Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle Alluvial soil, Clay loam 3m
Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia Sandy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, 15 m

Saline, Poor soil
Brachychiton Kurrajong Sandy, Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay 20 m
populneus loam, Poor soil
Callistemon “Kings Weeping Sandy loam 5m

Park Special” Bottlebrush
Callistemon salignus White Bottlebrush Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay 10 m
loam, Poor soil
Callistemon viminalis Weeping Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 8m

Bottlebrush Clay loam, Poor soil
Corymbia eximia Yellow Bloodwood Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, 20 m
Poor soil
Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 60 m

Elaeocarpus Blueberry Ash Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, 15 m
reticulatus Poor soil
Eucalyptus amplifolia Cabbage Gum Sandstone or shale soils, Sandy 30 m

loam
Eucalyptus crebra Narrow-Leaved Sandy loam 35 m
Ironbark
Eucalyptus elata River Peppermint Alluvial soils 40 m
Eucalyptus Thin-leaved Clay loam, Sandstone soils 30 m

eugenioides Stringybark
Eucalyptus fibrosa Broad-Leaved Clay loam, Heavy clay, tolerates 35 m

Stringybark Sandy soil
Eucalyptus Scribbly Gum Sandy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, 15 m
haemastoma Poor soil
Eucalyptus Tallowood Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 40 m

microcorys Clay loam, Poor soil
Eucalyptus Grey Box Clay loam 30 m
moluccana
Eucalyptus Grey Ironbark Heavy clay and transitional soils 50 m

paniculata
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Scientific name Common name Preferred soils Common
height
Eucalyptus punctata Grey Gum Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 35 m
Eucalyptus Forest Red Gum Alluvial soil, Sandy loam, Gravel 50 m

tereticornis
Glochidion Cheese Tree Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 30 m
ferdinandii Clay loam, Potting mix, Poor soil
Leptospermum Lemon-scented Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 5m

petersonii Tea Tree Clay loam, Poor soil
Leptospermum Tantoon Tea Tree Sandy loam and clay loam 4m
polygalifolia
Lophostemon Brush Box Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay loam, 40 m

confertus Poor soil
Melaleuca bracteate Revolution Gold Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 4m
‘Revolution Gold’ Honey Myrtle Clay loam, Saline, Poor soil
Melaleuca decora Feather Honey Heavy clay 10 m

Myrtle
Melaleuca Broad Leaf Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 20 m
quinquenervia Paperbark Clay loam, Saline, Poor soil
Melaleuca linariifolia Snow in Summer Clay loam 3m
Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine Tree Sandy loam to Heavy clay 25 m
Melaleuca Prickly Paperbark Sandy loam, adaptable to clay 20 m

styphelioides loam
Syzygium luehmannii Riberry Lilly Pilly Sandy, Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay 15 m
loam, Saline, Poor soil
Syzyhium smithii Lilly Pilly (not Clay loams adaptable to sand 20 m

cultivars)
Tristaniopsis laurina Water Gum Sandy, Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam, 15 m
Tristaniopsis laurina Luscious Water Loamy, Sandy loam, Clay loam 12 m

'Luscious' Gum
Waterhousia Weeping Lilli Pili Clay, Loamy, Sandy loam 30m
floribunda
100
Figure 44 Fallen nuts creating a slip hazard on a path
Image: David Wilkins
15.4 Street trees in the carriageway

Street trees in the carriageway create an impact hazard, lift kerbs, compromise drainage
and damage road pavements. Street trees must not be planted in carriageways.
Figure 45 Damage caused by street trees in the carriageway

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15.5 Soils and soil volume
The landscape plan must specify the soil type on the site and whether this information
was obtained by investigation or reference to soils maps.
Tree soil volume refers to the volume of available growing media available to support the
growth of street tree roots. Sufficient soil volume needs to be provided for all new street
trees to ensure they are able to grow at a reasonable rate, reach maximum canopy size,
and maintain vitality for the duration of their useful life.
Provision of generous soil in planting areas needs to be provided in design if larger street
trees are proposed. In areas where soil volumes are constrained, smaller species will be
required to ensure the mature tree form is suitable for the available soil.
Soil volume can be calculated by considering the availability of soil of suitable quality,
and can include existing site soils in areas adjoining street tree planting and beyond
adjacent property boundaries
The environmental and economic benefits of street trees increase substantially if they
remain viable for the usual life span of a tree which is between 50 and 150 years.
15.6 Soil volume calculations

Tree roots typically grow within the top 500-600mm of soil depth and may occasionally
grow to a greater depth. Do not include soil below a depth of 1000mm within soil volume
calculations. Adjacent site soil can be included in soil volume calculations if it can be
demonstrated that tree roots have unrestricted access to it.
Table 34 Soil volume guide
Tree size Typical height Minimum soil Minimum soil

volume per tree in volume per tree
individual tree pit in shared trench
(cum) (cum)
Small To 4m 9 6
Small / medium 4m to 9m 14 9
Medium 7m to 10m 21 14
Tall 9m to 12m 33 22
Tall and wide 8m, canopy 14m wide 44 29
15.7 Tree root barriers

Tree root barriers are to be applied to a maximum of two sides of a tree pit. When root
barrier is installed as two parallel sides, a minimum distance of 1.5m between each side
should be maintained.
Tree root barriers should prioritise the protection of utility assets - not the constriction of
tree roots – and should be located to maximise access for tree roots to adjacent areas
of soil.
Maximum depth of tree root barriers is 300mm when applied to protect pavement, and
900mm when applied to protect in-ground utilities.
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Canopy cover calculations for street types must consider the potential stunting effect of
tree root barriers. Trees that have limited root space develop smaller root systems in
proportion to canopy growth. This results in water stress that can predispose the tree to
secondary pest and disease problems.
15.8 Paved tree pits

Paved tree pits refer to the planting of street trees in areas of paving which extends to
the base of the tree and soil volumes are provided under adjoining paved surfaces.
Paved tree pits use hard surfaces around the base of street trees in constrained or urban
environments, where alternate uses such as large pedestrian movements need to be
prioritised.
Examples of paved tree pit materials include bound granites or gravels, tree grates and
permeable pavers. Maximise use of permeable pavement around tree pits to provide
water infiltration to subsurface soil.
15.9 Assessment of hazard

The road safety implications of the distance between the kerb and the mature face of
trees must be considered when planning tree planting.
The hazard of trees adjacent to the road are to be assessed using the VicRoads AGRD
Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10. Ignore the Network Roadside Risk Intervention
Threshold (NRRIT) values in the VicRoads AGRD Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10.
A Network Roadside Risk Intervention Threshold (NRRIT) of 2.0 is to be used to
determine if the proposed location of tree planting meets road safety requirements
(unless a different value has been published by Council).
For the avoidance of doubt, trees should not be placed near the kerb if the calculated
risk is more than 2.0. Risk calculations must accompany landscape plans submitted for
review.
15.10 Roundabout central island landscaping

The landscaping of a roundabout central island must be paving materials. Vegetated
landscaping of a roundabout central island is not permitted because it does not comply
with Safety-in-Design requirements, as explained in Section 10.22.
Design standards that advocate vegetated landscaping of the central island, including
Austroads, do not meet Safety-in-Design requirements so are void.
15.11 Street furniture

15.11.1 Design guidance for street furniture
Street furniture is the collective term for elements installed along the street, such as
seats, rubbish bins, bicycle racks, bollards, drinking fountains, parking meters, utility
poles, and traffic and parking signage.
Street furniture provides amenity and function for of uses of the street.
Consider Street furniture as a family of elements thoughtfully coordinated to contribute
to the identity and character of the streetscape.
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Co-locate Street elements as often as possible in a way that contributes to street amenity
and function. For example, seating should be located under street trees, or rubbish bins
located near traffic signals at pedestrian crossings.
15.11.2 Design requirements for street furniture

Roadside furniture must be designed to the principles in the Guide to Road Design Part
6B: Roadside Environment.
Ensure Street furniture is clear of pedestrian paths of travel and does not inhibit desire
lines.
Locate all street furniture a minimum of 0.6m from the face of adjacent kerb, except for
seating for which it is preferable to locate 1.0m from the face of kerb.
Place bicycle racks in clusters clear of pedestrian paths of travel and where they do not
inhibit desire lines.
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16. Design for traffic calming
16.1 Self-explaining roads
Traffic Calming refers to the use of physical design measures, such as kerb extensions
and lane narrowing, to create a balance between the movement and place functions of
a street. It usually requires a change in a typical condition, alerting drivers to the potential
presence of other road users and maintaining slow behavioural speeds.
The principle of self-explaining roads is one aspect of the safer roads approach. Self-
explaining roads naturally encourage drivers to adapt their behaviour in a way that is
compatible with the design, function, and speed of a road.
Additionally, a self-explaining road can potentially reduce the need for a large number of
traffic devices to control behaviour.
Street environment appearance reinforces their intended function and speed posting.
Drivers should feel uncomfortable exceeding the speed limit, and should be aware of the
type of conditions ahead without excessive prompting from road signage.
Examples of traffic calming options are shown in Figure 47 on page 106.
16.2 Type of traffic calming devices not permitted

Not permitted traffic calming devices are devices that force traffic into the path of
oncoming vehicles, such as a one-lane chicane, as shown in Figure 46.
Figure 46 One lane chicane not permitted
105
Figure 47 Traffic calming options
106
17. Design for signposting and delineation
17.1 Signposting and delineation key performance
indicators
Key performance indicators for signposting and delineation are:
a) Transport for NSW TS 05462:1.0 Delineation and Pavement Marking.
b) Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, AS 1743 Road Sign – Specifications.
c) Transport for NSW Road Sign Register.
d) Directional signposting must comply with the Austroads Guide to Traffic
Management Part 10: Traffic Control and Communication Devices and the
Transport for NSW Supplement to Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part
10: Traffic Control and Communication Devices.
17.2 Roadside facilities key performance indicators

Key performance indicators for roadside facilities are:
a) Parking must be designed to the principles in the Guide to Road Design Part 6B:
Roadside Environment.
b) Driver facilities must be designed to the principles in the Guide to Road Design
Part 6B: Roadside Environment.
17.3 Signposting requirements

The re-use and relocation of existing signposting is to be assessed and clearly identified.
All signposting is to be compatible with the delineation layout and must be appropriate
for the climatic, lighting, design speed, urban design and traffic conditions expected for
the project.
Provide motorists with progressive and consistent information to the road user and
clearly indicate upcoming features (eg roundabouts) and reassurance about the route
selected and trip distances involved.
Where the sign is free standing and situated close to the road, refer to Section 18 for
design requirements for protection of errant vehicles.
Provide vertical clearances beneath signs which are adequate for the environment in
which the sign is placed. For example, signs near cycleways should be above head
height of cyclists.
Utilise standard signs for standard situations. Innovative measures should only be used
where non-standard conditions exist and the standards do not provide an appropriate
sign. Approval to use any non-standard sign must be sought from the local traffic
committee.
The design of sign locations must ensure:
a) Clearance to overhead obstructions and utility services.
b) That the size of the sign is compatible with the available space in which it is to be
erected.
107
c) That the sign itself does not restrict sight distance on curves, intersections,
driveways, other traffic control devices (such as traffic control signal, stop signs
etc.) or other road side furniture such as bus stops.
d) That the lateral and vertical positioning of the sign is appropriate with regard to the
protection of the sign from impact/vandalism.
e) That the height, lateral position and direction of the sign are appropriate to the
intended message.
f) That signs will not be obstructed by urban design features, street lighting/other
street furniture, landscaping and the visual scheme or reflection from street
lighting.
g) That signs do not obstruct or conflict with each other and are appropriately spaced
to avoid overloading drivers with information.
h) Consideration of maintenance.
i) Appropriate signposting for pedestrians and cyclists and incorporate signs
associated with warnings, speed zones, place names, feature names and
appropriate symbols.
k) Appropriate signposting for tourist routes.
Directional signposting must be provided in accordance with the Transport for NSW
Guide to Signposting and in consultation with Transport for NSW. Directional signposting
must be consistent with the State Road network.
All overbridges and underpasses must have road name signs and be signposted in
accordance with the directional signage scheme. All creeks and rivers must have the
waterway name displayed in accordance with the directional signage scheme.
Temporary delineation and signposting are to be designed to conform with the Transport
for NSW Traffic control at worksites Technical Manual.
Speed limit signs are to be provided in accordance with NSW Speed Zoning Guidelines
and approved by the local Traffic Committee.
17.4 Approval by local Traffic Committee

The drawings must include a note that the proposed signposting must be approved by
the local Traffic Committee before implementation.
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18. Design for errant vehicles
18.1 Design for errant vehicles performance indicators
Key performance indicators for design for errant vehicles are compliance with:
a) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers.
c) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6B: Roadside Environment.
d) VicRoads AGRD Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10.
e) Transport for NSW Technical Information Accepted Road Safety Barrier Systems
and Devices.
18.2 Warrant for treating hazards

The risk threshold for treating a hazard is known as a Network Roadside Risk
Intervention Threshold (NRRIT) as described in Section 2.4 of the Austroads Guide to
Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers.
A risk value of 2.0 is to be used as the intervention risk threshold for treatment of roadside
hazards (unless a different value has been published by Council).
The hazard of objects adjacent to the road are to be assessed using the VicRoads AGRD
Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10. Ignore the Network Roadside Risk Intervention
Threshold (NRRIT) values in the VicRoads AGRD Part 6 Risk Score Calculator V10.
A Network Roadside Risk Intervention Threshold (NRRIT) of 2.0 is to be used to
determine if the object adjacent to the roadway requires treatment (unless a different
value has been published by Council).
If a safety barrier is proposed, the warrant for a safety barrier must be determined by
using the method in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety
and Barriers.
18.3 Safety barrier design

Safety barrier design Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety
and Barriers
18.4 Safety barrier selection

Safety barrier selection Transport for NSW TS 00028 Accepted Road Safety Barrier Systems
and Devices
109
18.5 Safety barrier location on urban corners
If a safety barrier is required on an urban corner, it must be located on the fence line
rather than over the kerb. This will avoid the problem of shorter than minimum safety
barrier lengths, lack of terminals, locating a terminal on the kerb line and will avoid
problems with pedestrian access across the barrier, as shown in Figure 48.
Terminal
Terminal
Terminal on kerbline
may be subjected to
Barrier on property line

nuisance impacts
Barrier on kerbline
Terminal
Barrier is clear of
pedestrian conflicts
Unacceptable
shorter than
minimum safety
barrier length.
Suitable terminals
cannot be provided
al
Termin
e
kerblin
barr ier on
Short Unacceptable
gaps in barrier for
al
Termin
pedestrian access
Unacceptable shorter than

minimum safety barrier length.
Suitable terminals cannot be
Barrier on corner.wmf
provided
Figure 48 Safety barrier location on corners
110
19. Design for ancillary facilities
19.1 Noise wall and screen design key performance
indicators
Key performance indicators for noise wall and screen design are:
a) Transport for NSW Noise Wall Design Guideline: Design guideline to improve the
appearance of noise walls in NSW.
b) Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6B: Roadside Environment.
19.2 Structural and retaining wall design

Structural and retaining wall designs must comply with:
a) Australian Standards.
b) Transport for NSW design guides for structural and retaining wall design.
19.3 Road Safety Audit Report

A Road Safety Audit is required if specified in the Scope-of-Work or Table-of-
Deliverables. The Scope-of-Work will specify if the Road Safety Audit is to be arranged
by you or us.
Road Safety Audits must conform to the Road Safety Audit Specification.
The resolution of issues raised in a Road Safety Audit Report must be documented in
the Issues Log.
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20. Design for property adjustments
20.1 Property adjustment key performance indicators
Key performance indicators for property adjustment design are:
a) Residential Vehicle Crossings guidelines.
b) Dividing Fences Act.
c) Roads Act.
d) Local Government Act.
e) Building Code of Australia (BCA).
f) State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021.
g) Transport for NSW QA Specification R204 Property Adjustments.
20.2 Types of property adjustment

There are two types of property adjustment:
a) Property adjustments requiring property acquisition.
b) Property adjustments that only impact levels on the property boundary and don't
require acquisition.
20.3 Property adjustment survey requirements

The survey used for property adjustments must provide:
a) A mark in a location that can be used to set out levels using a string line and spirit
level.
b) Sufficient detail to enable levels along the existing or new boundary to be defined.
c) Location and level of property improvements including, driveways, paths, walls,
stairs.
d) Location of meters (water, gas and electrical if affected) and underground services.
e) Outline of garden beds.
f) Location of significant vegetation and trees, including the extent of the crown of
trees.
f) Outline of building facades if they are close to the area to be adjusted.
20.4 Photographs
Photographs must be taken of the area to be affected by property adjustments, including
photographs of the driveway and frontage area of the property.
20.5 Property Adjustment Record and Requirement

Schedule
Before commencing property adjustment, submit to us a Property Adjustment Record
and Requirement Schedule, as shown in Figure 49.
112
The photo record of the site must be in sufficient detail to provide a reference for design
and evidence in the event of a dispute.
Figure 49 Property adjustment record and requirement schedule
20.6 Property adjustment design requirements

The design of property adjustments must comply with Council standards and the key
performance indicators listed in Section 20.1.
Adjustment of residential driveways must comply with the requirements of residential
vehicle crossings guidelines.
Fences may not need approval if they can meet the development standards for exempt
development. If the fence is a dividing fence (separating the lot from an adjoining owner’s
lot), the Dividing Fences Act applies.
All works must be structurally adequate, and designed in accordance with manufacturer’s
specifications and comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
Proposals to remove or prune any existing trees or vegetation must comply with State
Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 and the Council
Development Control Plan.
Any structures that would be located on public land or on or over a public road (including
temporary structures) require separate approval from Council or Transport for NSW
under the Roads Act and the Local Government Act.
Property adjustments must comply with any heritage conservation requirements.
20.7 Driveway design requirements

Construction crews working on property adjustments may not have access to a level.
The design information on the property adjustment plan must be presented in a form that
can be set out using a string line, tape measure and spirit level.
The levels of driveway design must comply with Council driveway design requirements
and standard drawings.
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Driveway design must include:
a) A dimensioned plan view of the driveway.
b) A longitudinal section of the centre of the driveway, including levels at the boundary
and change of grade. Levels at the boundary must be given for the centreline and
each edge of the driveway. 28
c) A cross section of driveway pavement construction showing materials and depths
of pavement materials.
d) Description notes that must include:
Driveway construction must comply with Council’s standard drawings.
Driveway levels at the boundary must be Xmm above the edge of the gutter
crossing closest to the boundary. The side slope of the driveway at the boundary
must be the same as the slope of the kerb.
20.8 Property adjustment drawing requirements

The property adjustment drawings must show as a minimum:
a) Plan view of site with cadastral boundaries.
b) Existing building façade location with floor level, if near the proposed work.
c) Plan view of improvements such as driveways, fences, paths, stairs and any other
features affected by the adjustment.
d) Plan view of utilities such as water service lines, water meters, gas service lines,
gas metres, telephone service conduits, electricity service conduits and overhead
power and telephone lines.
e) A plan of the proposed work with set-out details.
f) Longitudinal section of the boundary showing existing and proposed levels.
g) Longitudinal section of driveway adjustments.
h) A note describing the levels of the driveways. Levels may be shown on the edge
of the driveway at the boundary.
i) Longitudinal section of retaining walls showing existing and proposed levels.
j) Cross section and construction details of proposed retaining walls.
k) Warning notes such as clearances to overhead power lines.
l) Details of proposed work such as paths, driveways (including long sections and
pavement type), fences, gates, retaining walls, drainage and landscaping.
• The notes describing the proposed work must be arrowed to the location.
• Fences that are not proprietary products must be detailed in a dimensioned

sketch in sufficient detail to enable construction.
• Front boundary fences and retaining walls must be fully contained within the
property, not on the road reserve.
28 Levels are required on each edge of the driveway to avoid driveways being constructed level when the footway is on a
slope, which has been done.
114
m) Construction notes, listing the scope of work to be undertaken.
n) Legend.
o) Scale.
p) The address of the property, property description (lot/DP) and owner's name.
q) Signature box for property owner's acceptance of the proposed work.
20.9 Property adjustment notes

Notes describing property adjustment work must be shown, as appropriate.
Setting out
The property boundary location and level must be marked by survey before work
commences.
Utilities
Utility services locations must be marked before work commences.
Utility adjustment must be carried out by persons qualified to adjust the service.
Site clearing
Cleared material is to be removed from site.
Preserve existing fences, structures, landscape or other site features, trees and other
vegetation not requiring adjustments.
Demolition, minor with no hazardous materials, no licence required
Remove completely any structures specified to be demolished, including the footings.
Backfill any depression created as a result of the demolition up to the level of the adjacent
ground. Place the backfill in layers of 150 mm deep and compact to the relative
compaction of the material in the surrounding ground, unless specified otherwise.
Dispose of demolition materials legally in accordance with Environment Protection
Authority Waste Classification Guidelines.
Demolition, moderate with no hazardous materials, no licence required
Demolition of structures must comply with AS 2601.
Remove completely any structures specified to be demolished, including the footings.
Backfill any depression created as a result of the demolition up to the level of the adjacent
ground. Place the backfill in layers of 150 mm deep and compact to the relative
compaction of the material in the surrounding ground, unless specified otherwise.
Submit a Work Method Statement to the Principal before commencing work.
Dispose of demolition materials legally in accordance with Environment Protection
Authority Waste Classification Guidelines.
Demolition, hazardous materials present, demolition licence required
Demolish structures specified to be demolished in accordance with Transport for NSW
QA Specification B341 Demolition of Existing Structure.
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Earthworks - topsoil
Strip topsoil from all areas of cut and fill. Stockpile sufficient topsoil for reuse on the
property and dispose of the remainder.
Earthworks - excavation
Ensure excavation is adequately drained, where necessary install a sump and a pump
to keep the excavation dry.
Excavate footings to the levels shown on the drawings. Use excavation methods which
will not cause damage to adjacent property. Remove any loose material and clean the
floor. Fill the space of any over-excavation with concrete of the same strength as that
specified for the footing.
Where possible, reuse excavated materials as fill within the property or dispose of them
legally in accordance with Environment Protection Authority Waste Classification
Guidelines.
Excavate batters to the gradients shown on the drawings. Neatly round the tops of the
batters.
Fill
Before placing any fill, remove any unsuitable material from the foundation area.
Fill must be uncontaminated earth, free from vegetation.
Place and compact in layers not exceeding 150 mm compacted thickness
The minimum relative compaction, tested in accordance with Transport for NSW Test
method T166, must be.
• Residential Lots, except under driveways 95.0%
• Commercial Lots 98.0%
• Driveways for light traffic 98.0%
Trim the surface of the designed finished earthworks levels to a tolerance of + 10 mm or

– 30 mm. Trim the extremities of the fill to blend smoothly with the adjacent areas.
Stormwater drainage
Pipes to kerb outlet under footway – steel pipe, minimum thickness 5 mm, galvanized
inside and out.
Covers and grates – traffic load standard in driveways and traffic areas. Pedestrian load
standard in non-traffic areas.
Concrete
Concrete must comply with Transport for NSW Specification R53 Concrete for General
Works. Concrete must be of strength grade S32 with 20 mm aggregate.
116
Masonry
Carry out block laying in accordance with AS 3700. Install steel reinforcement as shown
on the drawings.
Use stretcher bond construction. Perpends must be vertically aligned in alternate
courses.
Provide straight joints between new masonry and existing structures. Do not tooth new
masonry into existing structures.
Retaining walls
Construct retaining wall footings, reinforcement and drainage as shown on the retaining
wall cross section.
Concrete driveways, footpaths, ramps and stairs
Concrete must be of strength grade N32 with 20 mm aggregate.
Segmental paving
Lay, trim and compact the subbase before placing pavers.
Provide a compacted sand bed of a well-graded sand with a maximum grain size of 4.75
mm and with less than 10% passing a 75-micron sieve. Fill the joints with sand, with a
maximum grain size of 2.36 mm and less than 10% passing a 75-micron sieve. Repeat
compaction and joint filling until all joints are filled. Remove excess sand by sweeping.
Pavers must comply with AS/NZS 4455.
Asphalt driveways and carparks
Supply, lay and compact asphalt in accordance with Transport for NSW Specification
R117 Light Duty Dense Graded Asphalt.
Construct the subbase and base courses in accordance with Transport for NSW
Specification R71 Construction of Unbound and Modified Pavement Course.
Timberwork
All timber to be seasoned durable timber. Do not use of pine or preservative treated
timber.
Fasteners, fittings, screws and nails to be hot dipped galvanised in accordance with AS
1214.
All timber to be painted must be primed on all surfaces on completion of preparatory
work and before installation. After treatment, do not re-saw, dress, plane or otherwise
alter the dimensions of the timber.
Steelwork
After fabrication, all steel components must be hot-dip galvanized in accordance with
Transport for NSW Specification B201 Steelwork for Bridges.
Painting
Steel joints welded on site must be coated with zinc rich paint.
Prepare building surfaces by filling to all holes and other depressions and sanding to
provide smooth surfaces.
117
Prepare materials as recommended by the paint manufacturer. Apply sealers, primers
and undercoats in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The number of finishing coats must be as recommended by the manufacturer, unless
further coats are required to provide a satisfactory finish.
Avoid any overpainting or spillages on adjacent surfaces.
Handrails
Fabricate and install handrails in accordance with AS 1657.
Fences
Supply and install fencing in accordance with Transport for NSW Specification R201
Fencing.
Landscaping
Imported topsoil must be a soil mix that conforms to AS 4419 and:
a) Be friable and porous.
b) Contain no refuse or materials toxic to plant growth.
c) Contain no stumps, roots, clay lump or stones larger than 25 mm in size.
d) Have an organic content of at least 15% to 20% by mass as determined by the
method specified in AS 1289 D1.1 Part D.
e) Have a pH in the range of 5 to 6.5.
f) Have a soluble salt content not exceeding 0.06% by mass.
g) Be suitable for phosphorus sensitive plants.
h) Be free of weed and weed refuse material.
Spread topsoil to a minimum depth of 50 mm under turf and 150 mm in garden beds.
The surface of the topsoil must smoothly follow the contours of the ground.
Turf must be of the same species as that of adjacent lawns on the property. Lay to
provide a smooth transition to adjacent lawns or paved areas and an even surface free
of areas where water could pond. Water the turf immediately after laying. Ongoing
watering will be the responsibility of the property owner.
Supply all plants in tubes, unless shown otherwise on the drawings. Use appropriate
fertilisers and mulch around the plants with similar mulch to that used elsewhere in the
garden. Water immediately after planting. Ongoing watering will be the responsibility of
the property owner.
Clean-up
Remove and legally dispose of all surplus material.
Addition works
Additional work not described on the drawing is not to be carried out.
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20.10 Signature box
The property works shown on this drawing is accepted for construction and I grant entry
to the property for construction. Maintenance of the completed work, including watering
of planting, will be my responsibility.
Property owner name: ___________________
Signature: ____________________________
Date: ______________
20.11 Acquisition plan

20.11.1 Acquisition plan requirements
If required by the Table-of-Deliverables, a separate acquisition plan if required for each
property affected by proposed boundary change as shown in Figure 50.
Figure 50 Example acquisition plan

The acquisition plan must show the layout and dimensions of proposed acquisitions in
sufficient detail to enable a draft Deposited Plan to be produced.
Acquisition plans shall contain the following:
a) A scale drawing of the lot subject to ownership change.
b) Existing boundaries in one colour, proposed boundaries in a different colour.
c) Colouring of the area subject to proposed ownership change.
d) Lot and deposited plan numbers.
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e) Area of the original lot, in square metres.
f) Bearing and distance of each section of the proposed boundary.
g) Area of the area subject to ownership change, in square metres.
h) Street names.
i) North point.
j) Scale.
k) Title describing the drawing.
If addition of zoning information on the acquisition plans is requested, a CAD file
containing zoning information will be supplied.
20.11.2 Issue of draft acquisition plans

Any acquisition plans that are issued before the 100% design has been accepted must
be marked with a DRAFT watermark.
20.11.3 Issue of final acquisition plans

Once the 100% design has been accepted there should be no further changes to
proposed boundaries the watermark on acquisition plans can be changed to FINAL.
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21. Design for public utilities
21.1 When utility design is required
Utility adjustment designs and street lighting designs are required if specified in the
Scope-of-Work.
Refer to the Scope-of-Work, Table of Deliverables and the Utility Design Specification
for utility design requirements.
21.2 Utility adjustment design and approval

Where the proposed works affect utility services, you must arrange quotations for all
necessary adjustment designs and approvals. Quotes for design of utility service
adjustments must be approved by us before design work commences.
Following approval of a quote, you must manage the utility adjustment design and
production of drawings and utility provider approvals.
Utility adjustment designs must meet the requirements of the service provider / owner of
the public utility asset.
You must provide us with the approved drawings and documentation that will enable
construction of the utility works.
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22. Estimate
22.1 Estimate key performance indicators
Key Performance Indicators for estimating are the following reference documents:
a) Transport for NSW Project estimating manual 2020.
b) Transport for NSW Standard estimating summary spreadsheet.
c) Transport for NSW Basis of Estimate Report.
22.2 Estimate deliverables

Estimate deliverables include:
a) Estimate report based on the quantities derived from the design model and items
in the Standard estimate summary spreadsheet and including the Project Base
Estimate and P50 and P90 probability estimates.
b) Basis of Estimate Report if specified in the Table of Deliverables.
22.3 Estimate types

Three types of estimates are required. The description of each estimate type and
its purpose are shown in Table 35.
Table 35 Estimate types
Estimate type Description

Project base estimate • The project base estimate is the best prediction cost of a project
in current dollars.
• The project base estimate excludes cost escalation and
contingency associated with project risk.
• The project base estimate is used as the basis for calculating
the P50 and P90 probability estimates.
P50 probability • P50 probability estimates are used for the purpose of obtaining
estimate funding and managing projects.
• The objective of a P50 estimate is to ensure the actual cost has
a 50% probability of not being exceeded (as shown in Figure
52 on page 124).
P90 probability  P90 probability estimate value is the publicly
estimate announced project cost.
• The objective of a P50 estimate is to ensure the actual cost has

a 90% probability of not being exceeded (as shown in Figure 52
on page 124).
The difference between the project base estimate and the probability estimates is the
amount of contingency applied. The concept is shown in Figure 51 on page 123.
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Figure 51 Application of contingency
22.4 Estimating methods

There are five different methods commonly used in the preparation of base estimates.
Only the following methods are required:
a) Global (order of magnitude) estimating – for strategic estimates.
b) Unit rates estimating – for detailed design estimates.
Global estimates are a coarse or low-order method of estimating involving the use of
global composite rates such as road cost per kilometre and bridge cost per square metre
of deck area.
Unit rates estimates makes use of historical rates and calculated quantities to derive
costs for each element of the infrastructure delivery process.
22.5 Estimating stages and accuracy

The Scope-of-Work will specify the stages of design where quantities and an estimate
are required. The potential stages of design where an estimate will be required and
anticipated accuracy are:
a) Strategic design (strategic estimate) – accuracy ± 30%.
b) Concept design (concept estimate) – accuracy ± 20%.
c) 100% design (detailed estimate) – accuracy ± 10%.
The stages of estimates and the anticipated accuracy of each stage is depicted in Figure
52 on page 124. 29
29 Transport for NSW, 2020, Project estimating manual, Sydney, p9.
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Figure 52 Estimating stages and accuracy
22.6 Quantities requirements

The Schedule of Rates items used for quantities shall be those listed on the Transport
for NSW Standard estimating summary spreadsheet.
Design model output data is to be provided for all model data used to determine
quantities. The schedule of quantities is to contain the details of design model data used.
The same version of the design models used to prepare the construction drawings must
also be used to determine the construction quantities.
Design model verification should be carried out before calculating quantities. The model
data to be used to determine quantities, and level of detail required, depends on the
design phase.
22.7 Project base estimate requirements

The project base estimate must be prepared in accordance with the Transport for NSW
Project estimating manual 2020.
The Schedule of Rates items used for design quantities must be those listed on the
Transport for NSW Standard estimating summary spreadsheet.
Estimate rates must be based on reliable comprehensive sources that have been
evaluated against recent actual construction costs for similar types of work.
22.8 Probability estimates requirements

The Standard estimating summary spreadsheet method can be used for calculating P50
and P90 probability estimates.
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22.9 Contingency
For strategic estimates, where there is often insufficient information to undertake a
meaningful probabilistic estimate, the deterministic method can be used. Strategic
estimates may use the deterministic contingency calculation method shown in Appendix
D of the Transport for NSW Project estimating manual 2020.
Contingency percentages for probability estimates should be based on the level of
uncertainty with the information used to prepare the estimate. Contingency percentages
shall be in accordance with Section 3 of the Transport for NSW Project estimating
manual 2020.
22.10 Accepted for Construction consolidated estimate

Combine estimates for the separate parts of the work (eg road construction, landscaping,
utilities, bridges, traffic signals) into a whole of project Consolidated Base Estimate,
Project Cost P50 and P90 estimates of infrastructure construction costs.
Use the unit rates method in accordance with the Transport for NSW Project estimating
manual 2020, including items in Appendix B and C and reference to the Standard
Estimating Summary Spreadsheet.
If required by the Scope-of-Work, a completed Transport for NSW Basis of Estimate
Report must be submitted with the estimate.
You must detail the source of rates used in the estimate in the Basis of Estimate Report.
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23. Documentation
23.1 Acronyms
Do not use acronyms in documents, apart from those in common use in the community
such as NSW, or when they are in the same paragraph group adjacent to the text spelled
out in full.
Reports are written with a word processor, not a quill pen, so there is no modern reason
to use acronyms. Excessive acronyms will be treated as a non-conformance.
Specifications should avoid acronyms (except where space is limited in a table) by
spelling out in full the item followed by the commonly used acronym eg Annual
Exceedance Probability (AEP).
23.2 Design drawings

Design drawings must conform to the Design Format Specification.
23.3 Design Report

23.3.1 Design Report function
The Design Report provides a memory of the project. Importantly the report should
provide the answer to “WHY” questions. As time passes and the project team move on,
the Design Report provides the only record of why things were done.
The Design Report must:
a) Demonstrate achievement of the objectives of the project Scope-of-Work.
b) Explain the reasons for design decisions, that is, why things were done.
23.3.2 Design Report content

A Design Report template in the format shown below can be supplied as an MS-WORD
document.
We prefer few words with the key information rather than volumes of text.
The Design Report format can be edited to suit the circumstances of the project. A
Design Report that lacks the comprehensive nature of the report format shown below
will be treated as a non-conformance in accordance with the quality assurance provisions
of Section 26.
1. PROJECT SETUP
1.1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1.1.1 About this document
• About this document information.

1.1.2 Project identification
• Project title.
• File number.
• Council and consultant project number / contract number.
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1.1.3 Design team
• Details of the company producing the design and contact details.

• Names and job titles of the Project Managers, design team and checking team
and Council team.
1.2 PROJECT CONTEXT

1.2.1 Description
• Locality.
• Brief description of the project.
• Background of the project from the Scope-of-Work.
1.2.2 Objectives
• Objectives of project listed in the Scope-of-Work.

1.2.3 Constraints
• Constraints listed in the Scope-of-Work.

1.2.4 Statutory and planning consent requirements
• Statutory and planning consent requirements from the Scope-of-Work.

• Subdivision approvals that impacted on the design.
2. THE SITE
2.1 EXISTING ROAD
2.1.1 Road classification and access
• Road classification and function.

• Relationship to the wider network, access and connections.
2.1.2 Existing road documentation
• Work-as-Executed drawing references (if available and used in the design).

2.1.3 Existing road description
• Minimum through road curve radius.

• Number of lanes and widths.
• Median width.
• Shoulder width.
• Verge width.
• Formation width.
• Number of footways / share paths / cycleways.
• Width of footways / share paths / cycleways.
• Details of crossing roads.
• Type and description of the existing road wearing surface.
2.1.4 Site features
• Operating speed data (if available).

• Conclusions from Road Safety Audit Reports on the existing road (if any).
• Issues from previous Design Reports (if any).
• Structures and structural information (if available).
• Adjoining property, building and infrastructure.
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• Issues posed by property boundaries and land titles.
• Parking arrangements.
3. INVESTIGATION
3.1 SURVEY AND UTILITY INVESTIGATION
3.1.1 Survey
• Provide a reference to the survey files.

3.1.2 Utility investigations
• Provide a reference to the utility location files.
3.2 TRAFFIC DATA

3.2.1 Traffic data collection
• Refer to the Traffic Data Report. If appropriate, summarise any findings that
had a significant influence on the design.
3.2.2 Traffic and transport modelling
• Refer to the Traffic Modelling Report and summarise the information used in
the design.
3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING

3.3.1 Review of Environmental Factors
• Refer to the Review of Environmental Factors and summarise the main
findings from the Executive Summary.
3.3.2 Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Refer to the Construction Environmental Management Plan (if available) and

summarise the main findings from the Executive Summary.
3.4 GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

3.4.1 Geotechnical investigation
• Refer to the Geotechnical Investigation Report and summarise the main

findings from the Executive Summary.
3.5 PAVEMENT DESIGN

3.5.1 Pavement design
• Refer to the Pavement Design Report and summarise the main findings.
4. DESIGN INPUTS
4.1 DESIGN PLANNING
4.1.1 Design parameters and values
• Design Speed.
• Design vehicles.
• Alignment constraints (minimum curve radius, speed, widths, sight distance,
superelevation and risk).
• Stormwater drainage design pipeline capacity and flood immunity values.
4.1.2 Design assumptions
• Assumptions that influence the design.
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4.1.3 Implementation assumptions
• Assumptions that influence the construction or temporary works.
4.2 ROAD USERS

4.2.1 Road user considerations
• Human Factors and performance.

• School Zones.
• Special user considerations (eg adjacent elderly person accommodation).
• Pedestrian facility requirements.
4.3 ENVIRONMETAL REQUIREMENTS

4.3.1 Heritage requirements
• Heritage requirements from environmental investigations, the Review of

Environmental Factors and permit requirements.
4.3.2 Fisheries requirements
• Fisheries requirements.
4.4 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS

4.4.1 Transport facilities
• Bus facilities and priority requirements.

• Bicycle facility requirements.
• Intelligent Transport System requirements.
4.5 RISKS
4.5.1 Crash risk
• Crash history.
• Mitigation measures to rectify crash history.
4.5.2 Other risks
• Risk issues.
4.6 CONGESTION MANAGEMENT

4.6.1 Level-of-Service requirements
• Design features to achieve mid-block Level-of-Service requirements.
4.7 TYPICAL CROSS SECTION

4.7.1 Road space allocation
• Number of lanes and widths.

• Median width.
• Shoulder width.
• Verge width.
• Formation width.
• Number of footways / share paths / cycleways.
• Width of footways / share paths / cycleways.
• Kerb types.
• Typical cross sections for road sections.
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• Sign-off of cross section reference.
4.8 DESIGN FORM AND AESTHETICS

4.8.1 Design for aesthetics
• Describe the design form of the project and the setting.

• Describe how the project meets the objectives of aesthetics guidelines.
5. DESIGN
5.1 HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT AND GEOMETRIC LAYOUT
5.1.1 Horizontal design parameters
• Roadway alignment and compatibility with Design Speed.

• Carriageway and kerb-line layout.
• Location, alignment, profile and crossfall of pedestrian facilities.
• Location, alignment, profile and crossfall of cycleway, share path.
• Alignment of bridges.
5.1.2 Provision for servicing
• Maintenance bays.
• Provision for garbage collection.
• Provision for emergency vehicles.
5.2 VERTICAL ALIGNMENT

5.2.1 Grading
• Maximum grade and influence on traffic volumes.

• Minimum grades and influence on pavement drainage.
• Gradient at intersecting roads.
• Length of crest vertical curves.
• Riding comfort, appearance of sag vertical curves.
• Integration of horizontal and vertical alignment.
5.2.2 Transition design
• Transition design.
• Checks undertaken to prevent long flow paths at transitions.
5.2.3 Sight
• Stopping Sight Distance.

• Sight to intersection pavement markings.
5.3 OPTIONS
5.3.1 Options considered
• Describe options considered.

5.3.2 Preferred option
• Reasons for the choice of the preferred option.
5.4 CROSS SECTIONS

5.4.1 Matching levels
• Issues, problems with matching levels at property boundaries.
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5.4.2 Crossfalls
• Plan and superelevation transitions, rate of change of crossfall.

• Crossfall, adverse crossfall, superelevation.
5.5 UTILITIES REQUIREMENTS

5.5.1 Provision for utilities
• Summary description of significant public utilities in the existing road, size and
condition.
• Utility services to be located in the new roadway.
• Influence of utilities on the design.
• The extent, estimated cost and the time required to relocate any affected
services.
• The extent and cost of any temporary protection, disconnection or stabilisation
of affected infrastructure that must be provided by the utility provider.
5.6 CLEARANCES
5.6.1 Vertical clearances
• Vertical clearances required.

• Vertical clearances achieved.
5.6.2 Horizontal clearances
• Horizontal clearances required.

• Horizontal clearances achieved.
5.6.3 Clearance to utilities
• Horizontal and vertical clearances required to utilities.
5.7 INTERSECTION DESIGN

5.7.1 Intersection sight distance
• Sight Distance - Approach Sight Distance.

• Sight Distance - clear lines of sight.
• Design vehicle.
• Provision for large vehicles.
• Swept paths.
• Location of median noses.
• Pedestrian crossings.
• Speed control.
• Vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists.
5.8 ROUNDABOUT DESIGN


5.8.2 Roundabout design parameters and values
• Design vehicle.
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• Swept paths.
• Number of entries, circulating and exit lanes, widths and geometry.
• Entry speed control.
5.9 CYCLEWAY DESIGN

5.9.1 Cycleway design requirements
• Path user requirements.

• Intersection of paths with roads.
• Path terminal treatments.
• Provision for cyclists and pedestrians at structures.
5.9.2 Cycleway design parameters and values
• Design criteria for pedestrian paths.

• Design criteria for cycle paths.
5.10 WATERWAY AND STORMWATER

5.10.1 Flood evacuation routes
• Detail special provisions made for flood evacuation routes.

5.10.2 Catchment
• Describe the catchment.

5.10.3 Waterway investigations
• Refer to the Waterway Investigation Report. If appropriate, summarise any

findings that had a significant influence on the design.
5.10.4 Hydrology
• Describe the results of the flood modelling and the impact of flooding.
• Methodology and computer programs used to model hydrology.
• Calculated discharge for the range of flood recurrence intervals.
• Calculated flow velocity for the range of flood recurrence intervals.
• Calculated High Flood Levels for the range of flood recurrence intervals.
• Discussion of submergence.
• Normal water level.
• Observed flood levels with date.
• Calibration of hydrology.
• Proposed clearance above the calculated 1% Annual Exceedance Probability
Flood Level.
5.10.5 Hydraulics
• Methodology and computer programs used to model hydraulics.

5.10.6 Scour
• Methodology used to determine the impact of scour.

• Details of the effect of scour.
5.10.7 Blockage factors
• Detail of blockage factors used for piped drainage.
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• Detail of blockage factors used for large cross drainage culverts.
• Detail of blockage factors used for large cross drainage culverts on flood
evacuation routes.
5.10.8 Drainage structures
• Describe pit and pipe material, types and other drainage structures.
• Pit and pipe network layout.
• Curved pipes.
• Pit locations, sag locations, trapped low points, ponding on road, ponding on
lots, clash.
• Hydraulic Grade Line.
5.10.9 Pavement drainage
• Pavement contours.
• Flow paths.
• Aquaplaning.
• Width of flow.
• Risk of pedestrian splashing.
5.10.10 Cross drainage
• Culverts.
• Protection against "piping" failure, bulkheads.
• Channels.
• Lead-in, tail-out drains.
• Connection to trunk drainage.
5.10.11 Public safety
• Stormwater management.
• Public safety in dual use floodways and flows in public reserves.
• Public safety in dammed water, fall prevention.
• Dams Safety Committee requirements.
• Flood warning signs.
5.10.12 Detention basins
• On-site detention requirements.

5.10.13 Water quality
• Water quality management.

• Water quality structures.
• Water Sensitive Urban Design.
5.10.14 Property drainage
• Inter-allotment drainage.
• Provision for medium density and industrial lots.
5.10.15 Sub-soil and pavement drainage
• Provisions for pavement and sub-soil drainage.
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5.11 DESIGN FOR ERRANT VEHICLES
5.11.1 Traffic barriers
• Traffic barrier and crash cushion types.

• Barrier performance level.
5.11.2 Pedestrian barriers
• Details of pedestrian barriers.

5.11.3 Median barriers
• Details of median barriers.

5.11.4 Barriers between carriageway and footway
• Details of barriers between carriageway and footway.

5.11.5 Temporary barriers
• Temporary barrier type and performance level specified for use in construction.
5.11.6 Impact protection
• Details of impact protection arrangements and performance level.
5.12 NOISE WALL AND SCREEN DESIGN

5.12.1 Safety screens
• Details of safety screens.

5.12.2 Noise walls
• Details of noise walls.
5.13 DELINEATION
5.13.1 Driver guidance
• Delineation, line marking.

• Regulatory signs.
• Directional signposting.
5.14 DURABILITY, CONSTRUCTABILITY AND MAINTENANCE

5.14.1 Durability criteria
• Durability requirements.
• Soil and water aggressivity.
5.14.2 Provision for durability
• Aspects of detail that require special attention.

• Specification of materials to be used in construction and the construction
practices that will affect durability.
5.14.3 Construction constraints
• Describe any constructability constraints and mitigation measures.

5.14.4 Construction methodology
• Sequence of construction.
• Construction methodology.
• Traffic management and staging plan.
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5.14.5 Constructability issues resolution
• Describe how construction issues raised at the Constructability Review have

been resolved.
5.14.6 Site accessibility
• Pavement condition and load limitations on access roads to the site.

• Access arrangements to the site, including discussion of access road design
and grade of access tracks.
• Arrangements for crane access and platforms, if required.
• Limitations imposed by overhead or underground utilities.
5.14.7 Maintenance requirements
• Special maintenance requirements.

5.14.8 Erosion and sediment control
• Erosion and sediment control.

• Reference Erosion and sediment control drawings.
5.14.9 Staging
• Reference staging drawings.

5.14.10 Roadside facilities
• Roadside furniture.
• Parking.
• Driver facilities, rest areas.
5.15 LANDSCAPING
5.15.1 Landscaping objectives
• Landscaping form and function.

5.15.2 Landscaping considerations
• Landscaping constraints.
• Water availability and requirements.
• Soil requirements.
5.15.3 Landscaping specification
• Species selection.
• Planting specification.
• Landscaping maintenance requirements.
5.15.4 Paving
• Details of footway, cycleway and median paving.

5.15.5 Landscape drawings
• Reference to landscape drawings.
5.16 PROPERTY
5.16.1 Acquisition
• Property acquisition.
• Easements.
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5.16.2 Property boundary drawings
• Reference property boundary drawings.

5.16.3 Property adjustments
• Details of property adjustments.

5.16.4 Property adjustment drawings
• Reference to property adjustment drawings.
5.17 TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN


• Design vehicle.
• Swept paths.
• Location of median noses.
• Pedestrian crossings.
• Speed control.
5.18 STRUCTURAL AND RETAINING WALL DESIGN

5.18.1 Drainage structure design
• Details of drainage structure structural design.

5.18.2 Retaining wall design
• Cross reference retaining wall design.

5.18.3 Bridge design
• Cross reference bridge design.
6. UTILITY DESIGN
6.1 STREET LIGHTING DESIGN
6.1.1 Lighting design
• Cross reference street lighting design.

• Details of lighting design and compliance with standards.
• Details of lighting structures, including locations and integration into aesthetic
response.
• Details of electrical isolation and fail-safe provisions for electrical equipment in
the event of flooding.
6.2 PUBLIC UTILITY DESIGN

6.2.1 Utility contact
• List contact details of persons who were the utility authority contact during
design negotiations.
6.2.2 Utility follow-up before construction
• Insert utility requirements for contact before construction.
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6.3.3 Water, gas, electricity, telecommunications and other design
• Summarise requirements of water, gas, electricity, telecommunications and

other utilities design.
7. SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES
7.1 ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
7.1.1 Road Safety Audit response
• Describe how the issues raised in the Road Safety Audit have been resolved.
7.2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION

7.2.1 Construction documentation
• Reference construction documentation.
7.3 QUANTITIES AND COST ESTIMATE

7.3.1 Quantities and estimate
• Summarise estimate.
• Allowances for cost variations.
7.3.2 Whole of life cost
• Describe how the design optimises whole-of-life costs.
7.4 ADAPTABILITY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

7.4.1 Future proofing
• Opportunities or limitations on future upgrades or modifications.
7.5 CONSULTATION
7.5.1 Results of consultation
• List Authorities consulted and the outcomes.

• Constraints related to third parties.
• Risks and hazards which affect the design because of other parties’
requirements, identified, assessed and described.
7.6 APPROVALS AND PERMITS

7.6.1 Approvals and permits necessary for construction
• Detail requirements of Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP).

• Detail utility provider approvals and permits.
• Detail other approvals and permits.
8. DESIGN STANDARDS AND REFERENCES

8.1 STANDARDS
8.1.1 Road design standards
• Design standards used with the date of publication.

8.1.2 Design criteria imposed by authorities
• Design criteria required by other stakeholders or authorities.
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8.2 STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
8.2.1 Compliance
• Document any departures from standards and specifications using the

information from the Compliance form.
• Justification for the departure.

• Mitigation measures used to overcome negative consequences of the
departure.
8.3 REFERENCES
8.3.1 Reference documents
• Referenced documents.
9. QUALITY MANAGEMENT
9.1 QUALITY SYSTEM
9.1.1 Quality system processes
• Describe the quality system used during the design.

• Describe the outcomes of quality processes.
9.2 COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN

9.2.1 Compliance with Design Format Specification
• Design model.
• Details of setup of design model.
• Drawing compliance with Design Format Specification.
9.3 MODEL COMPLIANCE CHECK

9.3.1 Model integrity
• Design Model Verification Statement confirming model integrity checks have

been made.
A APPENDICIES
A1 PHOTOGRAPHS OF SITE
• Photographs of site.
• Aerial or oblique photographs of site.
A2 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
List any of the following reports that are available.
• Traffic data report.
• Traffic and Transport Modelling Report.
• Review of Environmental Factors document with:
• Flora and Fauna Report.
• Archaeological Survey Report.
• Salvage Excavation Report.
• Heritage Impact Report.
• Soils, Geology and Topography Investigation Report.
• Contamination Reports and Site Audit Statement.
• Append the Noise Analysis Report.
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• Construction Environmental Management Plan.
• Geotechnical Investigation Report.
• Pavement Design Report.
A3 SAFETY-IN-DESIGN AND SAFETY REPORT

• Reference, and attach the Safety Report that provides sufficient information to
fulfil the obligations of Work Health and Safety Regulation 296 that requires
provision of information in relation to hazards or risks at, or in the vicinity, of the
workplace where the construction work is being carried out.
• Outcomes of the Safety-in-Design Workshop.

• Methodology for identifying and resolving work health and safety issues.
• Safety-in-Design considerations for construction, inspection, maintenance and
operation.
• Details of design features that remove potential safety issues.
A4 ROAD SAFETY AUDIT REPORT

• Attach the Road Safety Audit Report.
A5 STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
• Attach Compliance form(s).
A6 SCHEDULE OF QUANTITIES AND ESTIMATE OF COST

• Attach the Estimate Report.
A7 ISSUES LOG
• Attach the Issues Log.
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24. Review and finalisation of design
24.1 Finalisation inclusions
Review and finalisation of design models and drawings includes:
a) Creation of federated design model.
b) Design model verification.
c) Conflict analysis and clash detection.
d) Design drawing preparation.
e) Drawing presentation review.
f) 3D visualisation (if specified)
24.2 Handover documents

Handover documents must include:
a) Handover form.
b) Deliverables specified in the Scope-of-Work and Table of Deliverables.
c) Deliverables specified in the specifications, including the Design Format
Specification.
24.3 Design model and drawings

The design model and drawings must comply with the requirements of the Design Format
Specification.
24.4 Creation of federated design model

Separate models used to create the design are to be collated into a federated model
before commencement of integration review and conflict analysis.
24.5 Design model verification

Design model verification shall include:
a) All strings are to be in accordance with the String Naming Convention.
b) All model names are to be in accordance with the Model Naming Convention.
c) Check for null levels.
d) Check for zero levels.
e) Check for single point strings.
f) Check for coincident points.
g) Check for intersection points.
h) Remove all duplicate and identical points.
i) Remove all unnecessary strings.
j) There must be no crossing feature design strings when separate design
components are combined into a single model.
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k) Check for string discontinuities, especially interface strings and critical shape
control strings such as road crown, hinge points etc.
l) Strings that should join or meet must not have gaps or extensions.
m) A single triangulation of the complete design surface (including bridge spill-
throughs or tunnel faces if present) is required for viewing and rendering.
n) Road feature design strings must not continue across bridge structures or through
tunnels. Bridge spill-through strings (if present) must be duplicated in both the
bridge and design models.
o) If provided, subgrade layer models should include strings that interface to the batter
and allow triangulation of the surface. Pavement layer models should include
strings that interface to the batter and allow triangulation of each surface.
p) If provided, strings defining the stepping and remaining stripping must be included
in the stepping model.
q) Contour the design triangulation at closely spaced (e.g. 0.2 metre) intervals and
thoroughly check the results for discrepancies especially at merging roadways.
r) Check contours for correct drainage flows and length of flows.
s) Run sight distance and check all situations.
t) In a perspective view, run drive throughs along strings at the correct driver height
and position along each roadway in all directions. Check for alignment
discrepancies, sight distance problems and abnormalities in the triangulation
especially at merging roadways.
All corrections should be done to the original input data and not by post manipulation of
the feature design strings. This can be checked by re-running the complete job and
looking at the results.
A design model verification check is to be carried out before any design model data is
released for survey use.
An electronic copy of the complete project model, including survey, geometric design
data, and Geographic Information System data is to be supplied at the stages specified
in the Scope-of-Work and associated design specifications.
The design model must conform to the requirements of this Design Format Specification.
Models that conform to Transport for NSW requirements are deemed to comply.
The Design Report must include a Design Model Verification Statement confirming that
all model verification checks have been made.
24.6 Conflict analysis and clash detection

A 3D model review of design components is required to check the interface between all
disciplines associated with the design.
Design elements to be checked for conflict analysis must include at least the following:
a) Pavement and kerb.
b) Elements of bridges, retaining walls and other structures that interact with road
design elements including foundation.
c) Longitudinal and cross drainage earthworks and structures including foundation.
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d) Subsurface drainage pipes, systems and structures.
e) Utility service assets.
f) Road lighting and Intelligent Transport System conduits and structures including
foundation.
g) Sign and sign support structures including foundation.
h) Safety barrier systems including terminal foundation envelopes and post footing.
For 3D conflict analysis the project 3D drawing models can be examined visually on-
screen or analysed using CAD software clash detection tools.
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25. Design form and aesthetics
25.1 Key performance indicators
Key Performance Indicators for design form and aesthetics are the principles in the
following reference documents:
a) Transport for NSW Beyond the Pavement: Urban Design Policy Procedures and
Design Principles.
b) Transport for NSW Landscape Guideline: Landscape design and maintenance
guidelines to improve the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of road corridor
planting and seeding.
c) Transport for NSW Noise Wall Design Guideline: Design guideline to improve the
appearance of noise walls in NSW.
d) Transport for NSW Shotcrete Design Guidelines; Design guideline to improve the
appearance of shotcrete in NSW.
25.2 Design for aesthetics

Ugly roads despoil the living environment, forcibly removing the attractiveness of an
area. If repeated the ugliness can despoil a city.
Image: Google Streetview
Figure 53 Road with poor aesthetics
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25.3 Urban design principles
To avoid ugly roads, the designer must consider nine urban design principles:
a) Principle one – contributing to urban structure and revitalisation.
b) Principle two – fitting with the constructed environment and architecture.
c) Principle three – connecting transport modes and communities.
d) Principle four – fitting with the landform.
e) Principle five – responding to natural patterns in the landscape.
f) Principle six – incorporating heritage and cultural items.
g) Principle seven – designing to provide visual interest.
h) Principle eight – creating self-explaining road environments.
i) Principle nine – use robust, durable materials for minimal maintenance.
25.4 Aesthetic considerations

The design, including any ancillary structures such as retaining walls, furnishings, lighting
and fixtures, must be part of an overall aesthetic scheme for the precinct.
Aesthetic outcomes within a design require consideration of:
a) Scale.
b) Proportion.
c) Colour.
d) Texture.
e) Contrast.
25.4.1 Scale
The physical relationship between design components needs to be of similar scale. A
large element next to a small one looks out of place.
The perception of scale is dependent on the landscape context and angle of view.
25.4.2 Proportion
Proportion is the relationship between components of a design, such as the ratio
between height and width or the relative size of a part in relation to the whole.
Components are in proportion to one another when they are visually balanced. Objects
not in proportion do not appear to be compatible.
Mathematical ratios have been developed which have been derived from proportions
existing in nature. These ratios create a visually pleasing, balanced composition. For
example, the ideal rectangle is regarded as having a ratio of 3:5 along its sides. These
relationships become a standard unit known as a "module".
For example, a standard rectangular module can be used in designing the relationship
between the width of a landscape strip and the height of the vegetation within the strip.
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25.4.3 Colour
Colour creates visual impact. It is significant in defining the character and quality of
design components. Colours may be used to compliment or create contrast to other parts
of the road landscape.
Plain concrete can be an appropriate colour if integrated into the landscape and
protected from weather staining.
25.4.4 Texture
Texture is achieved by incorporating variations in surface finishes.
Texture helps to define form and add visual interest. Textural treatments to design
components can either be subtle or dominant depending on functional requirements and
design intent. Shadows also affect the appearance of texture. Developing patterns in
design components are simple measures in achieving texture.
25.4.5 Contrast
Contrast relieves monotony and provides a stimulating experience. Contrast can be
achieved by varying forms, shapes, colours, light and shadow.
Design components are often designed to be clearly distinguishable from the
surrounding landscape setting. This contrast makes the component dominant. A strong
feature and commands visual attention by users. A design that commands attention
should be worthy of attention.
Contrast can also be quite subtle by using tonal colouring or slight texture relief to
generate visual change.
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26. Safety in Design
26.1 Legislative reference documents
Designer’s obligations for Safety-in-Design are defined in:
a) Work Health and Safety Act.
b) Work Health and Safety Regulation.
c) SafeWork NSW, Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2019.
26.2 Compliance with codes, standards and regulations

You must comply with all design and drawing codes, standards, and regulation
requirements, whether or not described in this specification.
26.3 Duties of designers

The designer’s Duty-of-Care is defined by the Work Health and Safety Act and Safe
Work Australia Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice.
Duties of designers are defined under Section 22 of the Work Health and Safety Act. The
designer must ensure structures are designed to be safe when used as a workplace
during its lifecycle. This includes during the construction of the structure, the use of the
structure for a purpose for which it was designed, the maintenance, cleaning or repair of
the structure and the eventual demolition at end of life. Designers must also consider the
safety of people in the vicinity of the structure.
Work Health and Safety Act Part 2 > Division 3 > Section 22, (2) (a) – (f).
Under Section 22(4) and 22(5) of the Work Health and Safety Act, the designer must
provide information to anyone who is issued with the design, indicating the purpose for
which the structure is designed, the results of any testing and analysis undertaken and
any conditions necessary to ensure that the designer has designed the structure to be
without risk to health and safety when it is used as a workplace during its lifecycle.
Current relevant information must also be provided to people who use, construct,
maintain or demolish the structure.
Work Health and Safety Act Part 2 > Division 3 > Section 22
Work Health and Safety Regulation 295 requires the designer to provide the Principal’s
Representative with a Safety Report outlining potential hazards unique to that design
that may pose a hazard to people carrying out construction or demolition work.
Work Health and Safety Regulation 295.
26.4 Management of risks

A designer has a duty to manage risks. The Work Health and Safety Act requires that: A
duty imposed on a person to ensure health and safety requires the person to eliminate
risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Part 2 > Division 1 > Subdivision 1 > Section 17
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26.5 What is ‘reasonably practicable’
The Work Health and Safety Act states that the designer should weigh up all relevant
matters to ensure health and safety. The matters to be considered include the likelihood
of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring, and the degree of harm that might result.
To ensure reasonably practicable health and safety the Act says the person should know
of the availability and suitability of ways to minimise the risk.
A reasonably practical way of ensuring health and safety is to follow design standards.
The Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice states: ‘In deciding what is reasonably
practicable, consideration will be given to the prevailing standards of design’.
WorkCover Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice Section 1.3
26.6 Duties not transferable, no contracting out

A designer’s Duty-of-Care cannot be transferred to another person or organisation. The
Work Health and Safety Act states: ‘A duty cannot be transferred to another person’.
The duties of a designer cannot be circumvented by a non-designer altering a design.

The Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice states that: ‘Any person … who alters
or modifies a design without consulting the original or subsequent designer will assume
the duties of a designer’.
Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice Section 1.2
A designer’s Duty-of-Care cannot be limited or transferred. The Work Health and Safety
Act, Section 272 states: ‘A term of any agreement or contract that purports to exclude,
limit or modify the operation of this Act or any duty owed under this Act or to transfer to
another person any duty under this Act is void’.
Work Health and Safety Action 2011 Part 14 > Division 1 > Section 272
Industrial Magistrate Lieschke, raised questions on the operation of Section 272 of the
Act. He said: ‘Section 272 of the new Work Health and Safety Act 2012 states that any
term of a contract which seeks to modify the operation of the Act is void, but it does not
specifically prohibit insurance of penalties, and it does not make it an offence for an
insurer to provide an indemnity. Whilst the full scope of s 272 is unclear, it will still be
possible for an insurer to sell such policies and to grant indemnity for perceived
commercial benefit’.
Hillman v Ferro Con (SA) Pty Ltd (in liquidation) and Anor [2013] SAIRC 22.
A decision examining a court’s power to prevent an employer from indemnifying an

employee against penalties was made by the High Court in Australian Building and
Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The
decision confirmed that a penalty order made against an individual can include a
requirement for the individual to pay the penalty personally.
Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2018] HCA 3 at
[116]
26.7 Principal’s obligations

Work Health and Safety Regulation 294 places obligations on the Principal to consult
with the designer on how risks to health and safety can be eliminated or minimised.
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Work Health and Safety Regulation 296 requires that the Principal provide the Principal
Consultant with any information that they have in relation to the hazards or risks at, or in
the vicinity, of the workplace where the construction work is being carried out. The Safety
Report prepared by the design Consultant must contain sufficient information to fulfil
these obligations for the Principal.
26.8 Consultant organisation obligations

Design organisations have a Primary Duty of Care under Section 19 of the Work Health
and Safety Act. Further duties are listed under Section 22 of the Act. In practice this
means that a design organisation should:
a) Identify and document safe design requirements.
b) Analyse safe design requirements and produce a safe design specification.
c) Develop safe designs.
d) Evaluate safe design.
e) Certify safe design.
26.9 Design Manager’s obligations

In the case of Safe Work New South Wales v Austral Hydroponics Pty Ltd and Eang
Lam, the Judge noted that the manager ‘failed to exercise due diligence by taking
reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice’. This case may be
precedent for a Design Manager being responsible for ensuring that designers comply
with the Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice.
Safe Work NSW v Austral Hydroponics Pty Limited and Eang Lam [2015] NSWDC 295, paragraph 13.
The judgement in the case of WorkCover Authority (New South Wales) (Inspector
Mansell) v Daly Smith Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd and Smith, observed that due diligence
‘is not done by merely hoping others would or could do what they were told, but also
ensuring they have the skills to execute the job they are required to do and then ensuring
compliance with that in accordance with the safe standards established. Compliance
requires a process of review and auditing, both formal and random, in order to ensure
that the safe standards established are in fact being adhered to and under ongoing
review’. Ensuring that designers comply with Safety-in-Design and Work Health and
Safety obligations can be seen as required due diligence for managers.
WorkCover Authority (New South Wales) (Inspector Mansell) v Daly Smith Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd and Smith [2004]
NSWIRComm 349, paragraph 134.
26.10 Safety Report

Work Health and Safety Regulation Clause 295 requires that the Designer must give the
person who commissioned the design a written report that specifies the hazards relating
to the design of the structure that create a risk to persons carrying out construction and
are associated with the project, not with other similar designs.
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The Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice notes that:
The safety report applies to designs of structures that have unusual or atypical features
which present hazards and risks during the construction phase that are unique to the
particular design.
The Safety Report will enable the person who commissions a project to comply with their
Clause 296 obligation to give us contractor any information the person has in relation to
hazards and risks where the construction work is to be carried out.
The Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice requires that the Safety Report should
include information about:
a) Any hazardous materials or structural features and the designer’s assessment of
the risk of injury or illness to construction workers arising from those hazards.
b) The action the designer has taken to control those risks, for example changes to
the design.
26.11 Not legal advice

This specification only provides general guidance and does not contain legal advice.
Seek advice if you are unsure about exercising a function or meeting your obligations
and responsibilities generally or in a particular case.
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27. Quality assurance
27.1 Key performance indicators
Key performance indicators for quality assurance are the following reference documents:
a) AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality management systems - Requirements.
b) AS 4122-2010 General Conditions of Contract for Consultants (incorporates
Amendment 1).
27.2 Non-transference of responsibility for quality

The sign-off of a deliverable by us does not relieve you of responsibility for the validity
and arithmetical correctness of the calculations and observations.
27.3 Non-conformance of deliverables

27.3.1 Definition of non-conformance
A non-conformance is a departure from an agreed arrangement between a client and an
individual or organisation performing work. An arrangement is an agreement to conform
to:
a) A work product specification.
b) A work product standard.
c) Reporting requirements.
d) A pre-defined procedure.
e) A documented plan.
f) A standard for best practice.
27.3.2 The significance of a non-conformance

The existence of a non-conformance means that some aspect of the organisation’s
quality management system operating procedures is not being followed.
27.3.3 Identification of non-conformances

Non-conformances may be identified by:
a) An audit of the organisation’s quality management system.
b) Presentation of deliverables that:
• Do not conform to the Specification.
• Do not conform to reporting requirements.
• Do not conform to the contract schedule.
• Do not include all components specified for delivery.
• Do not conform to standards and codes.
• Do not meet expectations for comprehensive quality that are normal for the
industry.
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27.3.4 Non-conformance severity
The response to a non-conformance will depend on its severity, defined as:
a) Critical: deliverable is not provided at the specified step in the process or there is
a significant absence of conformance with designated criteria or reporting
requirements as defined by the specification, standards or commonly accepted
industry expectations. This indicates a lack of Design and Development Controls
as required by Section 8.3.4 of the quality standard AS/NZS ISO 9001 and/or there
is no documented evidence of quality review in accordance with Section 9.1.3 of
quality standard AS/NZS ISO 9001.
b) Major: deliverable is provided at the specified step in the process but has
inadequate conformance with designated criteria or reporting requirements as
defined by the specification, standards or commonly accepted industry
expectations. This indicates a lack of Design and Development Controls as
required by Section 8.3.4 of the quality standard AS/NZS ISO 9001 and/or there is
a failure of quality review in accordance with Section 9.1.3 of quality standard
AS/NZS ISO 9001.
c) Minor: an isolated deviation from planned process or deliverable conformance or
quality system processes.
27.3.5 Response to non-conformance

The response to non-conformances will be in response to the Standard of Care
requirements of Section 4 of AS 4122-2010 General Conditions of Contract for
Consultants.
The response to non-conformance will depend on the severity of the non-conformance:
a) Critical: We may suspend the performance of the services in accordance with
Section 24 of AS 4122-2010 General Conditions of Contract for Consultants. We
may direct recommencement of services when you have provided documentation
showing the corrective actions taken, in accordance with Section 10.2.2 of AS/NZS
ISO 9001.
If the critical non-conformance is not corrected the services may be terminated in
accordance with the provisions of Section 27 of AS 4122-2010.
b) Major: You will be requested to provide documentation showing the corrective
actions taken, in accordance with Section 10.2.2 of AS/NZS ISO 9001.
c) Minor: An observation for improvement will be issued.
27.4 Audit
We may arrange an audit of the project quality system at any time.
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28. Project management information
28.1 Work Health and Safety
28.1.1 Work Health and Safety documents
You must comply with, and cover the costs of meeting, the requirements of:
a) Work Health and Safety Act.
b) Work Health and Safety Regulation.
c) Work Health and Safety (Confined Spaces) Code of Practice 2015.
d) Safe design of structures code of practice 2019.
e) Traffic control at work sites Technical Manual.
f) Council’s Work Health and Safety requirements.
28.1.2 Confined spaces

If confined space entry is required you must comply with:
a) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 Part 4.3 Confined spaces.
b) Work Health and Safety (Confined Spaces) Code of Practice 2015.
28.1.3 Clothing
High visibility clothing suitable for day and night work and enclosed footwear must be
worn on site.
28.2 Working on roads

Prepare Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for all site work. If a Traffic Control Plan
is required it must comply with the Traffic control at work sites Technical Manual. An
internet search can obtain a copy of the manual.
Traffic Control Plans must contain provisions for control of vehicles and protection of
pedestrians.
Use only trained and qualified personnel to carry out any traffic control activity, as
required by the Traffic control at work sites Technical Manual.
28.3 Authority requirements and approvals

You must consult with other stakeholders or authorities to determine their requirements.
You must obtain necessary approvals from authorities or their authorised agents.
28.4 Payment of authority fees and charges

You are responsible for arranging invoices for authority fees and charges to be issued to
us.
We will pay authority fees and charges direct to the authority.
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28.5 Road opening approvals
You are responsible for obtaining approval if road opening is required and complying
with approval conditions.
Application procedure, forms relating to road openings, access to our reserves, footway
works, footway closure and occupation permits and driveway construction are available
from Council’s web-site.
Fees for each application are separately listed on the Council web-site.
28.6 Council fees not waived

Council fees will not be waived because this is a Council project (to comply with cost
auditing requirements). Allowance for fees must be included in pricing.
You must arrange payment of Council fees. We will not be paying ourselves.
Fees are available on the Council web-site.
28.7 Sub-contractors
Sub-contractors must be declared in the quote. The sub-contractors nominated in the
quote must not be changed without written approval from us.
If sub-contractors are used, you are responsible for selection, engagement, payment,
and quality management of the sub-contracted work.
We will not separately pay sub-contractors and will not pay an administration charge for
managing sub-contractors.
Sub-contractors must hold insurance that meets the requirements of us contract.
28.8 Meaningful email titles

Project emails must have a title that describes the content of the email. This will enable
a specific email to be found when searching through the many emails in an electronic
records system.
Do not add unrelated content to a chain email.
A series of emails about the same subject needs to have additional information specific
to the email. For example:
Road name 80% design – submission for design review
Road name 80% design – request for review of landscaping
Road name 80% design – draft Review of Environmental Factors
28.9 Protection of trees

Trees on investigation sites must not be removed, pruned or lopped without permission
of the landowner and written permission from Council under State Environmental
Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021.
Tree protection adjacent to the work must be maintained in accordance with AS 4970
Protection of Trees on Development Sites.
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28.10 References
28.10.1 Reference documents
References that may need to be consulted during the work are shown in the
specifications.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references the latest
edition available on the internet (including any amendments) applies.
28.10.2 Access to reference documents

It is your responsibility to access and obtain reference documents other than those
supplied by us.
A copy of legislative and regulation requirements is available through an internet search.
You are not entitled to claim for costs or lodge a variation associated with accessing and
obtaining reference documents.
28.11 Project process control

See the Scope-of-Work for project process control requirements, including procedures
for the Issues Log.
28.12 Supplied information

We will provide the information listed in the Request-for-Quote.
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29. Glossary of terms and definitions
Term Definition
AEP (Annual The probability that a given rainfall total accumulated over a
Exceedance given duration will be exceeded in any one year.
Probability)
AFC drawing set Drawing set that is ‘Accepted for Construction’.
AFC model Design model used to prepare the ‘Accepted-for-Construction’
drawing set.
AHD Australian Height Datum.
Approved The person who certifies that design outputs have been
verified as meeting design input specifications and
requirements and that the design has been completed in
accordance with regulations and standards.
AS Australian Standard.
BIM – (Building A design model that has asset codes attached to the surfaces
Information and features in the design.
Modelling)
CAD Computer Aided Design.
CADD Computer Aided Design and Drafting.
Chainage Distance of a point along a control line, measured from a
datum point.
Consultant A person or company who provides expert advice
professionally. The requirements for a Contractor apply to a
Consultant.
Contractor A person or company that undertakes a contract to provide
materials or labour to perform a service or do a job. The
requirements for a Consultant apply to a Contractor.
Design Stage Design development process:
• Strategic Design stage defines a budget for a works
program.
• Concept Design phase refines the preferred solution.
• Detailed Design phase details the design for construction.
The stages of detail design are 20%, 50%, 80%, 100%
Accepted-for-Construction.
Designer The person responsible for design of new structures or
assessment of existing structures.
Design team The group of designers responsible for the design of new
infrastructure. It may comprise an appropriate mix of
specialists under the direction of a team leader.
Drawing Diagrams that represent or define a physical object. Distinct
from a Plan, which is a detailed proposal or scheme for doing
or achieving something.
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Term Definition
Drawing Set A collection of drawings that represent or define a physical
object.
Model (design A computer simulation of an object, such as a road, drainage
model) basin or bridge.
Model (in a design Also known as a ‘level’ or ‘layer’. A group of elements in a
model) design model. Models are named according to content, for
example ‘survey’, ‘kerb’, ‘drainage’.
Plan A detailed proposal or scheme for doing or achieving
something, such as a Management Plan or Strategic Plan.
Plan (in a drawing) A vertical view diagram that represents or defines a physical
object, such as a road or drainage basin.
Principal A person, or corporate entity, nominated in a contract that
engages another party to do work for gain or reward, other
than as an employee.
Scope-of-Work The document used to specify the requirements for a project.
RMS - Roads and A former New South Wales government agency responsible
Maritime Services for road transport which has been replaced by Transport for
New South Wales.
RTA – Roads and A former New South Wales government agency responsible
Traffic Authority for road transport which was replaced by Roads and Maritime
Services, which has been replaced by Transport for New
South Wales.
TfNSW - Transport A New South Wales government agency responsible for
for New South transport delivery and coordination, replacing Roads and
Wales Maritime Services (RMS), which replaced the Roads and
Traffic Authority (RTA).
Verification Checking the technical content of the drawing including
conformance to technical standards; safety-in-design,
resolution of construction and operation issues and design
interface with other disciplines.
Work-as-Executed Drawings that have been annotated in red to show variations
(WAE) from the design that were made during construction.
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Appendix A - Roundabout Horizontal Geometry in 12D
Using Elements
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Blank page
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Overview
This procedure shall be used in conjunction with Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B:
Roundabouts and Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates.
The models we will be creating and using for design of a roundabout are:
1. ALIGN RBT
2. ALIGN RBT CONSTRUCTION
3. ALIGN ISLAND LMK
4. ALIGN CIRCLES
5. ALIGN KR
6. ALIGN ISLAND
7. ALIGN DEFLECTION
8. ALIGN TURNINGS
9. MODELS FOR SWEPT PATHS
Step 1 Create roundabout and circulating roadway

To create the roundabout, you need 2 road centreline alignments. For this example, we will be using
a 4-leg roundabout.
To start, we need to create a round super alignment at the intersection of both alignments. Ensure
the super alignment toolbar is showing on your screen. View>Toolbars>Super Alignment Tools.
The second button on the toolbar is “Create”.
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Select create super alignment.
Give the roundabout a name such as RBT01. If you have more than 1 roundabout you can call the
second roundabout RBT02 and so on.
For the Label section choose Kerb Returns, for Closure tick close string. Click Create and a super
alignment toolbar will open. Click the 4th button called Part Editors.
Press Horizontal and press the 4th button on the left to insert an element. Change the “Type” from
blank to Computator>Fixed Arc. On the left side of the window, you will notice the element will be
created. Select the Fx Arc on the left and change the type on the right side from Reference to Centre,
Radius.
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Change the FX Point type from Reference to Intersection and press “set”. Pressing the “set” button
after each change is very important. Change the approaching and departing section under the
geometry tab from unknown to Fx segment and press set.
Click the first Fx segment from the left pane and under the geometry tab in the right pane, change
the Reference type to vertex/segment#. For the reference string section, select the first road
alignment and do the same for the second Fx segment and choose the other road alignment and
press set. For the radius section, refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts,
Table 4.1 to ensure your radius complies. Set the type to Value and type in your desired radius and
press set. See the diagram below.
Next, create 2 more super alignment circles for the circulating carriageway. The first circle is
measured to the lip of kerbs and the second circle is measured to the nominal kerb line (NKL). To
create these 2 circles, we can either reference the existing roundabout super alignment we created
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in the previous step and offset it or we can create the circles the same way we created the RBT01
roundabout super alignment.
Create a new super alignment with the following properties:
Name: CCW01a
Model: ALIGN RBT CONSTRUCTION
LABEL: Kerb returns
Closed string.
The above diagram shows the lip super alignment circulating carriageway. The radius is 14.05 as
the NKL super alignment circulating carriageway needs to be 14.5m for this intersection. Refer to
Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Table 4.3.
We need to create the NKL super alignment using a reference of the lip super alignment. If we move
the lip super alignment later in the design, the NKL will follow as it will be referenced from it.
Create a new super alignment and select “same as” at the bottom of the window and select the lip
super alignment we created in the previous step. Change the name to CCW01 (we removed the “a”)
and press create.
Go to the Edit Parts section of the super alignment toolbar and under the horizontal section, insert a
new item. Add Computator>Segment reference. Click on Fx Segment on the left, and on the right
change the Reference Type under the geometry tab to vertex/segment#. Select super alignment
CCW01a by direction for the reference string and add an offset of 0.45m. This could be -0.45m
depending on the direction you selected the string. Refer below.
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Step 2: Create island line marking
We need to create smooth entry in and out of the roundabout. These super alignments we will be
creating in this step will later be used to create our splitter islands. They will also be used to create
our kerb returns, line marking around our islands, deflection calcs, and swept paths.
Name: MI01 LMK
Model: ALIGN ISLAND LMK
LABEL: Kerb returns
Horizontal segment 1: Computator>Segment reference. Reference type>vertex/segment#,
Reference string>Road centreline of leg 1 (select by direction). If your alignment is long, then use
the start extension area to control where your line marking starts. In the example, the alignment is
1.7km long therefore we need to add a value into the start extension area.
Horizontal segment 2: Arc-free>Radius. Enter a radius of -60 to start.
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Reference string>Roundabout alignment RBT01 (select by direction towards roundabout).
Horizontal segment 4: Arc-free>Radius. Enter a radius of -80 to start.
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Reference string>Road centreline of leg 1 (select by direction away from roundabout). Since the
road alignment is long, we added an end extension to shorten the end of the line marking. Refer to
image below for results of first line marking super alignment.
Repeat these steps for all 4 legs of the roundabout. You can copy and paste from part editor windows
to other super alignment part editor windows by using the 5th button on the left-hand side of the edit
part window.
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This is what we should have after creating the other 3 legs.
Step 3: Create entry and exit circles

We need to create circles that intersect the lip super alignment CCW01a and line marking super
alignments with the example radius of 4.55m to ensure our entry and exits are 5m wide.
Name: KR01 ENTRY (this name is dependent on the kerb return number adjacent to the entry/exit
leg you are working on. When we do the exit circles, we change the name to KR01 EXIT).
Model: ALIGN RBT CIRCLES
LABEL: Kerb returns
Closed string
Horizontal segment 1: Comupator>Fixed arc. Change the Type to Centre, Radius. Click Fx Point
and change the type to intersection. Under the geometry tab, change “approach” and “departing” to
fixed segment and press set. Select the first Fx segment on the left and on the right under the
geometry tab change the Reference type to vertex/segment#. For the Reference string select by
direction the MI01 LMK super alignment heading into the roundabout as we are working on the entry.
Select the second Fx segment on the left and under the geometry tab change the Reference type to
vertex/segment#. For the Reference string select by direction the lip super alignment CCW01a. On
the left select “Radius” and on the right under geometry change the Type to Value and enter a radius
of -4.55 (Entry width of 5m ---> 4.55 + 0.45 = 5).
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Repeat these steps for the KR01 EXIT circle and then for the remaining 3 kerb return entry and exits.
You should have 8 ALIGN RBT CIRLCE super alignment circles (2 for each kerb return). Remember
to use the “same as” button when creating the super alignments and the copy and paste tool for part
editors to save you time.
8 entry/exit circle super alignments.
Step 4 – Create kerb returns

We need to create kerb returns that consist of 3 arcs. We will use the circles we created in Step 3 to
ensure our entry and exit points into the roundabout are 5m wide.
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Name: KR01 (this name is dependent on the kerb return number you are working on).
Model: ALIGN KR
LABEL: Kerb returns
Horizontal segment 1: Computator>Fixed compound. Ensure the Type is set to Fillet and change the
Approach and Depart under the geometry tab to Fx segment. The radius should be -30.45.
Segment1: Vertex/segment#, reference string: Road alignment (with direction into the roundabout),
offset: half the width of the carriageway minus the 0.45m for the gutter (for an 11m wide road we
have 5.5m (half road width) – 0.45 = 5.05m).
Segment 2: Vertex/segment#, reference string: KR01 ENTRY super alignment no offset. Press set.
Horizontal segment 2: Free-Arc>Radius. Select the appropriate radius for your kerb return. In this
case the kerb radius is 12.5m therefore we add 0.45m as we are creating kerb returns to the lip
therefore my kerb return radius will be -12.95.
Horizontal segment 3: Computator>Fixed compound. Ensure the Type is Fillet and change the
Approach and Depart under the geometry tab to Fx segment. The radius should be -100.45.
Segment1: Vertex/segment#, reference string: KR01 EXIT super alignment no offset.
Segment 2: Vertex/segment#, reference string: Road alignment (with direction away from the
roundabout), offset: half the width of the carriageway minus the 0.45m for the gutter. Press set.
Repeat this process for the remaining 3 kerb returns.
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This is what we should have after completing the remaining kerb returns.
Step5 – Create splitter islands

We can create median islands using what we have already created.
Name: MI01
Model: ALIGN ISLAND
LABEL: Island Kerb
Closed string
START
This is what we will be creating.
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Horizontal segment 1: Computator>Fixed Arc. Change the Type to Fillet. Approach and depart to Fx
segment.
Segment1: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: MI01 LMK super alignment, Offset 0.3. Looking at
the figure above, we will be starting on the top left corner arc with radius of 0.3m. Therefore, when
we select by direction, we select clockwise, set.
Segment2: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: CCW01 super alignment, Offset 0.3, set.
Radius: 0.3, set.
Horizontal segment 2: Line-free, set.
Horizontal segment 3: Computator>Fixed Arc. Change the Type to Fillet. Approaching and departing
to Fx segment.
Segment1: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: CCW01 super alignment, Offset 0.5, set.
Segment2: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: MI01 LMK super alignment, Offset 1.0, set.
Radius: 0.6, set.
Horizontal segment 5: Computator>Fixed Arc. Change the Type to Fillet. Approaching and departing
to Fx segment, set.
Segment1: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: MI01 LMK super alignment (select with direction
away from roundabout on exit side), Offset 0.5, set.
Segment2: Vertex/segment#, Reference string: MI01 LMK super alignment (select with direction
toward roundabout on entry side), Offset 0.3, set.
Radius: 0.3, set.
Repeat steps for remaining legs.
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Step 6 – Deflection check
Refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Figure 4.5 for entry treatment
into a single lane roundabout.
The conditions we need to consider are:
1. Approach D = 1.5m from road centreline (if we have not used an approach curve on the entry).
2. M2 = Circulation carriageway width divided by 2. In this case (7.5 / 2 = 3.75m).
3. Kerb return D = 1.5m from kerb face (1.05m from lip).
The 3 tangent curves we need to create must have a radius of <55. Refer to the Austroads Guide to
Road Design Part 4B: Roundabouts, Table 4.2.
Name: KR No 01 ENTRY DEFLECTION
Model: ALIGN RBT DEFLECTION
LABEL: RBT DEFLECTION
Horizontal segment 1: Computator>Fixed compound. Change the Type to Three Tangents Curve.
Approaching and departing to Fx string and Intermediate to Fx segment.
Fx string 1: Change the Type from “Reference Ex” to “Reference”. Reference string: Road centreline
super alignment, Offset -1.5, Set.
Fx segment: Reference type: vertex/segment#, Reference string: KR01, Offset 1.05, Set.
Fx string 2: Change the Type from “Reference Ex” to “Reference”. Reference string: CCW01 super
alignment, Offset 3.75.
We have an entry radius of 99.961. This is not sufficient therefore we need to ensure the radius is
<55 to comply therefore this entry will need a blister island on the left-hand side on the approach to
bring down the radius to >55.
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Depending on the width of your road carriageway, will depend on the width of your blister island. For
an 11m wide road we have:
• 5.5m for half width.
• We need at least 3.5m travel lanes.
• We cannot put blister islands in the gutter.
• 5.5-3.5-0.45=1.55m. Therefore, the maximum width of our blister islands for 11m wide road is
1.55m (say 1.5m). So, if we work out the offset from our lip to the end of the blister, this will give
us our new Kerb Return D.
• 0.45 (from NKL to lip) + 1.5m (blister island) + 1m (Refer to the Austroads Guide to Road Design
Part 4B: Roundabouts, Figure 4.5. D = 1m when measuring from an edge line) = 2.95m.
When we change Kerb Return D in the intermediate Fx segment section from 1.05 to 2.95 we get a
new radius of 34m. To get a more accurate entry deflection check we would draw the blister island
and use it for the intermediate Fx segment section and use a 1m offset.
Repeat the above steps for the remaining legs of the roundabout.
Step 7 - Create turn lines for swept paths

We can create swept path turn lines using what we have already created. These lines will be used
in Step 8 for creating swept paths. Before creating turn lines, we need to choose a design vehicle
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for swept paths. Refer to Table 4 in this specification for design vehicles. For this example, we will
be using a 12.5 single unit truck/bus.
Name: KR01 LEFT TURN
Model: ALIGN TURNINGS
Horizontal segment 1: Computator>Segment reference. Reference type: vertex/segment#,
Reference string: MI01 LMK, no offset.
Horizontal segment 2: Free – arc, Radius -15 (min.).

Name: KR01 RIGHT TURN
Model: ALIGN TURNINGS
Reference string: RBT01, offset -3.75 (half circulating carriageway width or trial and error).
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Step 8 – Swept path analysis
We can create swept paths turn for Australian design vehicles using 12D. We will use the lines
created in Step 7 to create the swept paths. For this example, we will be using a 12.5 single unit
truck/bus as the design vehicle.
Design>Roads>Vehicle Path
MAIN tab:
Function name:KR01 LEFT TURN SU TRUCK
Vehicle type: Design Truck
Friction coefficient: 0.3
Vehicle path output: Steering path
Vehicle on side: Left
Draw interval: 20
Vehicle path: ALIGN TURNINGS>KR01 LEFT TURN super alignment (select from screen)
OUTPUT tab:
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Press “Run Vehicle Path button” and turn on models SPA KR01 LEFT TURN S, V, and D.
You will see the SU Truck swept path. From here we can see sufficient clearance to the kerb return.
Since a vehicle path function was created for this left turn, we can make amendments to the ALIGN
TURNINGS>KR01 LEFT TURN super alignment and change the offsets for horizontal segment 1
and 3 to 1m or similar to move the SU Truck swept path away from the splitter islands and re-run
the vehicle path function KR01 LEFT TURN SU TRUCK. See below for results.
Do the same to the right turn super alignment.

Create a new function in the Vehicle Path window and use the right turn super alignment.
175
Run vehicle path and turn on the relevant models.
Make changes to the right turn super alignment ALIGN TURNING super alignment and try and centre
the swept path and re-run the function. Aim to have at least 0.5m offset from the inside of the swept
path and 0.5m to the outside.
Create all swept paths for the remaining legs of the roundabout.
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Step 9 – Create a chain
We can create a chain to automatically run every element from Steps 1 to 8. This is important when
a change to one of the elements or road alignments is introduced.
A change of roundabout position affects line marking strings, kerb returns and median islands,
deflection, turn lines swept paths. The chain can reconfigure all the elements with a press on one
button, instead of editing each element one by one.
Instead of editing each string and pressing “set” in the parts editor window for each super alignment
we can create a chain that runs all the super alignments with a press on one button.
Utilities>Chains>Create
Name the chain “street name – ROUNDABOUT GEOMETRY” and press write (top right corner of
window). Then press the “insert” button. Refer to figure above.
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Change the “type” to Resolve SA under the Elements section.
Press the button next to the super alignment section and select super alignment RBT01 from the
screen.
Proceed to add the super alignments we created for ALIGN RBT CONSTRUCTION, ALIGN RBT
LMK, ALIGN CIRCLES, ALIGN ISLANDS, ALIGN KR, ALIGN DEFLECTION, ALIGN TURNINGS,
and SWEPT PATH MODELS (functions) to the chain. A less time-consuming way to adding the
super alignments can be done by:
1. Press the insert button.
2. Change the “type” to Resolve SA under the Elements section.
3. Before selecting a super alignment copy that line (3rd button, 2 to the right from the insert button).
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4. Select a super alignment and press the paste button (4th button, 3 to the right from the insert
button).
5. Repeat instruction 4 above until all super alignments have populated in the table.
Once all relevant super alignments and functions have been added press the write button (top right
corner) and replace the existing chain. By pressing the “Run” button at the bottom of the window you
will notice it will re-run every super alignment we created in this example along with the functions for
the swept paths.
After creating all the elements for the roundabout, you may notice your roundabout does not fit
properly in the centre of your intersection. If this is the case, go back to Step 1 and edit RBT01 super
alignment. We originally created the roundabout directly in the centre of both road centreline
alignments so you may have to offset the roundabout in the desired direction. This is usually the
case when designing retrofit roundabouts.
For example, if you changed the offsets then ensure you do the same to super alignment CCW0a1
as this was also created the same way as RBT01. CCW01 was created referencing CCW01a
therefore you do not have to edit this super alignment. For the rest of the roundabout to adjust itself
to the offset changes, open the chain and press the run button.
There are 2 ways to access the chain.
1. Utilities>Chains>Edit
2. Use the “Recalc” toolbar. This can be found at Utilities>Relcalc>Recalc
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Appendix B – Kerb ramps
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Road and Stormwater Design Spec 240113

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Road and Stormwater Design Spec 240113

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Road and Stormwater Design

13 January 2024 2024

2. Prevailing standard of design ..............................................................................3

3. Defining design stages .........................................................................................7

4. Street design considerations ...............................................................................9

5. Right of access to road by owners of adjoining land....................................... 12

6. Design for roadways ........................................................................................... 15

7. Application of turning path templates ............................................................... 35

8. Design for channelised intersections ................................................................ 41

9. Design for traffic signals .................................................................................... 48

10. Design for roundabout intersections................................................................. 54

11. Design for buses ................................................................................................. 67

12. Design for pedestrians and cycleways.............................................................. 70

13. Design for stormwater and waterways .............................................................. 78

14. Design for pavements ......................................................................................... 95

15. Design for landscaping ....................................................................................... 97

16. Design for traffic calming ................................................................................. 105

17. Design for signposting and delineation .......................................................... 107

18. Design for errant vehicles ................................................................................ 109

19. Design for ancillary facilities ............................................................................ 111

20. Design for property adjustments ..................................................................... 112

21. Design for public utilities.................................................................................. 121

22. Estimate ............................................................................................................. 122

23. Documentation .................................................................................................. 126

24. Review and finalisation of design .................................................................... 140

25. Design form and aesthetics.............................................................................. 143

26. Safety in Design ................................................................................................ 146

27. Quality assurance ............................................................................................. 150

28. Project management information .................................................................... 152

29. Glossary of terms and definitions ................................................................... 155

1.2 Function of this specification

1.3 Design procedures and methods

1.4 Required deliverables

1.5 Safe systems approach

2.2 Precedence of documents

2.3 Departures from standards

2.3.3 Functional requirements of mitigation measures

Table 1 Functional requirements of mitigation measures

2 Functional Meet the objectives of the infrastructure.

4 Aesthetic Enhance the built environment.

2.4 Multiple minimums

Table 2 Design stages

7. Accepted for Construction

Figure 1 Design roadmap

f) Speed control devices.

4.2 Site conditions

4.3 Safety in Design

4.4 Designing for all abilities

4.6 Crime prevention through environmental design

4.6.2 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design principles

4.6.4 Access control

4.6.5 Territorial reinforcement

4.6.6 Space management

5.2 Access to types of roads

5.3 Plans registered after 1919

5.4 Plans registered before 1920

5.6 Roads shown in Henry Ferdinand Halloran estate plans

6.2 Design speed

Table 3 Design speed

Road type Posted speed Design speed

6.3 Design vehicle

From To Design vehicle Check vehicle

Figure 2 B-Double route map

6.5 Maximum grades