The area of the road between the outside edge of the outer lane of traffic and the inside corner of the ditch, gutter, curb, or slope is known as the cross-section of roads. Shoulders are provided to ensure safety and enable the development of the maximum traffic capacity.
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See also: CC road: Meaning, construction process, and benefits
Elements of road cross-section
Width of lane
To support the expected type and volume of traffic, the implied design speed of vehicles, and in meeting approaching traffic or passing slower traffic, the surfaced road’s width and the number of lanes should be sufficient. The recommended width for two-lane highways has increased from 16 feet to 24 feet as traffic density, vehicle speed, and truck width have increased.
Urban lane width
Normal lane width is 3.5 metres or more. For reasons of the economy or the environment, narrower lanes are used. When curb parking is restricted, a two-way local distributor route’s carriageway width can be as little as 6.1 metres. The near side lane’s width is frequently increased in urban areas to:
- Enhance cycling conditions
- Give commercial vehicles more room
Rural lane width
3.65 metres is the recommended lane width for rural roads to increase capacity and decrease accidents. On typical two-lane single carriageways, the standard edge treatment entails a 1 m strip of the same material on both sides with a solid white line, bringing the overall width to 9.3 m.
Median strips
The component of a divided highway known as a median divides the lanes into opposing directions. Median strops offer positive protection against a collision with opposing traffic on divided highways. These median strips range in width from 4′ to 60′.
When raised, curbs only provide narrow median strips and separation; however, curbs may (or may not) be used when greater widths are available. In rural areas, the wide separation frequently serves the purpose on its own, and no raised barrier is used. The median is a crucial part of a road cross-section.
Shoulders
The area of the road between the outside edge of the external traffic lane and the inner edge of the dump, gutter, curb, or slope is known as the cross-section of roads. Shoulders are provided to ensure safety and enable the development of the maximum traffic capacity. Additionally, the shoulder offers a spot for a car to park in an emergency, such as when changing tyres. Additionally, shoulders support the pavements laterally.
Road chamber
Without medians, the pavement on the transverse section of two- and multi-lane highways slopes from the middle to both sides. A road cross-section that can be either curved, plane, or a mixture of the two, creates a cross slope.
Cross-slopes are slopes provided to the road surface in the traverse direction to allow rainwater to drain from the surface. Except for curves, where super altitude directs all water towards the inside, it is introduced in all digression sections of the roadway.
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FAQs
What does a road survey's cross-section mean?
An angle-perpendicular profile perspective of a surface is referred to as a cross-section, for instance, at a right angle to a river, railroad, or road. The elevation is plotted against the length of the cross-section line. Measurements of the cross-sections are typically made along the route at regular intervals.
What is the primary function of road cross-sections?
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