Secondary Highway Design Guide120

Introduction

Secondary highways are an essential part of any transportation system. They connect smaller communities to larger ones, provide access to rural areas, and serve as a vital link in the movement of goods and people. The design of secondary highways must consider a variety of factors, including traffic volume, speed, safety, and cost. This guide provides an overview of the key principles of secondary highway design.

Traffic Volume and Speed

The first step in designing a secondary highway is to determine the traffic volume and speed that the highway will need to accommodate. Traffic volume is typically measured in average daily traffic (ADT), which is the number of vehicles that travel on a given section of highway on a typical day. Speed is typically measured in miles per hour (mph).

The traffic volume and speed will determine the number of lanes and the width of the highway. A highway with a high ADT will need more lanes than a highway with a low ADT. Similarly, a highway with a high speed limit will need to be wider than a highway with a low speed limit.

Safety

Safety is a paramount concern in the design of any highway. Secondary highways, which are often located in rural areas, pose unique safety challenges. These challenges include:

Higher speeds
Less traffic control devices
More intersections
More curves
More wildlife

To address these safety challenges, secondary highways must be designed with a focus on safety. This includes incorporating features such as:

Wide shoulders
Clear sight lines
Guardrails
Rumble strips
Animal crossings

Cost

Cost is always a consideration in the design of any highway. Secondary highways, which are typically constructed in rural areas, can be less expensive to build than highways in urban areas. However, there are a number of factors that can affect the cost of a secondary highway, including:

The number of lanes
The width of the highway
The terrain
The presence of bridges or other structures

It is important to weigh the cost of a highway against the benefits it will provide. A highway that is designed to be safe and efficient will be more costly to build than a highway that is not. However, the benefits of a safe and efficient highway, such as reduced crashes and travel time, can far outweigh the costs.

Conclusion

The design of secondary highways is a complex process that requires careful consideration of a variety of factors. By following the principles outlined in this guide, highway engineers can design highways that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective.

2025-02-12

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