RESIDENTIAL ROAD LAYOUT AND DESIGN - THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

The author's employer was recently contracted to assist in the production of design guidelines for road layout and the provision of engineering services. The project was motivated by the ruling high price of serviced land in residential suburbs. The terms of reference stipulated that the guideline should be based on existing knowledge rather than new research. However, it became apparent that practising engineers were sceptical about proposals which, in their eyes, were tantamount to a lowering of standards. Most resistance related to the safety and maintenance implications. Accordingly, it became necessary for some research to justify, and assist in the derivation of, appropriate design concepts and standards. The paper describes some of the methods and findings of the program and indicates how design standards were derived. The main differences between the South African design guideline and others such as the ARRB "streets for living", are due to the significant "third world" element in the former. Most of the "first world" design guides rightly give priority to traffic-related aspects of residential road layout. The South African guide, while built around road layout, has also given attention to factors which affect the cost of sewerage, water and electricity supply, but in particular, to the use of streets and open spaces for the attenuation of stormwater. This has influenced road layout, the alignment of streets and land use. (Author/TRRL)

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This paper was presented during the 12th Australian Road Research Board Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 27-31 August 1984.
  • Corporate Authors:

    ARRB

    Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
  • Authors:
    • Cameron, JWM
  • Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 93-102
  • Serial:

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00393464
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: ARRB
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jul 31 1985 12:00AM