MEDIAN INTERSECTION DESIGN
This research focused on the traffic operational and safety effects of the median width of at-grade intersections on divided highways with partial or no control of access. The objective of the research was to develop and recommend on the basis of operational and safety considerations appropriate design policies for median width at rural and suburban divided highway intersections. Traffic operational field data were collected at 40 selected divided highway intersections in 10 states. In addition, a statistical analysis of relationships between median width and intersection accidents was conducted with an accident, geometric, and traffic volume data base for the California state highway system. The analysis concluded that, at rural unsignalized intersections, both accidents and undesirable driving behavior decrease as the median width increases. In contrast, at suburban signalized and unsignalized intersections, accidents and undesirable driving behavior increase as the median width increases. Thus, at rural unsignalized intersections, wider medians are generally preferable to narrower medians, unless future signalization or suburban development can be anticipated at a particular intersection. The median at a suburban intersection generally should not be wider than necessary to accommodate the appropriate median left-turn treatment needed to serve current and anticipated traffic volumes.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309057043
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Supplemental Notes:
- Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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Corporate Authors:
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001Midwest Research Institute
425 Volker Boulevard
Kansas City, MO United States 64110-2299 -
Authors:
- Harwood, D W
- Pietrucha, M T
- Wooldridge, M D
- Brydia, R E
- Fitzpatrick, K
- Publication Date: 1995
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 99 p.
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Serial:
- NCHRP Report
- Issue Number: 375
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0077-5614
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Behavior; Crashes; Divided highways; Drivers; Field studies; Geometric design; Highway operations; Intersections; Medians; Rural areas; Signalized intersections; Statistical analysis; Suburbs; Traffic; Traffic safety; Traffic volume; Unsignalized intersections; Width
- Uncontrolled Terms: Field data
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I73: Traffic Control; I81: Accident Statistics;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00721403
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 0309057043
- Report/Paper Numbers: Project 15-14(2) FY '92
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: May 8 1996 12:00AM