PASSING LANES AND OTHER OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ON TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS. PHASE I TECHNICAL REPORT

Many two-lane highways in rural areas experience operational problems related to high traffic volumes; lack of adequate passing opportunities; slow-moving vehicles on grades and in rolling terrain; roadside development that generates turning maneuvers at driveways; and turning movements at intersections. This report evaluates five operational aids or treatments intended to alleviate these problems including: passing lanes, short four-lane sections, shoulder use sections, turnouts, and two-way left-turn lanes. The report reviews current signing, marking, and design practices used for these operational treatments in 13 states that participated in the study. An operational evaluation of the treatments was based on field data collected at 35 treated sites. Safety evaluation of these treatments was based on accident data collected at 138 treated sites. The study concluded that each of the five types of operational treatments that were evaluated can be effective in improving traffic operations on two-lane highways. Passing lanes, short four-lane sections, and two-way left-turn lanes were also found to improve safety while turnouts and shoulder use sections were found to have no effect on safety.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68430
• Corporate Authors:

  Midwest Research Institute

  425 Volker Boulevard
  Kansas City, MO  United States  64110-2299

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Harwood, D W
  • Saint John, A D
• Publication Date: 1985-12

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 138 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field studies; Highway operations; Information processing; Passing lanes; Railroad turnouts; Road shoulders; Traffic; Traffic safety; Two lane highways; Two way left turn lanes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field data
• Old TRIS Terms: Shoulder usage; Two way left turn
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457805
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-85-028, FCP 31M2-682, 7533-S
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-61-82-C-00070
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1986 12:00AM