Lec 01 Highway Engineering - Highway Classification

Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
Functional Classification of Highways

In this lecture;
--------------------1- Definitions and concepts.
2- Trip stages.
3- Accessibility and mobility.
4- Highway functional classification
A - Urban and rural areas
B Functional categories
5- Highway classification in Iraq
The information listed in this lecture is mainly taken from the U.S reference entitled
A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (AASHTO, 2011) and Traffic
and Highway Engineering (Garber and Hoel, 2009).
1- Definitions and Concepts.

The classification of highways into different operational systems, functional classes,
or geometric types is
necessary
for communication among engineers,
administrators, and the general public.

Different classification schemes can be applied for different administrative, planning
and design purposes in both rural and urban regions. Following are typical
examples:
- Classification of highways by design types based on the major geometric features
(e.g., freeways and conventional streets and highways) is the most helpful one for
highway location and design procedures.
- By route numbering (e.g., U.S., State, County) is the most helpful for traffic
operations.
- By administration (e.g., National Highway System or Non-National Highway
System) is used to denote the levels of government responsibility and financing of
highway facilities.
Lecture 01
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
- By paving materials (e.g., asphalt pavement (flexible) and concrete pavement

(rigid)).
- By number of lanes (e.g., two lanes and multi-lanes highways). This is adopted in
the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) in determining the LOS of highways.
- Finally, functional classification, the grouping of highways by the nature of
service they provide. For example, arterials, collectors and local roads. This
classification was developed for transportation planning purposes.
2- Trip Stages
A
complete
provides
functional
design
system
series
distinct
travel
of
movements. The six recognizable stages in

most trips include:
a- main movement,
b- transition,
c- distribution,
d- collection,
e- access, and
f- termination.
For example, Fig. 1 shows a hypothetical
highway trip using a freeway, where the
main
movement
of
vehicles
is
uninterrupted, high-speed flow.
Lecture 01
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
When approaching destinations from the freeway, vehicles reduce speed on

freeway ramps, which act as transition roadways. The vehicles then enter moderatespeed arterials (distributor facilities) that bring them nearer to the vicinity of their
destination neighborhoods. They next enter collector roads that penetrate
neighborhoods. The vehicles finally enter local access roads that provide direct
approaches to individual residences or other terminations. At their destinations the
vehicles are parked at an appropriate terminal facility.
3- Accessibility and Mobility

The two major considerations in classifying highway and street networks
functionally are access and mobility. Accessibility usually refers to the ability to
reach desired goods, services, activities and destinations, while mobility usually
refers to the movement of people or goods.
The conflict between serving through
movement and providing access to trip
origins and destinations necessitates the
differences and gradations in the various
functional types. See the adjacent figure.
Regulated limitation of access is needed
on arterials to enhance their primary
function of mobility. Conversely, the
primary function of local roads and
streets is to provide access, which
causes a limitation of mobility.
Lecture 01
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
4- Functional Classification of Highways

This section contains definitions and characteristics of highway facilities in urban
and rural regions based on their functional classifications.
A- Urban and Rural Areas

Urban and rural areas have fundamentally different characteristics with regard to
density and types of land use, density of street and highway networks, nature of
travel patterns, and the way in which these elements are related. Consequently,
urban and rural functional systems are classified separately.
Urban areas are those places within

boundaries set by the responsible
State and local officials having a
population of 5,000 or more.
Rural areas are those areas outside the boundaries of urban areas.
Lecture 01
10
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
B- Functional Categories
The roads making up the functional systems differ for urban and rural areas. The
hierarchy of the functional systems consists of principal arterials (for main
movement), minor arterials (distributors), collectors (major and minor), and local
roads and streets.
Figure 3 below shows the typical functional classification decision tree.
Lecture 01
11
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
There are several travel characteristics that are also key in assigning functional
classifications to roadways. Some of them are shown in Table 1 below.
1) Principal arterials
Highways within this system are divided
into three subclasses: (a) interstate, with
fully-controlled access and grade
separated interchanges; (b) freeways and
expressways, which have controlled
access but may also include at-grade
intersections; and (c) other principal
arterials (with partial or no controlled
access).
In urban regions, this system of
highways serves the major activity
centers and consists mainly of the
highest-traffic-volume corridors.
In contrast, in rural areas it serves
all
highway
trips
between
urbanized areas and a high
percentage of trips between small
urban areas with populations of
25,000 or more.
Lecture 01
12
Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
2) Minor arterials
Minor arterials interconnect the principal arterial
system. In an urban context, they provide intracommunity continuity and may carry local bus
routes. They usually provide service for trips of
moderate length.
In rural areas, minor arterials link cities and
larger towns (and other major traffic generator
areas such as major resorts.
3) Major & minor collectors
The main purpose of collector streets is
to collect traffic from local streets in
residential areas or in CBDs and convey
it to the arterial system. Thus, collector
streets usually go through residential
areas and facilitate traffic circulation
within residential, commercial, and
industrial areas.
Generally, Major Collector routes are

longer in length; have lower connecting
driveway densities; have higher speed
limits; have higher AADT volumes; and
may have more travel lanes.
Lecture 01
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Dr.Firas Asad
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
4) Local roads
This system consists of all other streets
that are not included in the three
systems described earlier.
The primary purposes of these streets
are to provide access to abutting land
and to the collector streets. Through
traffic is discouraged on these streets.
5- Highway classification in IRAQ

According to the Iraqi Highway Design Manual (SCRB, 2005), the system of highways
in Iraq can be generally classified as follows:
1) Primary system
Highways of international importance (the main highways connecting main cities)
and highways of special importance should form the primary system of national
highways. These highways are to be designed to the highest standard.
2) Secondary system
Highways connecting major cities of economic or other importance and highways
connecting agricultural, commercial, recreational or tourist area should form the
secondary system of highways.
3) Tertiary system
Highways of district and local importance should form the tertiary system.
Lecture 01
14
Dr.Firas Asad
14 15
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions

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Lecture 01
Highway Eng.
Highway Functions
14 15
Highway classification is the

first step in highway
design process.
======================================
Lecture 01
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Dr.Firas Asad

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Highway Eng.

Functional Classification of Highways

1- Definitions and Concepts.

for communication among engineers,

administrators, and the general public.

- By paving materials (e.g., asphalt pavement (flexible) and concrete pavement

movements. The six recognizable stages in

uninterrupted, high-speed flow.

When approaching destinations from the freeway, vehicles reduce speed on

3- Accessibility and Mobility

4- Functional Classification of Highways

A- Urban and Rural Areas

Urban areas are those places within

Generally, Major Collector routes are

5- Highway classification in IRAQ

Highway classification is the

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