Fundamentals of

Intersection Design
What is an intersection?
What is an intersection?
• An intersection is defined as the general
area where two or more highways join or
cross, including the roadway and roadside
facilities for traffic movements within the
area.
• The most common intersection at which two
highways cross one another has four (4)
legs.
• It is recommended that an intersection have
no more than four legs.
Example of intersection
Characteristics of
intersections (1)
• An intersection includes the areas needed
for all modes of travel: pedestrian, bicycle,
passenger vehicle, truck, and transit.
• Thus, the intersection design addresses not
only the roadway pavement, but the
adjacent sidewalks and pedestrian ramps.
• The intersection encompasses all auxiliary
lanes, medians, and islands not included in
the typical roadway cross-section of the
intersecting roadways.
Characteristics of
intersections (2)
• Intersections
are a key feature of
roadway design in four respects:

 Focus of activity
 Conflicting movements
 Traffic control
 Capacity
Intersection Physical and
Functional Area

Physical Area

Functional Area
 Intersection Functional Area
The functional area on the approach to an intersection or
driveway consists of three basic elements:
(1) perception-reaction decision distance,
(2) maneuver distance, and
(3) queue-storage distance.
Types of Intersections
• Thetype of intersection may be
divided into three (3) categories:
- shape
- structural type
- operational type
Types of Intersections
(Shape)
1) 3-leg intersection
Types of Intersections
(Shape)
2) 4-leg intersection
Types of Intersections
(Shape)
3) Multi-leg intersection

Multileg intersections—those with five or more

intersection legs—should be avoided wherever practical.
Types of Intersections
(Shape)
4) Roundabouts

A roundabout is an intersection with a central island around

which traffic must travel counterclockwise and in which
entering traffic must yield to circulating traffic.
Classification of Roundabout

Roundabouts can be classified into three

basic categories according to size and number of
lanes to facilitate discussion of specific
performance and design issues:
Mini-roundabouts
Single-lane roundabouts
Multilane roundabouts
Classification of Roundabout
Mini-roundabouts
Classification of Roundabout
Single-lane roundabouts
Classification of Roundabout
Multilane roundabouts
Types of Intersections
(Structural Type)
1. Intersection at-grade
2. Grade-separated intersection
Types of Intersections
(Structural Type)
1. Intersection at-grade
This type is the most common type of
intersection. Intersection at-grade is where
two or more roads intersect or joint at the
same level
 Types of Intersections
(Structural Type)
2. Grade-separated intersection
• When the highway crosses
another at-grade, the capacity is
reduced
• The vehicle must slow down or
stop to permit passage of
crossing and turning traffic
• A grade separation structure
eliminates these difficulties.
Capacity will rise to that of the
traffic lanes.
• Vehicles can travel at uniform
speed, which reduces both travel
time and operating maintenance
costs of grade separation
structures are great.
Types of Intersections
(Operational Type)
• Unchannelized intersection
• Channelized intersection
Types of Intersections
(Operational Type)
Unchannelized intersection
• These are used at the junctions of minor
roads on which traffic volumes are low or
where a minor road meets or intersects
with a major road.
• In urban areas, many intersections remain
unchannelized even though volume of
turning or through traffic may warrant
special treatment.
• In such cases, control is usually achieved by
the installation of traffic signals or by the
erection of regulatory signs
Types of Intersections
(Operational Type)
Channelized intersection
• Channelized intersection is one in which
conflicting traffic movements are
separated into specific path of travel by
means of raised islands, safety bars, or
(sometimes) painted islands.
Unchannelized

Channelized
Unchannelized

Channelized
 INTERSECTION
DESIGN PROCESS
Intersection design process
(1)
• Define the objectives
- in the form of the desired road networks
- define the hierarchy of road
(expressways-arterials-collector-local roads)
Intersection design process
(2)
• Define deficiencies in the existing
networks
- deficiency in capacity
- deficiency in safety
- deficiency on environment (noise and air
pollution)
Intersection design process
(3)
• Choose appropriate type of
intersection and test for capacity and
other requirement

BASIC INTERSECTION FORMS:

- T intersection
- T, skewed
- Y intersection
- Cross
- Cross,skewed
- Multiple
Intersection design process
(4)
• Detailthe design, refer to
intersection design manuals
 Principles of
Intersection Design
Principles of intersection
design (1)
1. Types of conflicting maneuvers
- crossing
- merging
- diverging
- weaving
Intersection conflict points

3-leg intersection

4-leg intersection
Principles of intersection
design (2)
Conflict points
- No more than four, two way approaches in
order to minimize the conflict points.
Exercise!
How many conflict points are there in a typical modern roundabout?
Exercise!
How many conflict
points are there in a
typical modern
roundabout?
Question:

What is the safest type of

intersection, according to shape?
 Number of conflicts
Number Number of conflicts between intersection
of two movements by types of maneuvers
way legs CROSSING MERGING DIVERGING TOTAL

3 3 3 3 9

4 16 8 8 32

5 49 15 15 79

6 124 24 24 172
Principles of intersection
design (3)
• Conflict areas at intersection
- where roads cross at acute angles or the
opposing legs of an intersection are offset, excessive
conflict areas will be experienced.
- reduce conflict area
Principles of intersection
design (4)
• Control of speed
- Crash severity and stopping distance are a
function of the square of the speed
- Safety depends largely on relative speed. The
higher relative speed (Vr), the higher the severity of
accident.
Example
60 60 Vr=0 60 60 Vr =120
Principles of intersection
design (5)
Intersection spacing
• The number of intersections should be small as
possible but reasonable traffic patterns and access
to adjacent streets should be maintained.
• Under ideal conditions:
Intersections on major roads should be
spaced 350m to 550 meters apart and a minimum
distance between intermediate openings should be
150m.
 Principles of intersection
design (6)
Human Factors
• Intersection design requires that drivers characteristics be acknowledged.
• In general, the drivers will:
i. act according to habit
ii. Follow natural path of movement
iii. May become confused in new situations or when
surprised
It is essential that each driver:
i. is aware of the existence of every intersection
ii. Has adequate reaction and decision time
iii. Encounters uniformity in the application of traffic
facilities.
Other intersection design
considerations
• Human factors
• Traffic engineering considerations
• Physical elements
• Economic factors
1) Human factors
• Driving habits
• Ability of driver to make decisions
• Driver expectancy
• Decision and reaction times
• Conformance to natural paths of movement
• Pedestrian use and habits
• Bicycle traffic use and habits
2) Traffic engineering
considerations
• Classification of each intersecting roadway
• Design-hour turning movements
• Size and operating characteristics of vehicles
• Variety of movements
• Vehicle speeds
• Public transport movements
• Pedestrian movements
• Bicycle movements
• Crash experience
3) Physical elements
• Character and use of • Traffic control devices
abutting property
• Lighting equipment
• Vertical alignment at
the intersection • Roadside design
features
• Sight distance
• Crosswalks
• Angle of the
intersection • Driveways
• Conflict area • Access management
treatments
• Speed-change lanes
• Geometric design
features
4) Economic factors
• Cost of improvements
• Effect of controlling or limiting rights-of-way
on abutting residential or commercial
properties where channelization restricts
vehicular movements
• Energy consumption
Common Intersection
Design Considerations
• Intersection approach sight triangle
• Turning roadway and channelization
• Auxiliary lanes
• Indirect left turns and U-turns
ELEMENTS OF AN
INTERSECTION

1
3
2 5
6
3 5 3
4 5
6

3
ELEMENTS OF AN
INTERSECTION
1. INTERSECTION CURVE
2. CORNER ISLAND – end treatment
3. MEDIAN ISLAND AND MEDIAN OPENING
4. TAPER SECTION
5. AUXILLARY LANES – left turn (storage), right
turn
6. APPROACH LANES
7. PAVEMENT MARKINGS
8. ROAD SIGNS
Intersection Sight
Triangles
Intersection approach sight
triangle
Length of Sight Triangle Leg
Intersection departure sight
triangle
Turning Roadways and
Channelization
Channelization
• Channelization is the separation or regulation of
conflicting traffic movements into definite paths of
travel by traffic islands or pavement marking to
facilitate the orderly movements of both vehicles and
pedestrians.
Channelizing islands
• Channelizing islands, which are either generally
are included in intersection design for one or
more of the following purposes:
 Separation of conflicts
 Control of angle of conflict
 Reduction in excessive pavement areas
 Regulation of traffic and indication of proper use of
intersection
 Arrangements to favour a predominant turning
movement
 Protection of pedestrians
 Protection and storage of turning and crossing vehicles
 Location of traffic control devices
Turning roadways
• The widths of turning roadways for intersections are
governed by the volumes of turning traffic and the
types of vehicles to be accommodated.
• In almost all cases, turning roadways are designed for
use by right-turning traffic.
Turning roadways
Effect of curb radii on right-turning paths of various design vehicles
Turning roadways
Effect of curb radii on right-turning paths of various design vehicles
NOTE!
The corner radius
should be based
on minimum
turning path of
the selected
design vehicle.
Turning roadways with corner island
Right-angle turns with corner island (R=15 m)

 Generally, the turning roadway width should not be less than 4.20 meters, unless a
wider roadway is needed for a semi-trailer combination.

 Corner islands should be located about 0.60 meter outside the travelled way edges.
Turning roadways with corner island
Right angle turns with corner island (R=21 m)

 The smallest curbed corner island normally should have an area of approximately:
 5 m2 for urban intersections
 7 m2 for rural intersections

 However, at least 9 m2 is preferable for both.

Turning roadways with corner island
Oblique angle turns with corner island

Source: 2015 Design Guidelines, Criteria and Standards: Volume 4 – Highway Design, DPWH
Bus right-turning at East
Service Road, Taguig
Painted island markings
• Painted islands may be used at the traveled way edge.
• At some intersections, both curbed and painted islands
may be desirable.
• All pavement markings should be reflectorized.
• The use of thermoplastic striping, raised dots, spaced
and raised retroreflective markers, and other forms of
long-life markings also may be desirable.
Example
Quezon Avenue-West
Avenue-Timog Avenue
intersection
Auxiliary Lanes
Auxiliary lanes
• In general, auxiliary lanes are used preceding median
openings and are also used at intersections preceding
right- and left-turning movements.
• Auxiliary lanes may also be added to increase capacity
and reduce crashes at an intersection.
• In many cases, an auxiliary lane may be desirable after
completing a right-turn movement to provide for
acceleration, maneuvering, and weaving.
• Auxiliary lanes should be at least 3 m wide and desirably
should equal that of the through lanes.
• A paved shoulder of 0.6 to 1.2 m wide may be needed for
auxiliary lanes subject to heavy truck usage.
Example
Left-turn storage bay at Quezon Avenue-G. Araneta Avenue intersection
Example
Median left-turn lane at Quezon Avenue-Roosevelt Avenue intersection
Left-turn auxiliary lane
4.2-4.8 m median width left turn design
Left-turn auxiliary lane
• A median left-turn lane is an auxiliary lane for
storage or speed change of left-turning vehicles
located at the left of a one-directional roadway
within a median or divisional island.
• Exclusive left-turn lanes are required at
signalized intersections where:
 Left-turn signal phasing is provided.
 Left-turn volumes exceed 100 vehicles per hour.
 Double left-turn lanes should be considered where left-
turn volumes exceed 300 vehicles per hour
Median Openings
Indirect Left Turns and
U-Turns
Example
U-turn slot along Quezon Avenue
U-turns
• Normally, U-turns should not be permitted from through
lanes. However, where medians have adequate width to
shield a vehicle stored in the median opening, through
volumes are low and left-turns/U-turns are infrequent, this
type of design may be permissible.
• Medians of 5.0 m and 15.0 m or wider are needed to
permit U-turn maneuvers by passenger and single-unit
truck traffic, respectively.
• The optimum location for the median U-turn roadway is
200 m from the main intersection with preferred spacing
of 0.40 to 0.80 km.
• Use of a median U-turn crossover intersection may also be
considered but additional right-of-way and geometric
improvements is needed.
U-turns
• Where U-turn openings are proposed for access to
the opposite side of a multilane divided street, they
should be located 15 to 30 m in advance of the next
downstream left-turn lane.
• For U-turn openings designed specifically for the
purpose of eliminating left-turn movement at a major
intersection, they should be located downstream of
the intersection, preferably midblock between
adjacent crossroad intersections. This type of U-turn
opening should be designed with a median left-turn
lane for storage.
Typical design for U-turns
U-Turn Roadways for Indirect Left Turns on Arterials with Wide Medians
Minimum design for U-turns
Roundabouts
Example
Mabuhay Rotonda,
Quezon City
Roundabout design principles
• The goal of any roundabout design, regardless of category
or location, should be to achieve these principles:
 Provide slow entry speeds and consistent speeds through the
roundabout by using deflection;
 Provide the appropriate number of lanes and lane
assignment to achieve adequate capacity, lane volume, and lane
continuity;
 Provide smooth channelization that is intuitive to drivers and
results in vehicles naturally using the intended lanes;
 Provide adequate accommodation for the design vehicles;
 Design to meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists; and
 Provide appropriate sight distance and visibility.
Basic geometric elements of a
roundabout
Basic roundabout categories
Design and operational elements for basic roundabout categories
Roundabout
lane
configuration
example
Example of Markings
for a Three-Lane
Roundabout with
Three-Lane
Approaches
Intersection Layout
Road signs and pavement markings at intersections
Unsignalized intersection
Signalized intersection
Roundabout