Scribd
Upload
286 views

Highway Functions and Classifications: Accessibility vs. Mobility

Roadways are classified based on their function of providing either accessibility or mobility. Freeways provide only mobility with limited access, while local streets prioritize accessibility with connections to land. The main highway classifications include freeways, arterials, collectors, and local streets. In the Philippines, roads are further classified as national, regional, provincial, and barangay based on an executive order, with national roads forming the primary backbone network.

Uploaded by

Francis Aguisanda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
286 views

Highway Functions and Classifications: Accessibility vs. Mobility

Roadways are classified based on their function of providing either accessibility or mobility. Freeways provide only mobility with limited access, while local streets prioritize accessibility with connections to land. The main highway classifications include freeways, arterials, collectors, and local streets. In the Philippines, roads are further classified as national, regional, provincial, and barangay based on an executive order, with national roads forming the primary backbone network.

Uploaded by

Francis Aguisanda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

HIGHWAY FUNCTIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

Roadways are a major component of the traffic system, and the specifics of their
design have a significant impact on traffic operations.

Two primary categories of service provided by roadways:

• Accessibility
• Mobility

ACCESSIBILITY VS. MOBILITY

“Accessibility"

It refers to the direct connection to abutting lands and land uses provided by
roadways.

Accessibility is a major factor in the value of land. When land can be accessed
by many travelers from many potential origins, it is more desirable for
development and, therefore, more valuable. Thus proximity of land to major
highways and public transportation facilities is a major factor determining its
value.

This accessibility comes in the form:

1. curb parking
2. driveway access to off-street parking
3. driveway access to loading areas
4. bus stops
5. taxi stands
6. loading zones
7. driveway access to loading areas
"Mobility"

It refers to the through movement of people, goods, and vehicles from Point A
to Point B in the system.

Mobility gives travelers a wide range of choices as to where to go to satisfy


particular needs, and it provides for efficient trips to get to them. Mobility allows
shoppers to choose from among many competing shopping centers and stores.
Similarly, mobility provides the traveler with many choices for all kinds of trip
purposes, including recreational trips, medical trips, educational trips, and even
the commute to work.

Six travel movements present in a typical trip;

1. Main movement - the through portion of trip, making the primary


connection between the area of origin and the area of destination
2. Transition - occurs when a vehicle transfers from the through portion of the
trip to the remaining functions that lead to access and termination.

Ex: Use a ramp to transition from a freeway to a surface arterial

3. Distribution – involves providing drivers and vehicles with the ability to leave
a major through facility and get to the general area of their destinations
4. Collection - brings the driver and vehicle closer to the final destination
5. Access - provides the driver with a place to enter land parcel sought.
6. Termination - provides the driver with a place to leave his or her vehicle.

HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATION
FOUR MAJOR CLASSES OF HIGHWAYS

1. Freeways
2. Arterials
3. Collectors
4. Local streets

Freeways
• Freeway is a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full control or
access and generally provided with grade separation at major
intersections.
Arterials
• Arterial Street is an arterial route that carries traffic to the nearest access
point or through traffic.
• It often serves as the most advantageous routes for relatively long distance
travel. Most arterial streets are existing highways of considerable length
along which cross traffic is regulated by signals or stop signs.
• Arterials provide access to adjacent property but often with restrictions on
entry and exit points.
• Arterial street is considered as a "make do" substitute for controlled access
facilities when traffic volume exceeds about 20,000 vehicles per day.

Collectors
• Collector Street form smaller mesh grid pattern where passengers are pick
up from service streets and carried to the arterials.
• The collector is an intermediate category between arterials and local
streets.
• The term collector comes from a common use of such facilities to collect
vehicles from a number of local streets and deliver them to the nearest
arterial or limited access facility.
• Large commercial enterprises or amusement facilities like drive in theaters
are mostly fronting arterial roads.

Local Streets
• Local streets are designed to provide access to abutting land uses with
through movement only a minor function, if provided at all.
• Local Road is primarily for access to residence, business, or other adjoining
properties. It is also defined as a road constructed and maintained by the
local government.
ROAD CLASSIFICATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Executive Order (EO) No. 124, series of 1987, Section 5(i)

Mandates the DPWH to classify roads and highways into national, regional,
provincial, city, municipal, and barangay roads and highways, based on
objective criteria it shall adopt; provide or authorize the conversion of roads and
highways from one category to another that focuses on the functionality of a
road in relation to the national road network.

I. NATIONAL ROADS:

1.) Primary Roads


A contiguous length of significant road sections extending linearly without
any breaks or forks that connect major cities (At least around 100,000
population) comprising the main trunk line or the backbone of the National
Road System.

2.) Secondary Roads


• Directly connect cities to national primary roads, except in metropolitan
areas
• Directly connect major ports and major ferry terminals to national
primary roads
• Directly connect major airports to national primary roads
• Directly connect tourist service centers to national primary roads
• Directly connect cities (not included in the category of major cities)
• Directly connect provincial capitals within the same region
• Directly connect major national government infrastructure to national
primary roads or other national secondary roads

3.) Applicable only for Primary and Secondary Roads

• Bypass/Diversion Roads
− Roads that divert through traffic away from the City/Municipality
Business Center (with affirmative Feasibility Study).
• Roads that would connect or fill the gap between adjoining national
roads (protruding) to form a continuous national road network.
3.) Tertiary Roads

Other existing roads under the DPWH which perform local function.

II. LOCALROADS:
1.) Provincial Roads

• Connect cities and municipalities without traversing National Roads.


• Connect National Roads to barangays through rural areas.
• Connect to major provincial government infrastructure.

2.) Municipal and City Roads

• Roads within the poblacion.


• Roads that connect to provincial and national roads.
• Roads that provide inter-barangay connections to major municipal and
city infrastructure without traversing provincial roads.

3.) Barangay Roads

Other public roads (officially turned over) within the barangay and not
covered in the above definitions.

III. OTHER ROADS

1.) Expressways

• Highways with limited access, normally with interchanges; may include


facilities for levying tolls for passage in an open or closed system.

Note: If you want to know more about the Philippine highway network you may
visit this site: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Philippine_highway_network

You might also like