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Rural Expressway Intersection Design Guidance: Suggestions for AASHTO Green Book and "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices"
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (2010)
  • Joshua L. Hochstein, Iowa State University
  • Thomas H. Maze, Iowa State University
  • Reginald R. Souleyrette, Iowa State University
  • Thomas B. Stout, Iowa State University
  • Thomas M. Welch
  • Howard Preston
  • Richard Storm
Abstract

A rural expressway is a high-speed, multilane, divided highway with partial access control with both at-grade intersections and grade-separated interchanges. Many state transportation agencies are converting rural two-lane undivided highways into expressways for improved safety and mobility. However, collisions at two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) expressway intersections are reducing the safety benefits that should be achieved after conversion. When the safety performance of these intersections deteriorates, the countermeasure path typically begins with several signing, marking, or lighting improvements, followed by signalization, and could ultimately result in grade separation. Signals are not always effective at improving safety and hamper the mobility expressways are meant to provide. Interchanges are not economically feasible at every problematic intersection and can take years to develop; therefore, more design options at TWSC rural expressway intersections are needed. Some state transportation agencies have experienced success with innovative rural expressway intersection countermeasures that are not currently included as design options within national guides. Therefore, NCHRP Report 650: "Median Intersection Design for Rural High-Speed Divided Highways," was commissioned to recommend revisions to AASHTO’s "A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets" (Green Book) and the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD) regarding rural expressway intersection design. Project tasks included summarizing existing expressway intersection design guidance within these national guides, documenting state transportation agency experience with innovative rural expressway intersection safety treatments, and recommending revisions to the Green Book and the MUTCD.

Keywords
  • At grade intersections,
  • Countermeasures,
  • Expressways,
  • Highway design,
  • Highway safety,
  • Intersections,
  • Rural highways,
  • Two lane highways,
  • Highways,
  • Operations Management,
  • Traffic Management,
  • Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure,
  • Traffic Control
Publication Date
2010
Citation Information
Joshua L. Hochstein, Thomas H. Maze, Reginald R. Souleyrette, Thomas B. Stout, et al.. "Rural Expressway Intersection Design Guidance: Suggestions for AASHTO Green Book and "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices"" Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board Vol. 2195 (2010)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/reginald_souleyrette/5/